Stop Asking Your Board to "Help with Fundraising."

Dear nonprofits leaders and fundraisers,

If I could eliminate one phrase from the nonprofit sector, it would be this: "We need our board to help with fundraising."

It sounds reasonable, but it's one of the least helpful expectations we place on board members.

Think about it. If you joined a board tomorrow and someone told you your responsibility was to "help with fundraising," what would you actually do?

Would you call donors? Host events? Make introductions? Write thank-you notes? Increase your own giving?

Most organizations never answer that question. Instead, they assume everyone shares the same understanding of what board fundraising looks like.

They don't.

For some board members, "fundraising" immediately translates to asking friends for money. For others, it means showing up at the annual gala. Still others assume it's the Development Director's job and that they're simply there to support when asked.

It's no wonder so many boards feel uncomfortable around fundraising. We haven't given them a role, we've given them an abstract idea.

The best boards I've worked with don't succeed because they're more passionate or better connected than everyone else. They succeed because every member understands how they're expected to contribute.

Some are exceptional ambassadors who proudly share the organization's work throughout the community. Others naturally steward donors through thoughtful conversations and gratitude. Some enjoy making introductions, while others lead by making philanthropy a personal priority.

None of those people are "helping with fundraising." They're fulfilling a clearly defined role.

That's exactly why I created the Five-Role Model of Effective Fundraising Boards™. Instead of asking every board member to become a solicitor, the model recognizes that successful fundraising happens through five distinct roles: Solicitor, Donor, Steward, Ambassador, and Friend-raiser.

From there, the Board Fundraising Profile Assessment™ helps each board member discover where they naturally fit. The Board Fundraising Matrix™ gives leadership a clear picture of the board's collective strengths, and the Philanthropy In Action Dashboard™ turns those strengths into quarterly commitments that everyone can actually accomplish.

Notice what's missing from that process. Nobody is asked to simply "help." They're given clarity. And clarity changes everything.

When board members know what's expected of them, fundraising becomes less intimidating and far more authentic. People stop trying to fit into someone else's version of a good fundraiser and start contributing in ways that align with their own strengths and relationships.

That shift doesn't happen by accident. It starts with leadership.

Executive Directors and Development Directors have a responsibility to replace vague expectations with specific opportunities for engagement. Instead of ending a board meeting by saying, "We need everyone to help with fundraising," imagine saying, "Before our next meeting, I'd love for each of you to complete one action that matches your fundraising role."

Same goal. Completely different outcome.

So the next time you catch yourself asking your board to "help with fundraising," pause for a moment.

Then ask yourself a better question: Do my board members actually know what success looks like?

Because people rarely fail to meet expectations they've never been given. And great boards don't need more pressure.

They need more clarity.

Sincerely,

Queers

Queer For Hire provides fundraising support to Queer nonprofits, LGBTQIA+ cultural competency to straight-led organizations and corporations, and individual coaching for Queer professionals.

Learn about our Fundraising Services <here> – we’ll lead or support your fundraising efforts, whether you need general support or want to focus on raising money from and for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Learn about our Fundraising Trainings <here> – we can coach your board, staff, and fundraising team on how to fundraise and how to engage LGBTQIA+ donors.

Learn about our other services <here> or our resources <here>.