Board Engagement for Fundraising Success (January 28, 2015)
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Board Engagement for Fundraising
Success Presented by: Lewis Flax
Flax Associates Wednesday, January 28th, 2015
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Today’s Discussion
• Board Engagement
• Recruitment and Cultivation
• The ‘Ask’
Board
Engagement
Critical to Success
• Current and future leadership
• Ability to support key initiatives
• Guide the organization
• Determine priorities and focus
Overlooked and Avoided
• Awkward and uncomfortable
• Oversight role
• May not be well connected
• Skills in other areas
• Easy to focus on other initiatives
• Requires time and patience
Committed to the Cause?
• Engagement
• Emotion
• Ego
Engagement
• Evaluate current status
• Staff perspective
• Future plans
Board Review/Plan
• Interaction
• Fundraising plan aligned with strategic
plan
• Perceived goals and objectives
• Barriers to success
• Role in fundraising
Assessment
• Likely results?
• Position appropriately
• Purpose for serving
• Evaluate each board member
• Impact of evaluation
Recruitment
and
Cultivation
Reactive Approach
• Name others that can support
• Seek dollars first
• Lack of a vetting process
• Address at the last minute
What should we expect?
Other Organizations
• Steps and requirements
• Evaluate results
Develop a Pool of Talent
• Donors/Funders
• Current (and previous) volunteers
• Members
• Distribution list (mail/email)
• Event attendees
• Program participants
• Engaged in advocacy efforts
• Board members (other organizations)
• Leverage connections
• Corporate executives
• Corporations (matching gifts)
Engagement Options
• Award programs
• Event involvement
• Programmatic initiatives
• Advocacy efforts
• Workplace giving
• Public relations campaign
• Other campaigns
Evaluate and Test
• Evaluate involvement
• “Test’ commitment
• Expect drop-off
‘A Privilege and an Honor’
• ‘Pass’ the test?
• Candid conversations
• Key questions
– Level of interest
– Value add
– Understand capabilities and interests
Selecting the Right Individuals
• Review requirements
• Clarify expectations
• Seek commitment
• Extend invitation
• Accept ‘no’
‘Square Peg Into a Round Hole’
• Consider other options
• Determine an appropriate fit
• Ask for suggestions
• Potential options
– Chair of a campaign
– Letters under their signature
– Involvement in a specific initiative
– Role in an awards program
– Other?
Making
the ‘Ask’
Fundraising Effectiveness
• Ability to provide support
• Strong network/connections
• Willingness to conduct outreach
• Capabilities and skills
“Ask”: Executive Director
Why not the ED?
• Difficult position
• Asking supervisors for money
• Board rotates – different individuals
• Less authenticity
• Lost in the details
Ask: Board Member(s)
• Respected board member(s)
• More genuine and authentic
• Peer to peer engagement
• A sense of obligation
• Less pressure on
Executive Director
Engage Board Member(s)
• History and involvement
• Impact
• Emotionally compelling story
• Support amount and connection
• Importance of contributions from all
• Ask with passion/conviction – stretch
• Follow up individually
Solutions: Stories
• Emotionally compelling
• Specific individual/problem
• Detail the challenges encountered
• Explain success and impact
• Ask for their opinion and feedback
• Align with their motives/interests
Fundraising Training
• Conduct training for board members
– Determine who will lead
– Assess what should be covered
• Acknowledge limitations/concerns
• Provide needed guidance and support
Next Steps
• Interest in improving board
engagement/results
• Time/resources
• Strategies and tactics
• Actions in the next 30 days
• Impact on your organization
Questions
Lewis Flax
– Board engagement / leverage corporate
connections
– Develop strategy / plans to secure support
– Business development outreach guidance
– Offer training, coaching, and consulting
– Review of documents / information / proposals
Email: lewis@flaxassociates.com
Phone: 202 266-2655 (w) 301 922-9309 (c)
Web: www.flaxassociates.com
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