In This Issue: What Makes a Great Board Member? The You : Me Ratio More Great Internet Resources for Nonprofits My Mission 2nd Edition of Fast Fundraising Facts for Fame & Fortune Is Now Available! On-Line Order Form What People Say About Jean Block Sign Up for Future Newsletters! Don't miss out on a single issue of this useful newsletter! To keep this newsletter coming to you, please fill out and submit this simple form (if you haven't already done it).

There are several qualities that distinguish exceptional Board members from average ones. As you search for new members of your Board, look for these qualities and don't accept less than the best ... your mission depends upon it!

Passion

It is absolutely critical that Board members have a passion and an uncompromising commitment for the agency's mission. Everything else flows from this fountain. 

Understanding

There is a clear distinction between governing and administering. Good Board members understand their roles and don't ever get involved in micro-managing the agency's day to day operations. I say-stop at the office door unless you've been asked to enter.

Giving

Exceptional Board members know that they MUST support the agency financially before they can ask others to do so. And they understand that giving is a basic requirement of serving on a nonprofit Board. The Agency can hardly take a list of the Board's hours to the phone company in exchange for payment of the monthly bill.

Getting

Whether it is making introductions, lending their name, or asking their peers, Board members must get involved directly in the development process. Remember the old adage Give, Get, or Get Going (off the Board).

Purpose & Focus

Every member of the Board must share a singular focus and purpose, based on the strategic plan, committing personal and professional resources to achieve the plan. 

Oversight

Board members must understand their fiduciary and fiscal responsibility. They must understand the legal implications of serving on a Board. 

Talent

Just showing up a Board meeting every month isn't enough. Exceptional Board members are willing to share their personal and professional skills by actively participating in Board committees and making the mission come alive.

Timing

Timing is everything-and Board members should know when it is time to move on-before their hair is smoking! Lives change, passions dim and guilt is never a good reason to stay involved. If necessary, help burned out Board members know it is time to resign to move to an advisory status.

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The You : Me Ratio

Nope, this isn't a math test, but it is a critically important function of your fundraising success. In preceding issues of this newsletter, we've discussed how important Marketing is to successful Fundraising.

Let's briefly review the Marketing principle. Marketing means Finding a Need and Filling it. Marketing requires us to focus on what the prospective donor needs and wants, not on what our agency needs and wants. Marketing is an exchange -when our donor's needs are met, ours are met in return. It's that simple!

 When we have learned what's in it for the donor, we speak differently and we write differently. Focusing on the donor's need rather than our own allows us to use my favorite word: Opportunity. 

Here's some homework. Pull out recent copies of something you have written which asks for money or in-kind contributions. 

Count the number of Mes (your agency and its needs) versus the number of Yous (your donor's needs and benefits). If there are way more Mes than Yous, it's a dead giveaway that you haven't done your marketing and you haven't focused your request on the donor!

Here's some more homework. Try re-writing that request using the word Opportunity in the first sentence. If you can't define the opportunity for the donor to get his needs met, then go back to the drawing board. Do your marketing and find a way to focus your request on the ways your request meets the donor's needs and wants.

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More Great Internet Resources for Nonprofits

Although I haven't surfed this site, I understand that in October, 2000 the U.S. Government launched a new web site that should provide the public with easy, one-stop access to all federal government on-line information and services. Try it at www.firstgov.gov.

The entire text of a 21 chapter book, "Guide to Special Events Fundraising" written by Ken Wyman, CFRE, a fundraising consultant in Canada, is available on line. Contact him at KenWyman@compuserve.com.

The consulting firm of Zimmerman Lehman has some good resources on line. Go to www.zimmerman-lehman.com/capital.htm  to read the article "Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign?" Another good article from this resource is "Researching Funding Sources on the Web" available at www.zimmerman-lehman.com/internet.htm.

And, speaking of articles, read an article written by Hildy Gottlieb, "Tell Me Again-What Exactly Does Our Board Do?" You can access this article at www.help4nonprofits.com.

Looking for grant resources? Go to the Foundation Center's homepage at www.fdncenter.org  and connect through the " For Grantmakers" button for a brief description of many foundations and their web sites.

And don't forget the exceptional resources available to you through www.charitychannel.com!  Sign on to this site and find a wealth of interactive information on topics from sponsorships to capital campaigns to consulting to job openings. You can become an active member of a listserve or just "lurk" and learn. Ask questions and get help from your peers from around the world. 

The Internet is such a valuable resource-and it's free! 

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My Mission:

To strengthen the base of support for America's worthwhile nonprofit agencies and organizations, from school PTAs to multi-million dollar national and international agencies.

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2nd Edition of Fast Fundraising Facts For Fame & Fortune Is Now Available!

This book puts the FUN into FUNDraising! 

First published in 1997 and now in its second printing, this book "teaches the basics and helps the seasoned professional remember what works. Jean’s high energy, conversation style makes this book fun to read. She fills it with examples that stimulate your creativity" says Marlis Hadley, president of the Easter Seal Society of NM. 

Who should read this book? Volunteers and staff of any nonprofit agency, church, school, support group or membership organization – anyone who is charged with raising money or in-kind contributions. 

This book is the perfect gift for a staff member or a volunteer Board member who needs a gentle nudge into fundraising success. Call me at (505) 899-1520 to discuss volume discounts. 

Marketing and Fundraising— What’s the Link?
The You : Me Ratio and what to do about it.
Selling vs. Opportunity.
The Secret of Money and How to Get It!
Jean’s 10 Rules for Fundraising Success:

Ask for What You Want or Take What You Get...Create Opportunities...Assume a YES!...If Your Prospect Says Yes Immediately, You Blew It...Never Speak to the Person Who Can Say NO...NO Won’t Make You Shrivel and Die...People Give to People...Back A Winner...You Can’t Ask Others to do What You Haven’t Done...Thank You.

Planning Made Easy.
Ways to Raise Money—Lots of Great New Ideas.
The Etiquette of Asking.
Sources of Resources … and much more.

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What People Say About Jean Block

“Jean Block provides our organization with superb board and management planning. All sessions have been productive and fun …we have been extremely pleased with the outcomes of each session.” 
E. Solimon, Executive Director, ARCA

"...her ability to bring a group of people with diverse opinions into consensus by listening, laughing and cajoling. We all walked away from our session with an agreed upon direction which we are still working toward." 
S. Mann, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House

Jean Block Consulting, Inc.
7915 Cliff Road NW
Albuquerque NM 87120

(505) 899-1520
Fax (505) 890-5285
Email:

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