Should You Adopt a 'Give or Get' Policy for Your Board?

4. How can we enforce this expectation?
This is the toughest question. Some boards adopt the give-or-get policy, but no one pays attention to it. Here's how to enforce it:

• The board chair cheerfully reminds everyone at each meeting of this policy. It is discussed openly.
• The executive committee cheerfully sets an example and encourages all the other board members to meet the expectation.
• The staff offers tools to help board members "get" the money they want to raise. For example: event tickets or sponsorships, lists of lapsed donors to call, a fun fundraising initiative everyone can get behind.

It's really up to the staff to help board members meet the give-or-get goal. Staff can encourage, remind, hand-hold and literally offer a fundraising path for well-meaning and dedicated board members to follow.

Don't abandon your board members when it comes to their fundraising responsibilities. Help them get there. Show them what to do. Give them training. And have some fun with it all!