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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