change your board story
TRANSCRIPT
Before We Get Started3
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3
Our guest presenter »
Lori L. Jacobwith
• Chief Fundraising Culture Changer & Master Storyteller
• IgnitedFundraising.com • Nationally recognized coach and trainer • Has raised more than $250 million dollars
from individual donors. • Holds a BA from the University of
Minnesota, has additional training from Indiana University’s Fund Raising School and is a longtime member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Presenter: Lori L. Jacobwith of Ignited FundraisingPresenter: Lori L. Jacobwith of Ignited Fundraising
Change Your Board Story:
How to Be An Awesome Nonprofit
Board Member
About Lori
• 25 + years as Master storyteller, fundraising culture change expert, trainer & coach.
• Recognized as one of the top 30 most Effective Fundraising Consultants in the US. by The Giving Show on the Wall Street Network
• Since 2001 has helped nonprofit organizations raise $250 million from individual donors & counting.
LJacobwith
@LJacobwith
www.ignitedfundraising.com
What We Will Cover Today 1. Basic board duties & responsibilities.
2. What makes awesome board members?
3. What are ways the board can be involved and NOT have to ask for money?
4. What exactly do you WANT from your board?
5. Whose job is it to recruit new board members?
What We Will Cover Today 6. A powerful and engaging board
orientation process.
7. Give board members something to talk about.
8. Review what to measure & visually display.
9. Key financial information for your board.
10. Pop Quiz!
Definition
Fundraising : The raising of assets and resources from various sources for the support of an organization or a specific project.~ Source: AFP Fundraising Dictionary, (Association of Fundraising Professionals)
Definition
Development: The total process by which an organization increases public understanding if its mission and acquires financial support for its programs.~ Source: AFP Fundraising Dictionary, (Association of Fundraising Professionals)
Worksheet Section 1
I bring these talents …
Type into the question box a minimum of two talents YOU bring to your organization.
Basic Board Duties & Responsibilities
• Determine your Organization's Mission and Purpose
• Engage in Strategic Thinking & Planning
• Approve and Monitor the Work of your Organization or Foundation
• Ensure Adequate Financial Resources
• Provide Effective Fiscal Oversight
• Ensure Sound Risk Management Policies
Basic Board Duties & Responsibilities
• Select and Support the Chief Executive and Review Their Performance
• Enhance the Organization's Public Image
• Carefully Select and Orient New Board Members and Board Leaders
• Maintain Board Structure and Operations
• Organize & Participate on Committees and Task Forces
Worksheet Section 2
Answer questions YES or NO
We provide training & support so board members can be effective in all of the
following areas…
What Makes an Awesome Board Member
• They are prepared & keep commitments.11
• They speak their minds.22
• They build independent relationships.33
• They are resource rich.44
• They are strategically engaged but operationally distant.55
http://bit.ly/ZqkMWBPost by Brad Feld
Ways To Be Involved With Development
1. Make a personal financial gift.2. Invite others TO GIVE time, talent, or stuff
And for some even $. 3. Act as a true ambassador & advocate.
Really.4. Thank recent happy donors.
Ways To Be Involved With Development
2. Invite others TO GIVE time, talent, or stuff.And for some even $.
Ways To Be Involved With Development
Board Thank You Calls
Source: Donor Centered Fundraising, Penelope Burk & Cygnus Research
0 5000 10000 15000
1st gift
2nd gift
Board Thank You Calls to
1st Time Donors
39% higher
Ways To Be Involved With Development
2 years late…70% retained
39% higher
70%
Source: Donor Centered Fundraising, Penelope Burk & Cygnus Research
Ways To Be Involved With Development
Build a Relationship for Loyalty
• Create a simple system
to make thank you calls
& know your donors.
• You’ll raise more &
create loyal donors.
Ways To Be Involved With Development
5. Participate actively in some aspect of raising awareness – Share a story that paints a clear picture.
Ways To Be Involved With Development
6. Share your funding gap and explain how money makes an impact.
RecapWays To Be Involved in Development
1. Make a personal financial gift.
2. Invite others to give something. Time, talent, stuff or even financial gifts.
3. Invite people in to the organization. Act as an “ambassador & advocate.”
4. Thank recent happy donors.
5. Participate actively in some aspect of raising awareness (story)
6. Raise awareness by sharing your money story… your funding gap & how money makes an impact.
7. Hold each other accountable.
Worksheet Section 4
Answer questions:
Board members assist with & participate in fund development
in what ways?
When Using A Board Composition Matrix
Ask these questions: 1. What are the 3 most
important things for our board to accomplish this year?
2. Do we have the right people on the board to make that happen?
Recruiting Board Members
Be clear about all duties & responsibilities, especiallyif they include helping with development activities.
Reward the behavior you are seeking.
1. Consent Agenda
2. Meeting Agenda
3. Dashboard Financials
4. Board Succession
5. Reduced Jibber-Jabber
Best Board Meeting I Ever Attended*
http://bit.ly/BestBoardMeetingArticle
*Source: Les Wallace, Ph.D. President Signature Resources Inc.
Best Board Meeting I Ever Attended*
6. Executive Summaries
7. Strategic Dialogue
8. Board Development
9. Immediate Assessment
http://bit.ly/BestBoardMeetingArticle
*Source: Les Wallace, Ph.D. President Signature Resources Inc.
Board Self-Assessment• To prepare for a board retreat that will
focus on setting board development and organizational priorities.
• In preparation for a change in board structure or practice.
• In preparation for strategic planning.
• Every two years to monitor progress in board development.
Board Orientation Checklist
� One hour initial meeting
� Peer to Peer orientation
� Program location for
orientation meeting
� Orientation packet
Board Orientation ChecklistKey Areas To Focus On:
� “Immerse your mission” into each
meeting
� Personal phone call or meeting with a
pre-determined “board buddy”
� Follow-up personal contact after first
three months of board service
Communication1. Includes listening.
2. It’s personal.
3. Provides meaningful feedback both ways.
4. Provides information and messages that inspire action.
Common Mistakes
Inadequate Context for
the Data
� When?
� How much is left to raise?
� How much time to reach
goal?
Better Context for the Data
� Shows when.
� Shows how much is
left to raise.
� Shows amount of time
left to reach goal.
Categories of Nonprofit Dashboards
Four Necessary Ingredients for Holding People Accountable
• Establishing clear expectations
• Preparing people to meet those expectations
with needed training and support
• Monitoring Performance
• Attaching consequences to the results
~ Source: London, M., & London, M. (2007). First-time leaders of small groups: how to create high-performing committees, task forces, clubs, and boards. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons
Using Dashboards to Cause Action
Board Dashboards & Data Updates
Source: Blue Avocado A Nonprofit Dashboard & Signal Light for Boards
Using Dashboards to Cause Action
Source: Blue Avocado A Nonprofit Dashboard & Signal Light for Boards
Key Financial Information
Over the Past/Present/Future
CashCash
Net
Assets
Net
Assets
DebtDebt
Working
Capital
Working
Capital
Lori’s Motto for Board & Staff
It is 100% staff responsibility for board members to be
GREAT.
And it is 100% board members responsibility to DO WHAT WE SAID WE’D
DO.
Pop Quiz1. The board signs an annual board
agreement that clearly spells out what the expectations are for participation other than attending meetings.
2. Our board members know they are expected to assist with development efforts.
3. I am certain our staff provides our board with data and support to be a good board member.
Pop Quiz4. 100% of our board makes an annual
financial gift.
5. Our board members regularly share
compelling stories about our impact.
6. Our board members understand and
share information regularly about our
funding gap.
7. Our board conducts regular self-
assessments to measure their own
effectiveness.
Worksheet Section 5
Share:
One thing you learned.
One thing you will change
to create an even more effective board
ENews: www.ignitedfundraising.com
LJacobwith
@LJacobwith
Fire Starters Blog:
www.ignitedfundraising.com/blog
Books:
Complete Storytelling System
Nine Steps for A Successful Fundraising Campaign
Free Resources
http://www.ignitedfundraising.com/training/free/
Staying Connected
Jim Collins, Good To Great &
The Social Sectors
“Greatness is not a function
of circumstances.
Greatness, it turns out is
largely a matter of
conscious choice and
discipline.”
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