Engaging the Board of Trustees

* make donations significantly higher than your average level of donation;

* donate at seemingly strange times;

* give cumulatively high gifts; and

* occasionally give larger gifts.

As you will know, it takes time to develop a major-donor fundraising programme. I suggest that you don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Proactively seek additional routes to major donors whilst you explore the true potential of your trustees.

Finally, when you do get the right group of people on board, be clear about what you are asking them to do. In my experience, few boards will do what you expect of them when left to their own devices.

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