Board Members: Help Raise Money

(Without Asking for It!)

Fear not! To raise money, you and your fellow board members don’t have to cold call strangers (or worse, friends), or suffer through awkward donor coffees where you feel like the people at the table next to you are eavesdropping on your shaky pitch.

Nope. There’s an alternative. It’s a heck of a lot easier for board members to do things that support the fundraising efforts of the organization, rather than do something terrifying they loathe. Below is a list of 21 things board members with no fundraising experience can do to support the fundraising efforts of the organizations they care so much about.

And for those board members who love to ask for money, give them a list of people to call and meet, and let them work their magic. For everyone else, have them choose a few things from the list below. Their contributions will lower the work burden of the fundraising staff and provide valuable resources and impact that will ultimately help raise more money.

1. Make thank-you phone calls. This will please your staff and donors more than you know.

2. Write thank-you letters. If done well, and very personal, donors won’t forget.

3. Host a dinner or small event (salon event). Even 10 people can be super effective.

4. Write email or mail solicitations. To make it count, sell the “why” and get people feeling emotional.

5. Help with gala or event prep. It’s a meaningful way to help and the staff will be gleefully grateful.

6. Make introductions. Not just to your personal network, but professional network too.

7. Get the word out. Speak at companies and civic events; or on television, radio, and podcasts; or with legislators and influences.

8. Give facility tours. Not only can this be fun, but it also helps to refine your messaging and pitches.

9. Work on the fundraising plan. This can be time-consuming, but a high ROI on this is crucial.

10. Help with donor cultivation and stewardship. Besides asking for money, nothing is more helpful and more important to the long-term success of your fundraising efforts.

11. Identify potential donors, corporations, foundations. Building a deep pipeline of future donors keeps the fundraising engine humming.

12. Help with social media. Don’t just rely on reposting, create your own posts; it’s more personal.

13. Find event sponsors. This is where the big money often hides. Help uncover it.

14. Write appeal letters. It’s an art to write compelling copy and to persuade passionately.

If you understand marketing and can write well, then share your skills to influence donors.

15. Identify government agencies or city officials. Government grants can be lucrative and an endorsement from a city official can lend enormous credibility. Who do you know?

16. Grant writing and reporting. This is a specialized skill, but if you have it, share it.

17. Network with donors at events. Done right, shmoozing can open hearts and wallets. Talk, smile, share, and move on . . . then repeat.

18. Secure in-kind gifts. Do you know a good lawyer or accountant who’d donate time?

19. Marketing, promotion, and PR. Top-of-mind name recognition and a strong brand are like gold in the nonprofit world. If you’re an ace marketer, help refine and share the messaging.

20. Chair a major event. This is a huge lift and requires a committed person with experience. Is this you?

21. Help with administrative duties. Yes, there are plenty of things to do; just ask the executive director.

Create an Engagement Form

Here’s an idea: turn the list above into an “engagement form.” Have each board member rate themselves on a scale of 1-5 on the interest they have to help in each area. Then next to each rating, have them provide a 1-5 rating on their expertise in each area.

This is a simple but effective way to gauge board members’ interest and skills. Plus, the fundraising team can use the results to determine good candidates that can help in a particular area when the need arises.

Summary

There are many ways board members can help raise money without ever having to ask for it. Instead of dreading cold calls or awkward coffee meetings, or twisting the arms of their friends, they can champion the cause in dozens of other ways—from writing thank-you notes and hosting salon dinners to charming government officials or stuffing swag bags at midnight.

And each of these tasks support the fundraising efforts of the organization and reduce the work burden on staff. Most importantly, if the tasks are done well, the results will lead to greater fundraising effectiveness, happy and loyal donors, and a lot more money.

About the Author

Tom Iselin has built nine sector-leading nonprofits (yes, he sleeps… occasionally). He’s written six books, sits on several boards, and is considered one of the nation’s top experts on building high-performance nonprofits. Oh, and he’s been rated one of America’s 10 best retreat facilitators—though his mom insists he’s #1. Tom is the president of First Things First, a business specializing in board retreats, strategic planning, fundraising, and executive coaching.

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