Ten Tips for Staying Sane about Your Board

1. Let go of any written or unwritten rules you may have about the "right" way for board members to participate in fundraising.
   
   
2. Above all, let go of the notion that all board members must ask others for money.
   
   
3. Accept the 20-60-20 rule when it comes to fundraising and your board. That is, 20% of the board will enjoy being involved in fundraising, 60% will be neutral about it, and the remaining 20% will want nothing to do with it.
   
   
4. Stop thinking that every other nonprofit organization's board members do more fundraising than your board members do. It's irrelevant (and highly improbable, anyway).
   
   
5. Recognize that your board members are volunteers who are giving you the gifts of their time and attention. In today's world, those gifts are more precious than money. They are not paid staff nor, in most cases, do they wish to become paid staff.
   
   
6. Know that your board members are looking to you to steer the fundraising process and to make requests of them as needed. Do not assume that anyone on your board wakes up each morning worrying about the fundraising needs of your organization.
   
   
7. Treat each board member with the care and respect that you would treat each major donor or potential major donor. If, over time, you consistently shower your board members with that level of personal attention and respect, many of them will naturally become significant donors.
   
   
8. Thank your board members sincerely and promptly for every little thing they do. A quick e-mail or voicemail "thank you" tells them that what they did mattered to you. Whether they have served on your board for ten months or ten years, make certain they know you do not take them for granted.
   
   
9. Meet with each board member individually once a year to be sure you understand what interests them most about your organization. Find out why they got involved on your board in the first place and what keeps them involved. When interacting with each board member, keep these interests and self-interests foremost in your mind. Let go of any expectations or illusions that these will ever change. Do your very best to fulfill these interests.
   
   
10. Make two lists and have them available as you meet or talk with each board member. (See suggested lists below.)
    
    

List #1: Ten easy and meaningful things for board members to do to advance your organization's individual giving program

1. Speak positively about your organization with the people in their day-to-day lives. Talk about the good work you are doing and share their genuine passion for your work.
   
   
2. Attend a Point of Entry^® Event at least once a year to update their knowledge of your program and get re-inspired. Give you their honest feedback afterwards.
   
   
3. Invite friends to attend Point of Entry Events, after the board member has become comfortable with the process. Within one week after the event, call these friends to thank them for attending.
   
   
4. Be the official board host at one of your generic, pre-scheduled Point of Entry Events once or twice a year.
   
   
5. Host a private Point of Entry for their friends or colleagues (or book club, etc.) in their home or office.
   
   
6. Attend one-on-one or small-group Point of Entry lunches with the Executive Director as necessary. Be prepared to tell why they got involved with the organization.
   
   
7. Attend Point of Entry Conversion Events (golf tournaments, galas, etc.) wearing a special board-member ribbon or nametag and be "on duty" as a proud representative of your organization throughout the event, ever alert to guests who might want more information.
   
   
8. Attend Free Feel-Good Cultivation Events^™ in their official capacity as a board member. Genuinely thank and appreciate the guests for all they have given to your organization.
   
   
9. Make brief thank-you calls to recent donors. (Leaving a message is acceptable.)
   
   
10. Make a personal financial gift to your organization annually, of any amount they would like.
    
    

List #2: Five valuable and useful roles for development committee members

1. Be involved in planning the entire individual giving fundraising system for your organization.
   
   
2. Regularly review the lists of people who have attended Point of Entry Events and offer strategic advice and guidance about additional ways to involve or connect these potential donors.
   
   
3. Conduct open-ended telephone interviews with prior donors to gather feedback about what your organization could be doing better.
   
   
4. Ask selected donors or potential donors for financial contributions after the donors have been sufficiently educated, inspired, and involved.
   
   
5. Host additional private meetings or group cultivation events with major donors as needed.