I believe that all fundraisers must serve on a board. I believe that all executive directors must serve on a board. And that means you! No matter how busy you are.

How can a professional expect to work well with board members if that professional doesn't know what it feels like to be a board member? How can you as a fundraiser effectively engage and manage board members as they help with fund development activities? How can an executive director complain about a weak board? How can I as a consultant give advice to boards about fund development or governance or strategic planning?

You know the old saying: read more

Yes, indeed, I think fundraisers and fundraising consultants scare board members. I think the way fundraisers -  staff or consultants - talk about fund development causes most of the avoidance problems. And I worry that it isn't just the way fundraisers talk about fund development. I worry it's the way fundraisers think about fund development!

For example: Do you ask your board members to contact their friends and colleagues to buy event tickets or give charitable gifts? Bad! Instead, ask your board members to identify those who might be interested. Then explore that possible interest, that possible link. And qualify them as prospects or leave them alone.

For example: read more

I'm a donor to lots of organizations. My life partner and I give away at least 10% of our annual income to charitable organizations - and 100% of our estate goes to charity.

But not many organizations have asked me why. Darn few have really explored the feelings and interests behind my gifts.

What questions do you wish organizations would ask you as a donor? What questions do you ask your donors? Here are just a few questions I wish organizations would ask me:

1.   What interests you most about our organization? What is less interesting to you?

2.   Why did you make your first gift to our organization? (Thanks, Richard Radcliffe, U.K. legacy consultant, for this one.)

3.   If you had a personal mission statement or slogan, what would it say? read more