When the Money Disappears: Leading Through a Sudden Funding Loss

Categories: Best Nonprofit Practices · Board Member Roles · Fundraising · Good Board Practices · Good Corporate Praactices · Leadership · Nonprofit FundingTags: · · Leave a comment

I have been reflecting on what happens when nonprofits suddenly lose funding, especially as the federal government cuts so many grants right now. Years ago, I served on the board of a nonprofit where this happened with a state grant. I served on the board of another organization where a major individual donor drastically cut their funding. And I have heard stories from other organizations that had state, federal, or foundation grants they had received for years, suddenly stopped. As I think about these various cases, I am struck by how much of the outcome is determined by decisions made… Read more

Hosting a Fundraiser? Share the Guest List

Categories: Best Nonprofit Practices · Fundraising · Good Board Practices · Nonprofit FundingTags: · · 1 Comment

A board chair shared two experiences around fundraising where unclear expectations led to frustration and lost connections for the organization. Because of these incidents, she asserts that while board members have a vital role to play in fundraising, the organization should own the relationships. And she maintains that if the host of an event will not share the guest list and contact information, it is not worth having the event. Boards Connect; Staff Own Relationships As told by a Board Chair somewhere in the U.S. I’ve been on a lot of boards over the years. And one thing I’ve learned… Read more

How to Get Board Members to Fundraise? Engage Them in the Mission

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I interviewed Hal Abrams, a major gift consultant, about how to involve board members in fundraising. He said the first step is to engage them in the mission. Tell me about what you do. Many organizations live hand to mouth off their gala or just one big push. As a major gift consultant, I try to help nonprofits be more efficient with their time and change their processes to build relationships with donors and to help donors accomplish their philanthropic goals. What role do board members have in fundraising? Board members have an important role in fundraising. But I think… Read more

How Do We Keep Helping the Kids?

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I spoke to the board chair of an organization that works in community mental health. Reflecting on the last year and a half, he described how the board focused on making sure their organization could continue providing vital services. He expressed their commitment to the core work which meant the board stepping up to raise sufficient funds. Kids’ Problems Don’t Go Away As told by a Board Chair somewhere in the U.S. My organization serves kids and families coping with mental illness, substance abuse, and violence. We work in schools as well as directly. When COVID hit, the board’s first… Read more

COVID Forces Hard Decisions

Categories: Board Member Roles · Fundraising · Good Board Practices · LeadershipTags: Leave a comment

I spoke with the CEO and several board members of an organization that focuses on immigrants and refugees. We talked about the impact of COVID, protests, and the election on their organization and the people they serve – and how the board was involved in the tough decisions they have had to make. Work with Your Board to Develop Contingency Plans CEO: We went into the pandemic thinking we would be tapping our board to do more. There were lots of questions of the impact it would have on the economy, on foundations, on philanthropy. Our board has a governance… Read more