9 MORE Ways Board Members Can Raise Money Without Fundraising

I was blown away by the popularity of my post earlier this year, 9 Ways Board Members Can Raise Money Without Fundraising. It seems so obvious to me that there are a million different ways for board members to contribute to the bottom-line of their nonprofits, that it didn’t occur to me that a list like that could be so valuable. But apparently it was.

So I want to add to the list, to give people even more ideas for how their board can contribute to the financial engine of their nonprofit without ever asking for money. And maybe with all of these options, more nonprofits will institute a requirement that EVERY board member contribute (either with a personal gift or by implementing some of these ideas) financially to the organization.
So here are 9 more ways that board members who are fundraising “shy” can raise money for their nonprofit:

1. Invite 5 Friends to Tour the Program
   If you feel truly passionate about the work of the nonprofit you serve, then you should want to show your friends that work. You show off your new car, your son’s graduation photos, or your best recipes, why wouldn’t you want to show off something that is near and dear to your heart–the organization you spend many hours a year supporting and building? And if one of your friends feels the spark and wants to become involved with the nonprofit themselves then that is a new supporter you’ve found for the organization.

1. Talk About Your Nonprofit on Facebook
   You talk about everything else on your Facebook page, why not dedicate a post or two to your favorite nonprofit? Share a recent blog post from the agency, or pictures of the children you work with, or an invitation to the next tour. And do the same on Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, wherever you currently hang out. If even just a few of your friends noticed and started to become involved you could be bringing new supporters to the organization.

1. Show Up to One of Your Nonprofit’s Events
   Just the simple act of being present at a prospecting or donor event could have huge benefit for your nonprofit. A potential donor who sees and talks with board members from the organization is going to be much more likely to give. The board lends an enormous amount of credibility to an organization. People who witness a board member’s support in person and get to chat with them about why they serve and what they love about the organization could easily become new donors.

1. Tell The Story Of Why You Serve
   If you feel really passionate about your nonprofit, capture that story. Let your nonprofit do a video interview of you, or write your story down yourself. These stories are gold to a nonprofit. They can turn your story into a YouTube video, a blog post, an e-newsletter article, a section on their website, a Facebook post and on and on. It’s a domino effect. If they can demonstrate to others the passion and commitment that exists on their board, they can translate that into more support.

1. Help Craft a Case for Support
   It’s really hard for a nonprofit to raise money if they don’t have a compelling argument for why someone should give. Encourage your fellow board members and the organization staff to sit down together to craft a case for support. The exercise of articulating why someone outside the organization should care strengthens the organization’s ability to ask for money and energizes and re-engages board and staff in the process.

1. Analyze Your Networks

   Every single one of us is part of many networks. Our circle of friends, our co-workers, our neighbors, our fellow church-goers, other parents at our kids’ school. The list goes on and on. If you took 20-30 minutes to analyze all of the people you know and whether they might have an interest in your nonprofit and the capacity to give a gift, you could uncover some  prospects for your organization. But don’t worry, just because you come up with those prospect names doesn’t mean you have to ask them for money. You can give those names to the executive director or development director and ask them to pursue them as a potential lead.

1. Go on a Solicitation Call. 

   I know this list is for board members who DON’T want to make the ask. But simply going on a call doesn’t mean you ever have to actually ask for money. Leave that up to the executive director or development director who go with you. When a prospect is ready for the ask, you should go in pairs, and the staff member/board member pair is ideal. The staff member can do the actual asking, and the board member can be there to voice the community’s support for and investment in the organization. And that demonstration of support and investment goes a long way to turning a prospect into a donor.

1. Educate a Funder About the Power of Capacity Capital
   Capacity capital is the money your nonprofit so desperately needs to build a stronger, more effective organization. But because it is a new kind of money in the sector, funders need to understand why it is so important and why they should give it. If you could convince just one funder of the power of a capacity capital investment to transform the fundraising function of your nonprofit (to pay for a new donor database, or a Development Director for example) you could greatly increase your organization’s ability to raise money over the long-term.

1. Give a Gift

   You don’t have to ask anyone for money if you actually give a gift yourself. It amazes me how many board members serve on a board but never actually write the organization a check. If you truly believe in the organization enough to volunteer your time, expertise, connections and experience, then why wouldn’t you make a financial investment as well? And that financial investment should hurt a little bit, otherwise how can you expect anyone else to make the financial sacrifices necessary to keep the organization strong?

I really could go on and on. To me, there is an endless list of ways board members can contribute to the financial sustainability of the nonprofit they serve. The trick is helping them realize that. Maybe these lists will give you some ways to start that conversation with your board.

And if you want to find out other ways for getting your board involved in fundraising, join us for our Jump Starting Your Board webinar.

Photo Credit: Jon Sullivan

About the Author: Nell Edgington is President of Social Velocity (www.socialvelocity.net), a management consulting firm leading nonprofits to greater social impact and financial sustainability. Social Velocity helps nonprofits grow their programs, bring more money in the door, and use resources more effectively. For more information, check out Social Velocity consulting services and clients.

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Related posts:

1. 9 Ways Board Members Can Raise Money Without Fundraising
2. How to Raise Money to Strengthen Your Nonprofit
3. Ways to Raise Money in a Recession

Tags:  capacity building, income, individual donors, innovators, leadership, nonprofit, planning, social, social entrepreneurship, Social Media

About Nell Edgington

Nell Edgington is President of Social Velocity (www.socialvelocity.net), a management consulting firm leading nonprofits to greater social impact and financial sustainability. Social Velocity helps nonprofits grow their programs, bring more money in the door, and use resources more effectively. For more information, check out Social Velocity services and clients.