Is your board actually helping you fundraise…or just watching?

How many times has a board member offered to help “however they can” but then suddenly go silent when you send an email about fundraising?

In a lot of organizations, board "support" for fundraising means showing up to the gala, forwarding an email once a year, and occasionally saying "great job" at a board meeting. That's cheerleading. It's not fundraising.

I get it - most board members didn't sign up to ask people for money. They signed up because they care about the mission. So the trick isn't to guilt them into cold-calling donors. It's to give them specific, easy ways to actually help.

Here are 3 things I'd ask my board to do this quarter:

1. Make one introduction.

That's it. One. Ask each board member: "Is there one person in your network who might want to learn about what we do? Not give money — just learn."

A warm introduction from a board member is worth more than 50 cold outreach emails. And it takes them about 3 minutes.

2. Co-sign a thank-you letter.

Write the letter yourself. All they have to do is sign it (or add a one-line personal note). When you send a thank-you signed by both the ED and a board member? That's memorable. That's the kind of stewardship that builds loyalty.

3. Share one story.

At the next board meeting, ask each member to share - in 60 seconds or less - why they serve on this board. Record them (with permission) or write them down. These become social media posts, donor communications, or campaign content.

You're getting real, authentic messaging AND making board members feel more connected to the mission. Win-win.

Here's what I'd skip:

"Give or get" policies (without proper consultation and thoughtful implementation), long donor call lists, and anything that makes fundraising feel like a punishment. Start small, make it easy, and let the momentum build.

The boards that fundraise well aren't the ones with the wealthiest members. They're the ones where everyone feels like fundraising is a shared responsibility, not someone else's job.

What does your board currently do to support fundraising? Reply and tell me —-I'd love to hear what's working (or what's not)!