I have heard from many Executive Directors and Board Chairs over the years who share a common frustration. “We can’t get our board to do anything. There is so much to accomplish for our mission, but we feel like we’re not getting help beyond attendance at meetings.” My first thought in response is almost always, “but have you asked for specific help and if so, in what way?”.
It is “high season” for our community’s nonprofit events, campaigns, and board meetings, which inspired me to pull this “Key Points Summary” regarding developing volunteer resources from a presentation I made a few years ago to our Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Chapter. It is from the handout we provided to accompany Project Partners’ presentation titled “Volunteers. You Can’t Live With Them. You Can’t Live Without Them.”, one of my favorites. (We know good things come to those who train!) Having served more than 250 boards, committees, and task forces, (and counting), I promise these principles stand the test of time and will help guarantee your success:
A tornado rips through a nearby neighborhood, displacing families from their homes.
An animal hoarding case is discovered, resulting in hundreds of pets in need of immediate medical care and adoption.
A power outage hits a community food bank, resulting in the spoilage of a devastating amount of donated groceries.
Crises like these make people feel compelled to help, to volunteer, and to donate. For nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable populations, there may be periods of time where every day feels like an emergency. When crisis strikes, a well-crafted campaign can bring in a lot of funds very quickly benefiting the donors (giving them a way to help), the organization, and most importantly the clients served. However, it is important to avoid slipping into what I call “fight or flight” fundraising – using messages of desperation or crisis to compel people to give to your organization on a regular basis. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
In addition to my professional work with nonprofits as a Senior Consultant with Project Partners, I also support a few organizations as a volunteer. Aside from the enjoyment of serving with other people with common interests and passions, I love being able to give back to my community in this way. There are also professional benefits, in that I learn so much along the way that I can share with clients. Over the Fourth of July weekend, I was given a fantastic lesson in board engagement.
Last month, we were delivering a strategic plan draft to one of our clients, an executive director of a small nonprofit. As the sole paid employee, supported by dedicated volunteers, she works tirelessly to empower underserved youth to reach their full potential. At one point, tears welled in her eyes. “To see our three-year plan laid out like this for us makes me emotional. It’s been on our list for so long, but with everything I must do to keep the programs on track, I never was able to take the time to get it done!” she said through a sniffle. This is not the first time a nonprofit leader we serve has become emotional and I doubt that it will be the last.
