Learn how to engage your board of directors in fundraising from this January 28, 2015 presentation to United Way NCA partners by Lewis Flax of Flax Associates.

1. Board Engagement
for Fundraising
Success
Presented by: Lewis Flax
Flax Associates
Wednesday, January 28th, 2015
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

2. Today’s Discussion
• Board Engagement
• Recruitment and Cultivation
• The ‘Ask’

3. Board
Engagement

4. Critical to Success
• Current and future leadership
• Ability to support key initiatives
• Guide the organization
• Determine priorities and focus

5. 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

6. Committed to the Cause?
• Engagement
• Emotion
• Ego

7. Engagement
• Evaluate current status
• Staff perspective
• Future plans

8. Board Review/Plan
• Interaction
• Fundraising plan aligned with strategic
plan
• Perceived goals and objectives
• Barriers to success
• Role in fundraising

9. Assessment
• Likely results?
• Position appropriately
• Purpose for serving
• Evaluate each board member
• Impact of evaluation

10. Recruitment
and
Cultivation

11. Reactive Approach
• Name others that can support
• Seek dollars first
• Lack of a vetting process
• Address at the last minute
What should we expect?

12. Other Organizations
• Steps and requirements
• Evaluate results

13. 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)

14. Engagement Options
• Award programs
• Event involvement
• Programmatic initiatives
• Advocacy efforts
• Workplace giving
• Public relations campaign
• Other campaigns

15. Evaluate and Test
• Evaluate involvement
• “Test’ commitment
• Expect drop-off

16. ‘A Privilege and an Honor’
• ‘Pass’ the test?
• Candid conversations
• Key questions
– Level of interest
– Value add
– Understand capabilities and interests

17. Selecting the Right Individuals
• Review requirements
• Clarify expectations
• Seek commitment
• Extend invitation
• Accept ‘no’

18. ‘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?

19. Making
the ‘Ask’

20. Fundraising Effectiveness
• Ability to provide support
• Strong network/connections
• Willingness to conduct outreach
• Capabilities and skills

21. “Ask”: Executive Director

22. Why not the ED?
• Difficult position
• Asking supervisors for money
• Board rotates – different individuals
• Less authenticity
• Lost in the details

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Fundraising Training
• Conduct training for board members
– Determine who will lead
– Assess what should be covered
• Acknowledge limitations/concerns
• Provide needed guidance and support

27. Next Steps
• Interest in improving board
engagement/results
• Time/resources
• Strategies and tactics
• Actions in the next 30 days
• Impact on your organization

28. 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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