Welcome to the fourth and final part series by Simone Joyaux about your board and fundraising. We thank our colleague and friend, Simone, for writing this series. As always, Simone is clear-thinking and strong-minded. She has no fear of debunking commonly held beliefs and she always makes wonderfully good sense.

Don’t confuse the board and its individual board members.

The board is accountable for corporate governance. Corporate governance is the process whereby a group of individuals (e.g., the board) ensures the health and effectiveness of the organization. Corporate governance is a collective act and only happens when the board is together at its meetings. Read the role of the board, posted in the Free Download Library on my website. (See the link at the end of this post.)

How does the board ensure the institution’s financial integrity and sustainability? How does the board fulfill this due diligence obligation articulated in its job description? The board adopts a budget and fund development plan. The board reviews the audit. The board talks about fund development results, trends and implications. The board adopts policies that define the role of board members in fund development. See this outlined in my due diligence plan, posted in the Free Download Library. (See link below.)

And board members – not the board – participate in the fund development process. Yes, board members. There’s a big difference between the board and the board member. Please do not confuse the two. See the performance expectations of the individual board member, posted in the Free Download Library. (See link below.)

I want my board members to be leadership volunteers outside of the board and committee meetings. I expect my board members to inconvenience themselves on behalf of the organization. And so I expect all board members to participate in fund development (relationship building and solicitation). That’s what leaders do.

Every single board member can help with fund development – but only if you, the staff, enable them well. Every single board member can be successful in fund development — but only if you, the staff, understand that fund development is not about money.

Every single board member can be successful in fund development – but only if you, the staff, understand that fund development is not about money.

Instead, fund development focuses on helping donors and prospects fulfill their aspirations.

Create a menu of choices for your board members. Negotiate with every single board member every single year, outlining what each of them will do in fund development for that year.

Effectively enable your board members. Without that leadership by staff, board members will not be effective or successful.

And stop thinking that either your board or your board members exist to help fundraise. Stop that right now!

Read more about the roles of the board the Free Download Library on Simone’s website.

See the other three parts of this series on Your Board and Fundraising by Simone Joyaux:

Part 1: Stop it! Stop it!

Part 2: Building the Best Board

Part 3: Building a Fundraising Board

For more Asking Matters resources on Boards and Fundraising, watch this video by Jeanette Neff on how she felt about asking her fellow board members for gifts.

And see the recorded training on Creating a Culture of Asking by Andrea Kihlstedt.  Note, this is a members only section of the site. Not a member yet? Join NOW.