2015-11-10 building a strong fundraising board
TRANSCRIPT
Thrive. Grow. Achieve.
Building a Strong Fundraising Board
Dick Walker, Senior Consultant Orr Associates, Inc.
November 10, 2015
Prepared for Raffa Learning Community November 10, 2015 Dick Walker, Senior Consultant Orr Associates, Inc.
Building a Strong Fundraising Board
© 2015 Orr Associates, Inc. (OAI)
• Me
• You
• Today
Introduction
• The Size and Structure of Your Board Matters
• Recruit the Right Team
• Fundraising is Every Board Member’s Job
Agenda
The Size and Structure of Your Board Matters
• Big boards
• Smaller boards
Size
• Terms
• Term limits
Structure
• Internally focused
• Externally focused
Committees
• Board
• Committees
• Succession
Leadership
Recruit the Right Team
• Commitment to the Mission
• A Philanthropic Spirit
• Financial Capacity
The Three Essential Qualities
First Quarter Orient new board – identify needs for
next year using your board profile
Second Quarter Determine renewals and retirements and have conversations with both – identify candidates who meet identified needs
Third Quarter Interview candidates using a job
description – determine a “slate” to be presented to the full board
Fourth Quarter Approve the slate – inform new and
renewed board members/celebrate the services of those rotating off the board
Board Recruitment
Profile Your Board Tier Member Name Affiliation Source
Assigned To Industry / Profession Skills / Exp
Mar
ketin
g / P
R / M
edia
Healt
hcar
eBa
nking
/ Ac
coun
ting
Inve
stmen
tsLe
gal
Socia
l Wor
k / H
RBu
sines
s Dev
elopm
ent
Neigh
borh
ood L
eade
r
Insu
ranc
eFu
ndra
ising
/ Ev
ent P
lannin
g
Mar
ketin
g / P
RM
anag
emen
tTe
chno
logy
(IT)
Fina
ncial
Acco
untin
gLe
gal
• Advocacy for the organization and its mission
• Service/attendance
• Fundraising activity/financial support
• Governance participation
• Knowledge of the organization
• Access to information and confidentiality
• Collective and personal evaluation
Board Job Description
• Keep in mind your organization’s plan and its immediate priorities
• Seek new board members for what they can do to help address priorities
• In other words, recruit board members for what they do, not who they are
Recruit for Your Organizational Priorities
Sectors Skills Demographics Other Factors
Local industry Legal Age Nonprofit Board Experience
High Tech Finance & Accounting Gender Personal Wealth
Government Investment Race “Plays well with others”
Developers Human Resources Residence Corporate or foundation ties
Legal Government Relations Ties to other organizations
Education Marketing
Health Care IT
Banking Fundraising
Retail
Nonprofit
Board Diversity
• Recognize
• Involve
• Seek Counsel
• Re-enlist
Past Board Members
Fundraising is Every Board Member’s Job
• Give Generously
• Be an Advocate
• Participate in Fundraising
The Big Three
• Setting expectations
• The annual contract
• Board goes first
• 100% participation
Give Generously
• Heart
• Head
Be an Advocate
• Identify
• Cultivate
• Ask
• Thank
Participate in Fundraising
Questions and Discussion