undertake and a time-line for doing them.
2. Board members can take on 10 -20 donors or prospects each year with the responsibility of
stewardship, and write to each one quarterly.
3. Board members can ask each one of their 10 – 20 donors or prospects for advice once a year,
regarding some issue facing the organization, keeping in mind the old saying: “If you ask for
money, you’ll get advice. If you ask for advice, you’ll get money.”
4. Board members can help solicit new members, sell raffle tickets, or ask members to renew as
part of a telephone campaign. Board members can do this together as a “phonathon” at a board
member’s work place.
5. Board members should make a personal, “stretch” gift to the Annual Fund each year.
The gift should be one of the top three largest charitable contributions they make each year.
6. Board members can use their company matching gift program to enhance the size of their gift.
7. Board members can commit 15-30 minutes to each meeting to sign solicitation, thank you, or
membership letters and write personal notes.
8. Board members can add something on their email signature to promote the organization: “I
am a fan of Organization X”; I am a proud board member of Organization X”; I am a proud donor
to Organization X” – all with a link to the organization’s website.
9. Board members should attend (as paying participants) ALL the organization’s fundraising
events, AND invite their colleagues, neighbors and friends to do likewise. If they can’t attend an
event, they should buy tickets anyway, and give to friends, family, or volunteers who can’t afford
them.
10. Board members should attend the Annual Meeting, Donor or Volunteer Recognition events,
stewardship or cultivation events.
11. Board members should add ten (10) new contact names to the organization’s database each
year.
12. All Board members should know the organization’s mission verbatim, understand the
fundraising initiatives and clearly articulate the organization’s funding needs. Staff should supply
the board with a 30-second “elevator speech” that each Board Member can share with their
network.
13. Board members should contribute at least two names each year of possible board members;
Be a mentor and role model to new board members.
14. Board members who own or know owners of retail establishments, restaurants, sports
outfitters can arrange a “cause-related marketing” contribution for your group. A dollar amount
from each sale goes to the organization. This raises visibility as well as money.
15. Board members who own a restaurant, a catering service, or a pub can put on a dinner or
wine-tasting at their establishment and donate all, or a large percentage, of the proceeds. Such
events can be repeated year after year, and usually do better each time they are held.
16. Board members can improve organizational membership by setting a goal and recruiting two
(or more) new members a month from among their friends, family, neighbors, business
associates, etc.
17. Board members who belong to a church or service club, or have friends who do, can solicit
the church or club for a donation for your organization. Many churches and clubs have small pools
of money available which often are overlooked by fundraisers.
18. Board members who work for banks, law firms, or other large companies can ask their firms
to buy a table or at least several tickets to an event and make these available as a fringe benefit
for their employees.
19. Board members with good corporate contacts can convince corporations to make donations to
the organization. Board members can set up meetings or set up a luncheon with the CEO of the
corporation and the executive director of your organization to “make the pitch”.
20. Board members who are good organizers can chair fundraising events, such as galas, golf
tournaments, concerts, festivals, or film benefits. Or, use their connections to get an interesting
venue donated for an event.
21. Board members who have special skills such as cooking, kayaking, publishing, etc. can do
“How To” workshops and charge admission. For instance, a local author of some renown might
put on a “How to Write” workshop and raise significant money for the organization.
22. Board members who are very good writers can prepare and send out proposals to foundations
or agree to edit the work of a staff member. This works best when the board member is very
involved with the program and knows it intimately.
23. Board members who are comfortable with social media can build a social media plan and
policy and make Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter available on the website.
24. Board members who are celebrities can lend their name or presence to market the
organization, to appear at events, etc., guaranteeing a good turnout and sometimes justifying a
higher admission fee.
25. Artist board members can donate a piece of their work to an auction or raffle. If the item is a
photograph or drawing, perhaps it can be reproduced and used as a gift to recognize major gifts,
or turned into note cards to sell for additional revenue.
26. Board members with expertise in media relations or marketing can get involved in promoting
events, membership campaigns, and other fundraising activities. Good marketing is often the key
to doing well on a fundraising effort.
27. Board members who are particularly generous can challenge the rest of the board with a
matching gift.
28. Board members who own manufacturing companies or stores can donate items to your
organization to be used in fundraising. For example, a canoe manufacturer can donate a canoe for
a raffle or auction, a clothing manufacturer can donate hats for use as membership premiums,
etc.
29. Board members can open their homes to host “house parties.” This works best if the board
member takes on most of the work involved, including preparing the food (or hiring a caterer),
securing entertainment, if any, and addressing and mailing the invitations.
30. Board members can put the organization in their will, make it the beneficiary of their
insurance policy, or consider other planned giving options.
