John’s at his wit’s end with his board. He can’t get them engaged in fundraising strategy or tactics. Every board meeting he reports the revenue numbers and the latest sexy fundraising ideas he’s come across. Why won’t they get engaged? Why won’t they think strategically?
Jami’s overflowing with gratitude for her board. She pinches herself at least once per meeting as board members dive deep into strategic thinking about funding her organization’s future. She hears enthusiastic “Yes, and” statements so much she’s forgotten the bad old “No, because” days. Her board members generate good ideas and gladly take personal action.
Jami engaged her board chair first as her leadership partner. She carefully planned meaty strategic fundraising questions guaranteed to intrigue, not bore, her smart and accomplished chair so the chair could in turn engage the board.
John tried to engage his entire board at once. He should have started with his chair and let the strategic engagement goodness flow down from that leadership partnership, and then circulate down and back up through the board like a gooey chocolate fountain.
Don’t be like John. He doesn’t even like chocolate. (Weird.) Be like Jami, and start a strategic conversation with your board chair using these four provocative questions:
Read more in my guest post at Marc Pitman’s The Fundraising Coach blog …
[Guest Post] 4 Fundraising Questions for Your Board Chair
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