4. How Do We Connect The
Board To The Mission?
Share a story with someone next to you
about how your nonprofit reminds Board
members of your mission, your programs
and those you serve…
5. Focus On Your Mission
Board recruitment
Orientation
Mission moments & Generative questions
Regular opportunities to reflect & discuss
At meetings, retreats, strategic planning
How did we advance the mission today?
7. Does this sound familiar?
“Isn’t that the staff’s job?”
“I’m giving my time… that’s enough.”
“I don’t know anyone.”
“I’ll do anything but ask for money.”
9. What tools does
the Board need?
Passion for our cause
A strong case for giving
Powerful stories about how we make a difference
Staff support for accountability
Training about how to make an ask
10. Believe It or Not…
Noteworthy Findings:
90% of individual
donors single out one
particular charity for
special or unusual 94% of study donors say that
support charities they support never or
hardly ever call them up
without asking for another gift.
98% say that charities never or
hardly ever pay them a visit without
asking for money
11. How Can Our Board Help
With Fundraising?
Help identify new prospects
Set up a meeting for staff with a prospect
Invite prospects to take a tour of our nonprofit
Invite prospects to join you at an event
12. Building Board Confidence
Start with Stewardship!
Board members should be thanking donors
Phone calls
Handwritten notes
Thank you visits
13. Ambassadors Reach Out…
Everyone can play this role
Well-coached in our message
Masters of the “elevator speech”
Social Media Gives A Voice too…
15. Board As Advocates
On the golf course or in the car pool – strategic
in their information sharing
Could be with an institutional funder in a
formal way
Informed of the case for support but also know
your strategic plan and vision
Able to handle objections and concerns
17. Board Engaged in
the Community
Help solve issues on a broader level
Collaborative partnerships
Thought leaders/First to know
Draw on grassroots support to affect change
Respect and credibility in the community
18. How to get your board engaged
Continue to identify stakeholders/constituents
Increased spheres of influence included on the
board/advisory committees
Stakeholders’ perspective always included in
decision- making
Develop/share communications tools for ease
in sharing
19. Benefits
Increased visibility within the broader community
Better able to respond to community needs & changes;
increased accountability to the community
Increased shared ownership of the organization’s mission
and strategic directions; Board more engaged, passionate, &
transparent
Increased fundraising capacity and sustainability
20. Challenges
Identity of constituents, community, and primary
stakeholders is often unclear
Level of staff involvement
Board willingness to try new model; share power
Shift in perceptions of constituents—from a
“charity”/deficit perspective to one of constituents as
invaluable assets for the organization’s success
21. Where to go next
Collective Impact (FSG)
http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact
Community Engagement Governance Model (Judy Freiwirth)
www.allianceonline.org/sites/default/files/docs/Freiwirth%202011%20CommunityEngagement%20Governance.pdf