Five Strategies to Help Spark Board Fundraising

“At the party, have one client speak for three minutes about what the organization has meant in his or her life. Then have one staff person speak for another three minutes,” Masaoka writes. “Next explain to the group why you’re on the board, and why you think the organization is important.”

Ask party-goers if they have any questions you can answer and urge them to make a contribution before leaving the party. “Tell them that you’ll give them two cupcakes to take home if they make a contribution before they leave (that gives them a ‘reason’ to write the check that evening),” she adds.

3. Write a letter and send it to 10 friends and relatives. Explain why you volunteer your time to serve on the board and ask them to consider making a donation to the organization. Be sure to include the organization’s name and address. Give the list of the names of the people you mail to the organization’s development staff and ask them to notify you immediately if any of them donate.

4. Volunteer to match contributions from other board members. “Tell the board that you will match, dollar for dollar, every contribution from a board member within the next 30 days, to a total of $2,000,” Masaoka writes. But tell them you’ll only do it if every board member makes a contribution.

5. Partner with two or three other people on the board and pledge sizeable gifts. Write a letter to all board members that announces this, listing your names, the pledge amounts and the reasons for the pledges, and ask fellow board members to join you in making a donation.

“After a few of these steps are taken and a few months go by,” Masaoka writes, “fundraising will be less mysterious and more familiar to board members, and the board may be open to agreeing on standards of board participation.”