Interested in learning more about engaging board members in fundraising activities? We’ve partnered with Story Point Consulting to offer a free webinar on July 13. Register here.

Every board of directors is made up of different members with varying skills and levels of experience in fundraising. More often than not, we hear from clients that their board members are rather hands off with their organization’s fundraising activities. So how do we get board members excited and involved in fundraising?

In today’s climate, where it can be so difficult for nonprofits to secure funding, it is very hard to have long-term financial stability without the help of your board members. And while it is easy to be frustrated when board members seem uninterested in fundraising activities, the key to a board that is engaged in fundraising is to communicate specific and easy ways for them to help.

Here are five fundraising activities that board members are generally excited to lead and participate in.

1. Sharing your organization’s impact through storytelling.

One often overlooked role of board members is their ability to act as ambassadors. When board members are armed with stories of the great work your organization is doing, it is easy for them to share stories of your impact with friends, colleagues, and other members of the community at large. When board members share your impact, it can help to pique the interest of prospective donors and volunteers, setting the stage for them to become contributors in the future. So set aside some time at board meetings to share stories of people who have been positively impacted by your organization’s work. Board members will be proud of their association with your organization, and happy to share.

2. Sharing gratitude with existing donors.

Board members are often the perfect people to contact existing donors and share a personalized word of thanks. Whether it’s asking board members to make phone calls, write handwritten cards or letters, or share a word of thanks on a video, gratitude is an easy way to get board members involved in fundraising. Not only is it a feel good activity for board members and donors alike, showing gratitude is also a wonderful way to engage donors without asking for more money. This activity sets the stage for future communications with your donors, and makes it more likely that you will retain their support in the future. To make this activity even easier for board members, provide them with phonetic pronunciation of donor names and details about the donor’s gift.

3. Creating a vision for the future.

Board members are responsible for the long-term financial stability for their organizations, so a great practical way to engage boards in fundraising is to encourage them to set fundraising goals each year. When board members have an understanding of how much money your organization has to bring in each year, it creates a target that is easy to measure and monitor. Once the plan is set, allow time at each board meeting to share with board members how the goal is progressing. Having their involvement at this level helps to generate interest, and gives them an opportunity to contribute their ideas on how to achieve the goal.

4. Recognizing special dates for existing donors.

Another easy way to encourage board members to develop relationships with donors, is to have them send personalized emails or handwritten notes to donors on special dates and milestones. Examples include recognizing a donor’s milestone birthday, special anniversary, or holiday celebration. These activities help to cultivate stronger relationships with existing donors, improving the chances of retaining their long-term support.

5. Representing your organization at community events and initiatives.

If your organization is presented with opportunities to attend events (virtual or in-person) or opportunities to network, consider inviting board members to attend alongside staff. This not only allows board members to introduce staff to their personal contacts, but also gives them an opportunity to share stories of your organization’s impact within the community. These activities expand your organization’s reach, and also allows board members to meet new people and share the story of the work your organization does. Storytelling can go a long way in cultivating relationships with current and prospective donors.

Offering your board members practical ways to get involved in fundraising activities not only helps to create a culture of fund development throughout your organization, but it also allows you to develop deeper relationships with prospective and existing donors alike. Besides, a great fund development plan takes a team to execute, so ensure you involve all members of the team by letting them know how they can help.

Roxanne Tackie is the Co-Founder of Story Point Consulting where collaborates with nonprofit professionals through coaching, training and consulting. You can reach her at info@storypoint.ca.