Fundraising & Board Engagement

Michael Bacon, CFREPriscilla Guajardo Cortez

Presentation Overview

Mission & Board Reality Check

How Do We Connect The Board To The Mission?

Share a story with someone next to you about how your nonprofit reminds Board members of your mission, your programs and those you serve…

Focus On Your Mission

Board recruitment

Orientation

Mission moments & Generative questions

Regular opportunities to reflect & discuss At meetings, retreats, strategic planning How did we advance the mission today?

Board Member Roles

Thanks to Kay Sprinkel Grace

Does this sound familiar?

“Isn’t that the staff’s job?” “I’m giving my time… that’s enough.” “I don’t know anyone.” “I’ll do anything but ask for money.”

The Sequence of Willingness

What tools does the Board need?

Passion for our cause

A strong case for giving

Powerful stories about how we make a difference

Staff support for accountability

Training about how to make an ask

Believe It or Not…Noteworthy Findings:

90% of individual donors single out one particular charity for special or unusual support

94% of study donors say that charities they support never or hardly ever call them up without asking for another gift.

98% say that charities never or hardly ever pay them a visit without asking for money

How Can Our Board Help With Fundraising?

Help identify new prospects

Set up a meeting for staff with a prospect

Invite prospects to take a tour of our nonprofit

Invite prospects to join you at an event

Building Board Confidence

Start with Stewardship!

Board members should be thanking donors

Phone calls Handwritten notes Thank you visits

Ambassadors Reach Out…

Everyone can play this role

Well-coached in our message

Masters of the “elevator speech”

Social Media Gives A Voice too…

Examples of Ambassadors

Board As Advocates

On the golf course or in the car pool – strategic in their information sharing

Could be with an institutional funder in a formal way

Informed of the case for support but also know your strategic plan and vision

Able to handle objections and concerns

Examples of Advocates

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Board Engaged in the Community

Help solve issues on a broader level

Collaborative partnerships

Thought leaders/First to know

Draw on grassroots support to affect change

Respect and credibility in the community

How to get your board engaged

Continue to identify stakeholders/constituents

Increased spheres of influence included on the board/advisory committees

Stakeholders’ perspective always included in decision- making

Develop/share communications tools for ease in sharing

Benefits

Increased visibility within the broader community

Better able to respond to community needs & changes; increased accountability to the community

Increased shared ownership of the organization’s mission and strategic directions; Board more engaged, passionate, & transparent

Increased fundraising capacity and sustainability

Challenges

Identity of constituents, community, and primary stakeholders is often unclear

Level of staff involvement

Board willingness to try new model; share power

Shift in perceptions of constituents—from a “charity”/deficit perspective to one of constituents as invaluable assets for the organization’s success

Where to go next

Collective Impact (FSG)

http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact

Community Engagement Governance Model (Judy Freiwirth)

www.allianceonline.org/sites/default/files/docs/Freiwirth%202011%20CommunityEngagement%20Governance.pdf