In This Issue: The Board's Role in Fundraising Common Obstacles to the Board's Enthusiastic Involvement in Fundraising Ways Board Members Can Get Involved in Fundraising Internet Resources for Nonprofits Two Great Books Available Now Online Book Order Form   Giving Answers, LLC Sign Up for Future Newsletters! If you find this newsletter helpful and interesting, there’s only one way to keep receiving it —become a part of the email subscription list. If your email address changes or you want to add a second address, just send me an email with the new or additional information so you don’t miss out on a single issue. IMPORTANT: Remember to include your email address printed carefully and clearly! THANKS! Click here for the electronic form "I love your newsletter! It's refreshing, fun  and filled with helpful hints" Toni Paglia, Director of Development, The ARC Syracuse, New York

The Board’s key role is governance and ensuring the success of the organization’s mission. This means taking responsibility for and ownership of identifying and developing the necessary resources to meet the mission.

Board members are personally responsible for their organization’s financial performance and must take an active role in ensuring it.

Board members who actively participate in resource development give credibility to the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Board members are expected to set the example for others by making an individual and/or professional contribution every year.

Is resource development a critical role of the Board? YES!

So, how do we make this clear to Board members?

Start at the Beginning. Recruit new Board members effectively. Clarify the organization’s expectations about Board members and fundraising up front and discuss how the prospective volunteer can get involved. Do not assume the new Board members understands this role and do not assume he or she will just “get it.” I recommend using a Board Member Job Description when interviewing prospective members. A sample is included in The ABCs of Building Better Boards. See below.

Develop a Strategic Plan. Identify programs and services to be provided. Identify specifically what and how much funding is required for current programs and services, expanded or additional programs and services, operating expenses, growth and/or capital needs, etc.

Design a Development Plan to meet funding requirements. The entire Board should be involved in the initial planning so they will understand and own the success of the plan.

Match funding methods to organizational needs, e.g. grant writing vs. special events. Review current development activities and their strengths and weaknesses. Perform a Cost:Benefit Analysis on current activities. Identify targets for improvement or enhancement.

Diversity is the key to a successful development plan. There is danger in relying on one or two sources of revenue. Consider grants from foundations and corporations, individual gifts, annual campaign, direct mail, major gifts, deferred/planned giving, endowment, in-kind support, special events, and earned income-producing activities.

Build an Effective Development Committee chaired by a member of the Board. Consider adding ad hoc members from the community, former Board members, clients, donors, etc. Develop a written plan to support the strategic plan. Make regular progress reports to the full Board and hold this committee responsible for achievement.

Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate! Seize every opportunity to recognize and celebrate the success of individual Board members and the development committee as a whole. Remember that You Get What You Accept and What You Reward. Make resource development a successful part of every Board member’s responsibility.
Learn ways the Board can get involved by scrolling down to the next article.

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Here are some of the most common obstacles I’ve found to a Board’s enthusiastic involvement in fundraising and some suggestions to overcome them.

Obstacle: “What, I have to raise money? Nobody told me that. I thought all I had to do was go to Board meetings and make decisions.”
Solution: Recruit effectively, using a Board Job Description that clearly defines the expectations of Board members. Discuss fundraising with prospective Board volunteers.

Obstacle: Board members don’t want to ask their friends for money.
Solution: Discuss a variety of ways to get involved in resource development (see below).

Obstacle: Board members are afraid to be turned down.
Solution: Role play. Practice asking and dealing with rejection. Help Board members understand how to ask effectively.

Obstacle: “I give my time, isn’t that enough?”
Solution: No, it isn’t enough. How can we ask others in the community to support us if the Board hasn’t set the example of 100% giving itself?

Obstacle: The Board doesn’t know how to ask.
Solution: Provide training. Help the Board understand that people give money to opportunities, not to needs. People give to success, not to distress. Make it easy for Board members to succeed and celebrate their success.

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Need some ideas about ways your Board members can get involved in fundraising? Try these on for size!

Source: Grants from Foundations, Corporations, etc.
Involvement: Research their own company’s giving programs...research other company’s giving programs...provide testimonials, sign cover letters, make presentations…

Source: Annual Campaign, Direct Mail Campaign.
Involvement: Provide testimonial for fundraising letter...write personal appeal letters to names in their rolodex (and be willing to follow up)...make thank you calls to donors...make fundraising calls to donors and prospects...host an event at their home or office...underwrite the cost of the campaign (printing, postage, etc.).

Source: Major Gifts Campaign
Involvement: Open doors for other Board members and staff...make personal gift and ask others to match it...accompany staff on calls.

Source: Underwriting, Sponsorships, In-Kind
Involvement: Understand agency needs...research their own company’s giving programs...research other company’s giving programs...write proposals and ask for sponsorship and underwriting...solicit in-kind contributions of goods and services.

Source: Special Events
Involvement: Plant it! Organize it! Serve on a committee...sell tickets...buy tickets...solicit auction items and other requirements...get sponsorships and underwriting.

Source: Planned Giving
Involvement: Make a personal planned gift...serve on planned giving committee...solicit planned gifts.

Source: Other
Involvement: Testify and advocate for funding at the legislature.

This is just a start to get you and your Board members thinking outside the box. Remember, it is every Board member’s responsibility to support and sustain your organization!

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Visit www.onphilanthropy.com for great free e-newsletters and articles on nonprofits. This is one of the most valuable sites I’ve found!

Need some help on making your charity auction more successful? Get a free e-newsletter from www.benefitauction.com. They have posted previous copies of the newsletter on that site, as well.

For a listing of salaries in the nonprofit world showing total cash compensation for 92 jobs including executives, fundraisers, marketers, meeting planners, IT employees, researchers, attorneys and human resources managers, visit www.workforce.com/section/02/article/23/55/06.

Another favorite site is www.raise-funds.com. Tony Poderis is a real pro who shares his vast knowledge through succinct articles sand other resources.

www.e-philanthropy.com has a free e-newsletter with information on online fundraising.

And visit www.NonEvents.com for assistance with fundraising through a virtual event!

If you know some great Internet sites, please send me an email so I can share them in the next newsletter!!

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Now you can add two great books to your agency library. The ABCs of Building Better Boards is just what you need to improve your Board’s potential. It includes ideas for recruitment, retention and recognition and has some great forms for you to copy and use.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals says of this book: “Here is a book that every senior fundraiser responsible for board recruitment and development should read once and then review annually...takes up where books full of theory fall short...give it a chance and you will discover a gem to be treasured.”

Learn how to deal with unproductive Board members and how to better define the roles of staff and Board. There is a chapter on financial and fiduciary facts, one on simple parliamentary procedure and much much more.

Discover how Board Job Descriptions and annual Commitment Letters will dramatically improve your Board’s effectiveness. See how a truly effective Nominating Committee will lead to a better Board.

Get good ideas for more efficient Board management and administration, including how to set up and manage effective committees.

It’s only $24.95 plus shipping and handling. Take advantage of a volume discount of up to 20% and give this book to all new Board members as part of their orientation.

Fast Fundraising Facts for Fame & Fortune is full of ideas to improve your fundraising, including how to ask effectively, special events essentials and new ideas for fundraising.

Help volunteers get over the fear of asking for money and in-kind resources for your organization. Learn how marketing principles will make fundraising easier.

Learn about Jean’s Ten Rules for Fundraising Success and apply them to your organization immediately. This book puts the FUN into FUNDraising and gives good examples and ideas that really work, rather than using hard to follow formulas and theories.

At only $19.95 plus shipping and handling, it’s a Must Have for your nonprofit resource library.

Or buy both books at once and save. Buy both for only $39.95 plus $4.50 shipping and handling. Order your copies today!

Email me at to discuss volume discounts for staff or volunteers.

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WHAT IS GIVING ANSWERS, LLC?

Giving Answers mission is to connect nonprofit organizations (and the people who support them) to the resources, knowledge and skills that will enable them to achieve their goals, improve the productivity of their organizations and enhance the communities in which we live.

Jean Block Consulting and Giving Answers, LLC

I am currently working with Giving Answers as a facilitator for a series of telephone based discussions relating to managing a nonprofit organization. I am offering a session on “The ABCs of Building Better Boards” and one on “Fast Fundraising Facts.”

GIVING ANSWERS TELE-INQUIRY  PROGRAMS

Giving Answers Tele-Inquiry programs bring together a dozen nonprofit professionals each week on a telephone bridge for a discussion facilitated by an expert in the field. Topics range from “The ABCs of Building Better Boards” to the “Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Managing a Nonprofit Organization.”

Typically, there programs consist of four weekly 60-minute telephone conferences covering a given topic. The cost for each program is $95 with a discount available for additional registrants from the same organization.

As a course fills, you will be notified of the time and date.

For a full schedule of courses and other information, please visit http://www.givinganswers.com/learning/teleseminars/courseschedule/index.htm

SIGN UP FOR A SESSION

You can link directly to Giving Answers Tele-Inquiries by clicking http://www.givinganswers.com/learning/teleseminars/courseschedule/index.htm.

Use my promotional code when registering: JB200

To register for one of my two seminars by credit card, go to:

Board Development Sign-up:
http://www.mollyguard.com/event/10308834

Fundraising Sign-up:
http://www.mollyguard.com/event/10309837

To register for one of my seminars by check, go to:
http://www.givinganswers.com/teleseminars/registration.htm

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

(505) 899-1520
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