How to Overcome Your Board's Fear of Fundraising, Once and for All
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Sponsored by: A Service Of: How to Overcome Your Board’s Fear of Fundraising, Once and for All Claire Axelrad October 3, 2012
description
The purpose of this webinar is to think systematically through the process of getting your board involved with fundraising. We'll discuss how to help your board understand and overcome their fears; explore and act on their passions and become dedicated ambassadors, advocates and askers.
Transcript of How to Overcome Your Board's Fear of Fundraising, Once and for All
Sponsored by: A Service
Of:
How to Overcome Your Board’s Fear of Fundraising, Once and for All
Claire Axelrad
October 3, 2012
Sponsored by: A Service
Of:
Advising nonprofits in:
• Strategy
• Planning
• Organizational Development
www.synthesispartnership.com
(617) 969-1881
INTEGRATED PLANNING
Sponsored by: A Service
Of:
www.mission.do
Sponsored by: A Service
Of:
Today’s Speaker
Claire Axelrad Principal
Axelrad Social Benefit Consulting
Hosting:
Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership Assisting with chat questions: Jamie Maloney, Nonprofit Webinars
Overcome Your Boards’ Fear of
Fundraising, Once and For All
Inspire Philanthropy!
Philanthropy Can Be Addictive
The purpose of this webinar is to think systematically through the process of getting your board involved with fundraising. We'll discuss how to help your board:
understand and overcome their fears;
explore and act on their passions, and
become dedicated, even passionate, ambassadors, advocates and askers!
Learn:
The 2 things board members are most afraid of, and how
to overcome them.
The 2 things board members must understand to embrace fundraising.
The 3 ways we go wrong when asking board members to raise funds.
How to do a better job making board assignments.
How to get every board member raising money.
The 2 Things Board Members Most Fear
Rejection
Lack of knowledge and/or skills
ONE: Fear of rejection.
We think we’re asking for
ourselves; begging.
We’ve been raised that it’s
impolite to talk about
money.
Even worse, no one wants to
be a ‘charity case.’
Ask: When did you give when
you felt bad?
KEY QUESTION:
What makes you feel good about giving?
I gave back. Helped my Mom… Healed me… Paid my way…
I met my religious/moral obligation
I’m involved. I volunteer… My kid goes to school…Helped my Mom
I felt appreciated. They were promptly and personally thanked and
also updated on the impact of their gift.
I felt part of something important. Proud. Joyous.
I saw the impact of my gift.
Overcoming the Feeling You’re Begging
When a donor makes a gift, he or she becomes a partner in a cause that
is bigger than just one person's life. It’s a way for them to be the change
they want to see in the world – and the ‘asker’ facilitates this amazing
accomplishment!
TWO: Lack of Knowledge/Skill
They don’t know depth/breadth of what you do.
They don’t have information at their fingertips.
They haven’t been involved in planning.
The 2 Things Board Must Understand
How fundraising fits within their
governance and financing
responsibilities as board members
They are the role models others will
look to and follow.
ONE: Governance and Financing go Hand in Glove
Board as whole has a
governance role. To set the
direction; plan, and establish programs and policies.
Individual members have a financing role. To assure there’s
funds to enact the plan; fulfill their decisions.
Recruit/enlist strategically
Orient/train carefully
Create motivating environment
Give lots of support/feedback
Don’t be afraid to de-enlist
TWO: As a Role Model
Make Your Own Commitment First
Know your values.
Be passionate and enact them.
If you’re gonna preach religion, you gotta get religion.
The 3 Ways We Go Wrong Asking Board
Members to Help Raise Funds
We let them think it’s about money.
We let them wallow in how painful the process is.
We’re unclear with them about their very special role.
ONE: We Let Them Think It’s About Money
We go right to “The Art
of Asking” and give
them solicitor training.
We don’t talk about
values and providing
an opportunity to act
on shared values.
We must help them
embrace a culture of
philanthropy.
TWO: We let them wallow in how
painful the process is. It shouldn’t be.
They’re helping people to feel uplifted – like they can make a difference and be a part of the change they want to see in the world.
People yearn to make an impact; They’re just clueless where to begin.
Asking gives an opportunity for people to feel they’re doing something meaningful.
THREE: We’re unclear with them
about their very special role.
As guides.
As facilitators.
As relationship builders.
As role models.
As influencers and leaders. They provide the “good housekeeping seal of approval”. They’ve done the legwork and the vetting.
Again, it’s not about money.
It’s about building friendships; sustaining friendships… in order to change the world. The actual moment of asking is one small step in a process.
How to Do a Better Job with
Assignments
AAA Board:
Design specific assignments that are geared to member’s motivations
Ambassador: Making friends; building relationships – cultivation; stewardship; must be coached in the messaging/elevator speech
Advocate: Making the case (formal; informal)
Asker: Makes the match; Front-line fundraiser
Set them up for success!
No cold calls
Provide talking points/FAQs
Case statements – they don’t need to be experts.
Tips on asking (remind them what they’ve learned)
Donor profiles;suggested ask
Their own gift has been made
How to Get Every Board
Member on Board Raising $$
They need—and deserve—first-rate support from staff. They should not be expected to go out on their own to free up staff from doing solicitation. They require role modeling. And cheerleading.
They need a first-rate training, and practice. Help them change their perspective.
It’s not about “arm twisting or
“hitting folks up”.
It’s actually FUN… a way
to meet like-minded folks.
They need cheerleading.
Don’t expect them to do
this on their own.
The Alternative to Fundraising
There are a lot of scary problems out there.
Cancer… Global warming…
Homelessness… Domestic violence… Human trafficking… Malaria… Impotable water… Injustice… Poverty.
Is fundraising scarier than doing what needs to be done to solve these problems?
Fundraising is Servant to Philanthropy
The more effective we are, the greater
the responsibility to raise funds
Mahatma Gandhi said "you
must be the change you wish to
see in the world.”
Axelrad Social Benefit Consulting
Clairification.blogspot.com
@charityclairity
Sponsored by: A Service
Of:
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