Too often, when nonprofit leaders say, “My board won’t fundraise,” what they really mean is:
“My board doesn’t know what fundraising looks like anymore.”
That is not a character issue. It is a capacity issue.
For too long, we have defined board fundraising too narrowly: asking for money, making calls, attending events, and chasing donations.
But development has changed.
At PNWF, we believe Development is a Team Sport. That means board engagement must be redefined to include more than traditional solicitation.
Capacity is not just financial. Capacity is also digital, relational, and shared.
A board member who:
- shares your campaign on social media
- makes a warm introduction
- thanks a donor
- tells your story publicly
- participates in peer-to-peer fundraising
…is doing development work.
They are building trust. They are expanding visibility. They are increasing credibility. They are helping create the conditions for giving.
That counts.
The old “give/get” model is too small for the world we live in now.
Not every board member will ask for a major gift. But every board member can be an ambassador.
And when organizations train their boards for ambassadorship — not just solicitation — everything changes:
More participation. More confidence. More reach. More sustainable fundraising.
Maybe the problem is not that your board will not fundraise.
Maybe the problem is that we have not given them a modern definition of what fundraising really is.
Eddie Allen
Pacific Northwest Fundraising
Schedule a meeting: https://meetings.hubspot.com/eddie94