Have you ever wished you could pull out a magic wand during one of your board meetings, to turn its members into enthusiastic and beneficial entities capable of giving?

Board members are a real treasure, as they can connect relationships, develop resources, enhance the organization’s image, and facilitate tasks through their personal and professional connections alike. They can build many relationships that would help your organization and contribute to promoting its cause, programs, and achievements.

Antoine de Saint says, "If you want to build a ship, don’t gather men to collect wood, and don’t assign them tasks or give orders. Instead, teach them to long for the vast and endless sea."

Method One: "Creating Successful Boards in Nonprofit Organizations"

By Elmira Bayrasli from Forbes

This article covers two important points; first, it presents one of the leading experts in board governance, Lucy Marcus, who offers valuable advice to nonprofits; second, it exposes us to a different approach that directly addresses board members, particularly those with a business mindset.

Forbes offers a series of tips provided by Marcus on how to create a good board of directors. I appreciated her emphasis on the importance of forming a board that fits the specific needs of your nonprofit organization and taking into account the non-monetary contributions that board members can make to the organization, such as guidance and professional skills.

Method Two: "How to Engage Your Nonprofit Board in Donor Relationships"

By Tina Jepson from CauseVox

If your board members are hesitant to ask for financial support, that's okay. In fact, they don’t need to be forced into a direct fundraising campaign for them to genuinely assist. Instead, engage them in your relationships with donors.

Tina provides tips on how to involve board members and integrate them into the donor circle by asking them to reach out to thank donors for their cooperation or even host events to express gratitude. This way, they will become active individuals without needing to ask for donations directly. Over time, it will make it easier for your board members to ask for donations through participation in this kind of initiative.

Method Three: "How to Strengthen Relationships Between the Board and Staff"

By Lyndsey Hrabik from Nonprofit Hub

It is common to witness a breakdown in relationships between board members and staff in some cases. Lyndsey’s article provides solutions to free us from this issue, by following several actions and steps.

Besides identifying the reasons why communication and clarity should be a top priority, the writer suggested some topics that could help open channels of discussion between the board and the staff. Overall, I believe these tips are sufficient to strengthen relationships between employees and board members, enhancing the superficial relationships that are characterized by coolness.

Method Four: "Five Ways to Prepare Your Board to be Proficient in Year-End Fundraising"

By Megan Donahue from CauseVox

This article addresses everything related to year-end fundraising, but these tips and tricks mentioned can be applied to any fundraising campaign. Among the important matters that may escape the attention of seasoned professionals in this field is that most people do not know how to ask for money to support their vision. In reality, merely wishing for a board that can attract donors and raise funds is not enough; you must equip them with the necessary tools and teach them these skills.

Source: CauseVox

Author: Megan Donahue

Link:https://www.causevox.com/blog/board-fundraising-best-practices/