Need More Board Help Raising Funds From Individual Donors?

This month’s Added Value includes a board member primer on individual donations. Besides providing basic knowledge about this funding source, it includes a section on how board members can help. Here is an excerpt.

How can I help as a board member? “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” Do you remember this song? It reminds us of the need for individual donations from nonprofit leaders. Individual donations begin with the people closest to the organization. The board, volunteers, staff, and customers make gifts first. Why? This group knows and loves the organization and is closest to it. They believe the cause is wonderful and vital. Some organizations set a specific dollar amount for board donations. Others ask for a meaningful gift that each board member determines his or her self.

Besides first gifts, sharing your passions with your connections is critical. For grass-root groups, this can be as simple as sending an upcoming special events announcement to your email list with a personal note, and following it up with five personal invitations. For larger organizations, consider serving on committees that plan for and ask for gifts. Make calls to make appointments with your peers. Make calls to thank donors. In all cases, help the nonprofit to network with potential donors.

Click here for the article, Waiting for Super Donor, What Board Members Need to Know About Individual Donations. This article is the second in a series of board primers about nonprofit income sources. To read rest of the series, start your free subscription to Added Value today.