fundraising

A recent study has uncovered some surprising facts about board members and their role in fundraising.

The study has not yet released its formal report, but ProBono News has revealed some of the results.

  • ..board members are giving and serving in many ways but few have fundraising as a clear expectation in their governance role or receive any training in it.
  • “Fundraising was not mentioned at recruitment for the vast majority of board members and no board member respondent received any fundraising training on joining the board.”
  • Some 63% of respondent organisations have a fundraising policy, 83% have a fundraising plan but only 13% have a board fundraising policy. While 90% have position descriptions for fundraising staff, only 17% have board position descriptions that include fundraising.
  • The research emphasised that from recruitment onwards, Australian board members lack a clearly communicated expectation that fundraising is part of their role.

The survey found that CEO’s of not for profit organisations played the most important role in fundraising for their organisations.

That suggests two options.  Firstly, the organisation can invest in the training of the CEO so he or she has the skills and knowledge needed for the fundraising element of the role.  However, the question that should be asked is whether the CEO is the right person for the role. Often the CEO inherits the fundraising role because no one else is driving, and because they are the most visible person in the organisation.  Will they be able to manage that properly while still fulfilling their other duties?

The second option is to introduce the concept of fundraising responsibilities at board level from the point of recruitment.  While they might not have to go selling tickets to the general public, there are things that they can contribute because of their board membership.

They are in the perfect position to:

  • Identify prospective new donors
  • Identify and develop new fundraising opportunities
  • Meet potential sponsors
  • Introduce themselves to corporate sponsors.

If you decide that your board members should have a role in fundraising for your not for profit organisation you will need to introduce a policy to detail expectations.  Here is a Board fundraising policy template that will help you.

The results of the survey are due out later this month.