According to June Bradham, author of The Truth About What Nonprofit Boards Want, the #1 indicator of fundraising success is in the giving and engagement levels of the board.
No group is this more true for than nonprofit start-ups.
Several years ago, I helped start a new nonprofit called the International Institute for Social Artistry. The organization followed these wise words…
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. “
~Margaret Mead
This was indeed a small group but very thoughtful and committed.
The board positioned the agency to get a $ 600,000 grant within its first year, which is almost unheard of for nonprofit start-ups. Since the grant expenses were targeted, the board needed additional funds for the website, meetings, communications, and to begin creating a masters degree program in social artistry.
The board needed to raise funds but didn’t have a clear idea about where to begin. Members were thoughtful and committed, but largely inexperienced in fundraising. So, where do you begin to raise funds?
We asked for help. I spoke with Lynne Twist, fundraising expert and author of The Soul of Money. Her advice surprised me. She said, “Lead with yourself and the board. Then, invite others to follow.”
So, that’s what we did. I lead with $ 500. Then, I asked the board members to match me. They all did. Then, we stepped outside the board and asked the larger social artistry community to join us.
What were the results?
Within 1 month, 40 people donated at least $ 500. We raised over $ 20,000. We were thrilled, especially as a small nonprofit start-up.
We gave a name to this initial group of donors. We called it the Founding Circle. We scheduled meetings and trainings with the Founding Circle, even asked their input into the organization. Our small group wasn’t small long, though. We were growing fast.
But, it all started with one board member taking the lead. Then, the rest of the board followed suit. We kept inviting people to be engaged and join us. The ripple affect was immediate and far-reaching.
Looking back, the only thing I would do differently is to make the level of commitment greater. So, instead of asking for just one donation, I could have led with $ 500 a year for 5 consecutive years. That would have generated recurring donations on a regular basis for the upcoming years.
In summary, my experience indeed supports June Bradham’s claim that the number one indicator of fundraising success… even for nonprofit start-ups… is in the giving and engagement levels of the board.
And now, I invite you to ask your most challenging nonprofit question and even rank your nonprofit’s infrastructure by visiting http://4grants.net/nonprofits.htm.
From Phil Johncock, The Grant Writing Professor