Board

The 20-year partnership between Seattle Public Schools and the Alliance for Education, its fundraising arm, will be significantly restructured. The School Board voted six to one Wednesday to empower the superintendent to end the district’s formal relationship with the alliance. But board President Sherry Carr said she was open to working with it on a…

To celebrate Trustees Week we asked people who sit on charity boards what motivates them. From wanting to give back to their communities to meeting new people and learning valuable skills, trustees have explained why they’ve taken on their vital roles. Using the hashtag #whyimatrustee, people have been tweeting why they work in over a…

For the majority of nonprofits, 100 percent of boards should be contributing financially. And yet, evidence actually points to the contrary happening. How can you reasonably expect others to contribute financially to your organization if the members of your board do not?

Nonprofits, like NFL teams, should do research to see what volunteers (players) can fill specific roles. When done well, selection of player-volunteers can mean the difference between having an average board or an outstanding one. Have you ever thought of board recruitment as a draft-day scenario? If not, it is time to change to make a paradigm shift...

We have to remember that most board members are naturally hesitant about fundraising. After all, nobody wants to be asked to hit up their friends. Or hit up anybody for that matter. But there are many ways board members can help in fundraising. In this video, I explore five easy ways that trustees can help impact the bottom line...

We’ve all been there. Feeling unappreciated. Working for organizations where you’re the fifth development director in three years. Mired in dysfunction. It can all get a bit discouraging sometimes. But remember, your leadership is a process, and it’s not going to happen overnight. This will take commitment, dedication and persistence...

Citing unnamed "multiple sources," the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the top fiscal official at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco has filed a whistle-blower complaint alleging financial misconduct by the organization's board president, noted Bay Area philanthropist Diane B. "Dede" Wilsey. Michele Gutierrez, the museums' longtime chief financial officer, claims Wilsey got her…

It is the responsibility of every executive director and development director to help their board members find their comfort zones in fundraising. Not every board member has to be involved in asking donors for support, but every board member needs to participate in a meaningful way in the identification, education, invitation and appreciation of donors.…

Volunteers are not fundraising professionals. You have to show strong leadership in guiding and coaching them to success. Paint a picture of the outcomes you will achieve. Show them how the right strategy will work. Make them feel comfortable with their roles...

Have your board members lost their enthusiasm? Have they lost their energy to create change and make a difference? Have they checked out? Nonprofit boards can’t run on fumes. You have to keep their motors primed or they will run out of steam. But keeping that energy level up isn’t as difficult as you might think. Here’s my recipe for creating change, renewing enthusiasm and firing up these lovely people who care so much about your cause...