Your Board – Year-End
FIRST…breathe! Now, let’s talk about your board and year-end!
Just back from AFP LEAD. For the 500 in attendance, it was clear that leading today has some new dimensions! A shout out to my client and co-presenter, Terrance Hunter, the CEO of CFCArts in Orlando. Together we shared tips on shifting to more Effective (vs Efficient) actions for increased major giving and leadership success. AND, we took a minute to join Kathryn from AFP Global Marketing to record a few videos sharing our presentation coming up at AFP ICON April 7-9. 2024 in Toronto. Here’s more info: https://afpicon.com/
Today, let’s talk about being most effective (and still efficient) this year end working with your Board.
Your most EFFECTIVE Board Year-End Strategies – Giving and Being a Board Ambassador
There are many reasons why Board giving is important for your non-profit. People take their cue from your leadership for their own giving and participation. So, what are your steps to finish off the year with that 100% Board giving in place?
1. Review all board giving to date – who has given, what amounts and how does this feel to you in regard to their capacity.
2. Make your best guess for each board member (amount and project) right now. OR, if you aren’t clear on where their passion lies, that conversation needs to happen first.
3. Combine individual board member’s major gifts already in place or designated for a specific use.
4. Consider a project that is key to your success that the board would be especially key to fund — Perhaps a new staffing position needs a jump-start, a contractor staff position to a specific task (database research or updating), launching a new program, or bolstering the unrestricted “Excellence Fund” to provide sustainability for the year.
5. Establish a board giving goal. This goal should include gifts individually made and the group project goal. It’s not important that all board members give to the group goal – rather that all board members give. Be sure your Board Chair is clear on this.
6. Meet individually with your board chair to walk through the board year end giving plan. Have a conversation as well as to secure THEIR personal gift. If they already have a major gift pledge in place is this meeting their giving goals? Would they consider an additional gift as part of a board giving goal?
7. Do you have board members who are sincerely not able to give much? Perhaps another board member will give in their honor. (This works well with younger members who are giving a lot of volunteer time – but not able to be large financial givers.)
8. Have the Board Chair share the plan at the next Board meeting.
9. Let them share that you (ED and DOD) and the Board Chair will be setting up time to visit with each of them individually to discuss their participation.
10. HAVE FUN making the visits! AND, have a task for each board member that suits their skills and interests at the ready for these visits as well.
Sometimes it is better to go slow to go fast!
NOW, repeat after me…. “I love my life and all the lives in it!!”
Eat candy, give candy, be scary and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Invest in JOY®
