After thirty years of service to nonprofit leaders, our archives are rich in resources. Last week I ran across a 2006 paper in our files from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) titled “Tips on Succession Planning,” and it really caught my eye.
Some principles of board engagement stand the test of time, including those that follow from that AFP article on board succession planning, which I happily share with you today, with only a few edited updates, this many years later!
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?”.
I recently accompanied a client to a meeting with a fund manager at a national bank. The fund manager oversees several family foundations and community trusts based in Tarrant County, some of which had funded our client’s organization in the past. We wanted to meet so that the new Development Director could introduce herself, share recent updates, and get feedback on the grant process. Over coffee, the fund manager encouraged her to apply to any trusts in her portfolio that seemed like a good fit for the organization’s mission and programs. Her strategy when reviewing applications was to review each application on behalf of the trust itself, not the bank. So, receiving multiple applications during the same grant cycle from the same organization was not discouraged. In fact, it was welcomed.
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:
