Create a Fundraising Action Plan for Your Board MembersAnd Put Them to Work Where You Need Them

April 12, 2010

Gail Perry CFREwww.gailperry.com

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Agenda

Your own work first – get yourself ready

Five steps to put them to work where you want them

Structure and support to make it happen

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First: What YOU Have To Do

1.Get to know your board members.

2.Choose what fundraising jobs you want them to do.

3.Allocate your own time for this project.

4.Enlist your board leadership first.

5.Create a snappy brand name.

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Psych Yourself Up

Be ready to lead them

Be the cheerleader

Set realistic expectations

Make it fun

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Five Steps to Create and Implement a Fundraising Action Plan With Your Board

Step One: Fire up your board about the cause

Step Two: Crucial conversations to inspire new attitudes

Step Three: The right tools and skills

Step Four: Very specific jobs to do

Step Five: A great reporting and support structure

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Step One: Fire Up Your Board About the Cause

• Mission moments

• Testimonials

• Field trips

• Your impact

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No Boring Meetings!

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Step 2: Three Crucial Conversations

To Inspire New Attitudes

1.What are we raising money for?

2.Why do you care about our cause?

3.Why are volunteers so powerful?

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Most Board Members’ Definition of Fundraising

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Board Members ThinkFundraising = Cold Calls

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Board Members Think:

Fundraising = Begging

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Step 3: TrainingGive Them the Right Tools and Skills

• Friendraising

• The process of fundraising

• Relationship building

• It’s NEVER about money

• High intention low pressure

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Step 4: Give Them Very Specific Jobs

• Narrow, narrow focus

• Keep it very simple

• They get to choose

• Not too many choices

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Step 4: Give Them Very Specific Jobs

1. VIP Prospect List

2. Hosting tours

3. Hosting socials (door openers)

4. Tables at the gala

5. Thank you phone calls

6. Following up after events

7. Accompanying you on visits and calls

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Fundraising IS… A Process

Plenty of Activities for Board Members

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Time and Energy Spent in Each Part of the Fundraising Cycle

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Time and Energy Spent in Each Part of the Fundraising Cycle

identify

involve

warm up

ask

followup

thank

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Step 5: Set Your Board Members

Up To Win

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Step 5: Reporting and Support Structure Create Ownership

• It’s MINE!

• Task forces

• Team leaders

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Guidelines for a Crackerjack Structure

1. Each person makes their own commitment

2. Specific time frame

3. Clearly identified project

4. Clearly identified goal

5. Clearly identified beneficial outcomes

6. Clearly defined jobs – no questions or dilly-dallying

7. Proper Set up

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A Set-Up That Creates Ownership

Let them

• choose what they want to do

• set their own goals

• take the responsibility

Encourage competition

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Step 5: Setting Goals How To Get Them To Agree To Do It

• What do we want to

accomplish?

• What results do we want

to create?

• What will happen if we

reach these goals?

• What will happen if

we miss these goals?

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Step 5: Setting Goals How To Get Them To Agree To Do It

• Vision the result – big and juicy • Inspire their sense of possibility and vision • What will it take from this board to make this happen?• What will it take from me? • Is it business as usual? • Go around the table and let people say what they want to do

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“Moral Support” is Essential

• Board Chair

• Team Leaders • Peer Support • Support = communication • Coaching, encouraging • Checking in

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Peer Pressure

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Keep Fundraising High On Your Board’s Agenda – 9 Questions

1.What could we do if we raised more money?

2.What do you most need board members to do this year?

3.Why are board members important?

4.What will it take to get us to a higher goal?

5.What’s working and what’s not working so well?

6.What are the trends in our various fundraising strategies?

7.What will happen if we miss goal?

8. How can a board member help open the door?

9. How do our fundraising programs work?

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Step Five: On Going Reinforcement

• The art of the gentle reminder• Leading by example• Emails and communication about progress• Share news of success• Praise successful board members in front of the others

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What Will Ruin Everything

• Finger wagging

• Talking down

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Is This Your Board?Is This Your Board?

Let’s go for it!

May 11: Parties with a Purpose: Turn Your Fundraising Event into the Best Party in Town

May 13: “No Ask” Fundraising Strategies for Board MembersJune 3: The Board Members’ Guide to Asking and Never Ever Getting Turned Downt

“Friendmaking for Board Members Seminar”Take your board from fear of fundraising to excitement and enthusiasm

in a half day with Gail

Tons of Resources on Gail’s BLOGTwitter Facebook, LinkedIn

Re-Invigorate Your Fundraising Programs with Gail

Next Webinars

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Gail Perry Associates

Gail Perry 124 Hillcrest RoadRaleigh, NC 27616

919.821.3050gail@gailperry.comwww.gailperry.com