Board

Fundraisers from all walks of life are encountering many challenges these days, but what do the C-level executives see as the most important issues facing the sector? At the Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation’s 2010 New York Nonprofit Conference, three top nonprofit executives joined moderator Tom Harrison, president and CEO of Russ Reid, to discuss these issues in a two-part session, “Cracking the Shell: Open Dialogue & Discussion With America’s Top Nonprofit C-Level Executives on the Sector’s Most Pressing Issues."

In their presentation held on July 28 at the 2010 Bridge Conference in National Harbor, Md., "Marketing and Fundraising for Campaigns, Special Initiatives and Anniversary Celebrations," Jeanne G. Jacob, executive director of Goodwin House Foundation, and Barbara Ciconte, senior vice president of Donor Strategies, offered some great tips for successful fundraising. Here are some highlights.

My perspective on boards is unique both in its optimism and its frustration. As a for-profit consultant helping nonprofits create a great experience for their board members, I see the tremendous opportunities if a few important pieces are brought into alignment. But as a nonprofit board member myself, I am often left unsatisfied by my experience, lose my passion and find my eyes wandering to another board on which I could do more good - and have more fun.

One of the first myths I learned when I started my nonprofit career can be stated in two words: “Boards fundraise.” Some do, though generally that consists of getting their corporations to contribute or selling tickets to your special events to their friends. These are not, of course, bad things. To the contrary, they are quite good. They are not, however, fundraising. Nor, I would argue, is fundraising asking your friend for a gift in exchange for a gift of the same amount that you will give to the nonprofit where he or she is involved. That, however, is how most board members view fundraising, and it plays a big part in why they don’t want to be involved.

Lynn Edmonds, president, L.W. Robbins Associates
Loyal donors are being conservative but holding on. Since the spring, we have seen a slight increase in giving in some audiences but not all. And in certain cases, we have been able to reactivate lapsed donors by decreasing the gift asks.

You’ve probably seen the statistics — more than 73 percent of Americans are online, and online fundraising is growing year over year. And then there’s the fact that adding online communications to a nonprofit organization’s toolkit can more than double donors’ lifetime value. But even in the face of these compelling facts and figures, you’re still behind.

Rather than focusing your dollars and resources on raising money offline, it’s time to shift your strategic focus to the online world. You see the need, but there’s an obstacle that lies between your technology investment and your strategic online initiatives: your board.

November 15, 2009, The Chronicle of Philanthropy — Though many companies have cut back on their donations during the recession, employee volunteerism is thriving, according to a new survey.

November 11, 2009, The Chronicle of Philanthropy — A coalition of nonprofit groups today announced a campaign to unite civilian and military organizations in community-service projects to help military personnel, veterans, and their families — and described more than 30 specific projects.

October 29, 2009, Third Sector Online — Volunteering levels have remained almost static over the past year in England, according to the Communities and Local Government department's latest citizenship survey, which was published yesterday.

October 23, 2009 — Nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles are facing difficult fiscal challenges in the economic downturn, but many have fared better than expected in preserving staffing, programs and expenditures and have seen an increase in volunteers, according to a new report by the Center for Civil Society at the UCLA School of Public Affairs.