Your Board Isn’t the Problem, Your Fundraising Model Is (Part 1)

Dear Nonprofit and Fundraising Leaders,

As a fundraising consultant, I see this truth over and over again: Most boards are not apathetic about fundraising. They’re unclear.

Unclear about what “fundraising” actually means.
Unclear about what’s expected of them.
Unclear about where they fit in the process.
Unclear about what counts as participation.
Unclear about how to show up without doing it wrong.

And when people are unclear, they don’t act.
They hesitate.
They defer.
They disengage.

Then we label them “uninvolved.”

But confusion and apathy are not the same thing.

The Myth of the Disengaged Board

Nonprofit leaders often tell me: “Our board just doesn’t want to fundraise.”

But when I dig deeper, here’s what I usually find:

• No shared definition of fundraising

• No written expectations

• No differentiated roles

• No structured practice

• No accountability beyond “please help”

Instead, boards are told: “Everyone needs to fundraise.”

Which usually translates to: “Everyone needs to ask for money.”

That’s not clarity. That’s pressure. And pressure without structure produces avoidance.

Fundraising Has Become a Loaded Word

For many board members, especially first-generation professionals, LGBTQIA+ leaders, QTBIPOC members, and people from communities historically excluded from wealth, the word “fundraising” carries baggage.

It can feel:

• Extractive

• Transactional

• Class-coded

• Scripted in ways that don’t align with lived experience

So when boards hesitate, it’s not because they don’t care about the mission.

It’s often because the model they’ve been handed doesn’t feel authentic, accessible, or clearly defined.

If your board doesn’t know what “good” looks like, they will default to safety. And safety, in board dynamics, often looks like silence.

Clarity Changes Behavior

Here’s what I’ve learned after years of coaching boards:

When you give people:

• Clear expectations

• Specific lanes of participation

• Shared language

• Practical tools

• Real-time practice

They don’t resist fundraising. They step into it. Because clarity reduces fear.

And fear — not apathy — is what keeps most boards from engaging.

The Real Problem Isn’t Motivation — It’s Design

We often try to fix board fundraising with inspiration.

Another training.
Another motivational speech.
Another reminder that “fundraising is everyone’s responsibility.”

But inspiration without structure fades quickly.

If your board doesn’t have:

• Defined roles

• Measurable contributions

• Equity-informed pathways to participate

• A culture that normalizes fundraising conversations

Then the problem isn’t attitude. It’s architecture.

Before You Call Your Board Apathetic, Ask:

• Have we clearly defined what fundraising means here?

• Have we differentiated participation beyond “make an ask”?

• Have we made room for different strengths and comfort levels?

• Have we practiced together — or just talked about it?

• Have we built accountability into our culture?

If the answer to most of those is no, your board isn’t disengaged. They’re unactivated.

Coming Up Next

In Part 2 of this series, I’ll break down the framework I use to activate boards through five distinct fundraising roles, because not everyone is meant to show up the same way.

And if you want to go deeper into this work live, I’ll be teaching the full model in my upcoming AFP Global webinar:

Fundraising Without Fear: Activating Your Diverse Board with Equity and Intention

Because your board doesn’t need more pressure. They need clarity.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of 3!

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>.