Dear [First Name],

I’m excited to be leading my new webinar, “How to Tell Your Story as a Board Member,” on March 4 and 5. It’s free to you as a board member of your organization.
 

Register here for FREE!

Telling your story – making your case for support – can be challenging as a board member. You’re not steeped in the organization like staff are. You’re not talking about the organization day in and day out. You’re probably overwhelmed with everything you do know about the organization and wondering how to filter through it, while at the same time thinking you don’t know enough to answer questions that arise.

In this interactive webinar, you’ll:

• Learn what makes for a good story
• Workshop how your values are reflected in why you love your organization
• Figure out what you’d like to include in your story
• Gain confidence you have what it takes to tell your story

Register here for FREE!
 

   In case you missed them, here are the Monday Morning Board Matters from January 2025:

January 13
Fundraising can feel very personal and it’s important to remember we are only the messenger. We can’t make a gift happen – only make it possible. If we’re respectful, authentic, and passionate, and we have done our best to educate and excite our donors, we have done our job.

January 20
Board members often identify who to approach for a charitable gift in terms of who we know best and can lean on. Instead, think of your three strongest networks. Are those fellow alumni, school parents, club members, or churchgoers? Who in one of those networks might believe deeply in the mission of the nonprofit you’re trying to help.

January 27
If your organization fulfills its mission, what will the world look like? What’s your organization’s vision for the world? Sharing that vision will inspire other much more than sharing the need your organization has for funds... or the needs your clients or participants have for your programs and services.

  Q: We need our board to do more fundraising but most of our board members started with us a long time ago when we weren’t asking for much on that front. What steps should we take to change that?

A: Boards evolve over time as the organization’s needs evolve. It sounds like you have a “hands-on” board and need to evolve to a governing board where more of the work is done by the staff and the board needs to focus on strategy, oversight and fundraising.
 

I’d start with a discussion of what your board is doing now that isn’t necessary and what it isn’t doing that the organization now needs. Then look at your board member job description (if you have one) and see if that aligns with what you now envision as the job of a board member. If it doesn’t align, have a discussion about this and then ask some small group (executive committee, governance/nominating committee, or an ad hoc group) to work on a revised (or new) job description to bring before the full board.

Once everyone knows what is now expected, it is easier to hold people to those expectations. Immediately some board members will rise to the occasion. A few might leave. New board members will come aboard with a clear understanding of their role. A few might stay on and not grow into their new role, but they will now be a small minority and won’t hold back the work of the rest of the board.

    When you’re conducting exercises or any fundraising training, print out nametags for everyone according to their Asking Style (primary/secondary).

This way, when board members and staff are interacting with each other, they will understand where each other is coming from. It helps everyone gain a greater appreciation for what their peers bring to the table.

 

Download the nametag template
 

Here’s to everyone participating in fundraising to the best of their ability!
 

Brian