Archive for the ‘Boards & Leadership’ Category
“Why Don’t Board Members Do What They Are Supposed To Do?”
Posted by JBA in Boards & Leadership, Major Gift Solicitation, Prospect Research, Stewardship, Workshops & Learning Opportunities on July 7th, 2011
In May and June of this year, I facilitated a webinar nationally, titled “Why Don’t Board Members Do What They Are Supposed To Do?” The webinar topic turned out to be very popular and relevant. I am including the link to the recording (voice and power point together). If you were not one of the nonprofit organizaitons who had the opportunity to participate in the webinar, this is a great way to do it. I would recommend this as a resource for anyone who works with boards on financial development. To access the link, please click here: Webinar Recording 6-30-11, then wait a few moments for the connection from Webex.com to bring up the recorded webinar. It is 52 minutes in length.
“Why Don’t Board Members Do What They Are Supposed To Do?”
Posted by JBA in Boards & Leadership, Campaign Planning & Management, Workshops & Learning Opportunities on March 14th, 2011
Gary Rick and Jeffrey Byrne of JB&A will be facilitating a FREE workshop for nonprofit executive staff and their board members in Erie, PA on Monday, April 11th from 9 – 11:30 am at the Bel-Aire Clarion Conference Center, 2800 West 8th St., Erie. It is hosted by the Erie Nonprofit Partnership.
The topic is one of the comments often heard in relation to nonprofit fundraising. Before we lay blame for our fundraising shortfalls, we will review organizational best practices and some real-life positive strategies and examples in engaging board members. One of the unique features of this workshop is a panel discussion featuring three local nonprofit directors, each accompanied by a member of their Board. The focus of this workshop is on sharing best practices in creating a path to take unengaged board members and move them from a fear of fundraising to an enthusiasm for your case for support. You will learn that fundraising is not just about the money! The workshop is targeted for Executive Directors, CEOs, Development Directors and Board Chairs or other Board Leaders.
Questions About Fundraising Issues and Best Practices?
Posted by JBA in Boards & Leadership, Campaign Planning & Management, Capacity Building, Database Management, Donor Cultivation, Fundraising in a Recession, Legal, Legislative & Tax, Major Gift Solicitation, Planned Giving, Prospect Research on February 2nd, 2011
As a fundraising consultant, I am often asked questions regarding the financial development process. Many of these questions can be answered by going to the Jeffrey Byrne & Associates, Inc. website and clicking on News and Resources. This displays a list of hundreds of free downloadable articles written by professional fundraising consultants over the last ten years on a multitude of fundraising topics.
A Remarkable Act of Generosity
Posted by JBA in Boards & Leadership, Donor Cultivation on August 18th, 2009
“[W]hatever you do … don’t ever forget that people always come first. If you pay attention to them and show that you care every bit as much about them as you do their philanthropy, well, truly wonderful things can happen.”
We have all heard about donors making million-dollar-plus gifts and the impact such generosity had on the recipient charity. In America, this generosity is evidenced regularly with hundreds, even thousands of million-dollar gifts occurring annually.
Like most fundraisers, I think about what truly motivates a person to give that much away and what I can do to see about getting such a gift for my clients. There is no doubt that a worthy organization with a particularly compelling need can be successful in attracting seven-figure gifts. But, I have found over the years that almost as important is taking the time to get to know your donors and paying particular attention to “the little things.”
Linking Your Needs With Their Desires
Posted by JBA in Boards & Leadership on July 16th, 2009
“We have a good, committed board, but we just can’t get them to fundraise.”
“Our board is committed and willing, but we need help understanding our role.”
And so goes the perennial dialectic among development professionals and board members: Organizations think they are clear in setting hoped-for objectives and asking for help. Volunteers want to help, but don’t know how to engage.
Does this sound familiar within your organization? What can you do to clear the lines of communication to help volunteers connect with your needs in a way that moves your organization forward?
Are you making general pleas to everyone generally (and no one specifically) for help running a special event, asking for members of solicitation teams, recruiting new leadership, etc., as a regular (and ineffective) part of your volunteer meetings? Or are you asking in a way that allows the volunteer to act?
In fundraising, we know that a personal visit with a specific ask is the most effective way to solicit gifts. Are you thinking about how we use this best practice to help board members, campaign steering committee members and other fundraising volunteers engage?
You might start by considering some excellent pointers from my colleague, Rita Galowich of Fund Inc., on ways to more effectively work with board members and other volunteers. Here’s a link to her article, Maximizing Your Board Members’ Time.