A Fundraising Board...Good Luck with that!

I've learned from many people, including my favorite person, Tom Suddes, that it's not the responsibility of the board to raise funds. I get it. Really.

So, it's pretty nifty I found this article and read about 9 Ways Board Members Can Raise Money Without Fundraising:

1. Help create or evaluate a business plan for an earned income venture.
2. Advocate for government money.
3. Provide intelligence on prospects.
4. Set up a meeting with a prospective customer.
5. Email, call or visit a donor just to say thanks.
6. Explain to a prospect why you serve. 
7. Host a small gathering at your home.
8. Recruit an in-kind service.
9. Negotiate a lower price from a vendor.

Networking for Introverts

Most people, when they first meet me, would never believe that I'm an introvert.

That means I'm putting on one hell of a great act and I should've won an Oscar by now.

The thought of networking--in large groups--scares me. To death. I realize that it's something I'm going to have to get used to if I want my NP to succeed, but I don't look forward to it.

But after reading this blog about An Introvert's Guide to Networking from the Harvard Business Review, the book that's mentioned in this blog, The Introvert's Guide to Success in Business and Leadership, may be my saving grace.

And it's in ebook format. Even better.

This will be me...

I'm currently participating in a group coaching course for 6 weeks through Frame of Mind Coaching and on their website was a link to the Women Entrepreneurs over 40 Tell All! Very enlightening. I read through the whole list and actually contacted a woman on here regarding my college graduation announcements.

This really proves one of my favorite quotes:

"It's never too late to be who you want to be."

In Session: Spring 2012

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I can see it. It's not so much a halogen, more like the flashlight on my phone. LOL.

This is the semester before my final semester.

My classes are Program Planning and Evaluation and Leadership Development. Thanks to Victoria Michael and Brent Scholar, Scholar Consulting, for being my mentors and joining me on my journey in the nonprofit sector.

Let's get started!!

Executive Directors: The Right to Vote?

As a member of BoardSource, I subscribe to their e-newsletter The Report. As I begin my journey to open a nonprofit, I often think about the process of finding board members. I still feel like I have a lot to learn when it comes to choosing members, despite the course I took on Board Governance.  This article intrigued me as it's something I've thought about. I've decided I don't want to be the E.D. of my organization (shocker there), but if I had, I'd wondered if I could run my company still have a deciding vote. Reading this article kind of put things into perspective.



"Around the Table" with David Styers, BoardSource director of member education and engagement

Q: Should the chief executive be a voting member of the board? 

A few months ago, Barbara Lawrence, author of The Nonprofit Policy Sampler, posed a question on BoardSource’s open LinkedIn group site that has been burning up the e-waves: Is your executive director a voting member of the board? More recently, she summed up the debate that has ensued by saying, “I love how this discussion proves that a ‘given’ is often not so at all.” 

From the comments, it is obvious that there are passionate opinions on all sides of this issue, particularly from founding chief executives. From the BoardSource Nonprofit Governance Index 2010 survey, we learned that chief executives are usually ex officio (by virtue of their office) members of the board, but only 15% of chief executives have a vote. The term ex officio simply designates a position on the board, not that position’s voting status, which must be specified for each ex officio member. Since the first Index in 1994, that number has ranged from 8% to 18%, but it seems to be leveling off at 15%. So, what are the pros and cons of a voting chief executive?

Benefits of voting rights:

    The chief executive has a concrete method of voicing an opinion or concern to the board.
    The chief executive feels he/she has earned the full trust of the board and can function as a peer.
    The chief executive is able to vote on issues and can go on record on behalf of his/her ideas.
    The chief executive’s position of authority is enhanced within the organization and the working partnership with the board is strengthened.

Challenges created by voting rights:

    A potential for conflict of interest may be introduced.
    The line between the board’s and the chief executive’s responsibilities may become blurred.
    The chief executive is a paid staff member; board members are volunteers.
    The board assesses the chief executive’s performance and determines compensation.
    Executive sessions often meet without staff members.
    Membership in certain committees (i.e., audit) would be inappropriate.
    Relationships between the chief executive and certain board members may become strained if the chief executive votes against a particular initiative or idea.

Other issues to consider:

    Could the chief executive contribute to the board’s work most efficiently as an ex officio voting member?
    What are the underlying reasons for the chief executive’s request to become a voting member? Does he/she feel “out of the loop” or that the board is showing a lack of confidence?
    How would voting rights affect the relationship between the chief executive and other staff?
    If the chief executive becomes a voting member, the organization should establish clear guidelines regarding the chief executive’s participation on issues such as determining executive salary and evaluation procedures.
    Whatever the chief executive’s status, his/her insights into the daily operations of the organization are essential to board decision making.

From BoardSource’s perspective, it is better to err on the side of a chief executive NOT being a voting member of the board in order to avoid conflicts of interests and any perception of his or her inability to carry out a board decision due to strong personal convictions. The chief executive, however, may serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the board if the board chooses.

Nine Clever Ways to Thank Your Donors

I subscribe to marketing expert Kivi Leroux Miller's newsletter and she sends out a weekly email filled with marketing tips.These newsletters are chock-full of great words of wisdom from the marketing field and I've decided to create a little "moment" just for her.

Kivi Leroux Miller Marketing Moment


Nine Clever Ways to Thank Your Donors

1. Write a Greeting Card, Not a Business Letter

2. Share Recent Progress, However Small
3. Add an Invitation, But Not to Something that Requires Another Donation!
4. Use a More Creative, Personal Opening
5. Include Results-Oriented Photography
6. Record a Video Message
7. Send a Postcard from Behind-the-Scenes
8. Be Specific about How the Gift is Being Used
9. Change Who's Saying Thank You 

Click here to read the full article.

What's an Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled.

Short, but sweet. I like that. See the whole article here.