Your Board Isn’t the Problem, Your Fundraising Model Is (Part 3 of 3)
Dear Nonprofit & Fundraising Leaders,
At this point in the conversation, the question is no longer whether the board is the problem.
The real question is: Why are so many nonprofits still operating fundraising models built around pressure instead of participation?
Because after decades of watching boards disengage, development staff burn out, and fundraising plateau, the nonprofit sector is still trying to solve many of the same problems using the same outdated assumptions.
More pressure. More expectations. More urgency. More “give/get.”
And somehow, we keep acting surprised when people pull away from fundraising instead of leaning into it.
The problem is not that people do not care. The problem is that most fundraising models were never designed to create meaningful participation in the first place.
Most Nonprofits Still Treat Fundraising Like a Department
This is one of the biggest structural issues in the sector.
Fundraising has become overly centralized.
One development director. One advancement team. One fundraising committee.
Everyone else stays in their lane.
Programs do programs. Boards govern. Leadership handles operations. Development raises money.
At least… that’s the theory. But thriving organizations rarely operate this way. Because strong fundraising cultures are not built through isolation. They are built through integration.
The Future of Fundraising Is Participatory
Now let me be clear: A participatory fundraising model does not mean everyone suddenly becomes a fundraiser. That’s where organizations get stuck.
People hear “culture of philanthropy” and immediately panic:
“I’m not asking people for money.”
“I didn’t sign up for fundraising.”
“That’s development’s job.”
And honestly? Fair. Because for years, nonprofits have reduced fundraising participation down to one uncomfortable image: The ask.
But fundraising is much bigger than solicitation. In healthy fundraising cultures, participation can look like:
storytelling
stewardship
relationship-building
community connection
donor engagement
advocacy
gratitude
introducing people to the mission
sharing impact
That changes everything. Because now participation becomes accessible.
This Is Why So Many Boards Disengage
Most board members are not avoiding fundraising because they are lazy, selfish, or unwilling.
They are avoiding:
confusion
awkwardness
unclear expectations
fear of doing it wrong
and fundraising models built almost entirely around pressure
That is a systems issue. Not a character flaw. And when organizations fail to recognize that distinction, they default to blame instead of redesign.
Strong Fundraising Models Build Confidence
The strongest fundraising boards I’ve worked with were not necessarily:
the wealthiest
the most connected
or the most experienced
They were the clearest. They understood:
what was expected of them
how they could contribute authentically
where they fit into the larger fundraising ecosystem
and how fundraising supported the mission itself
Most importantly, they felt supported. That matters.
Because confidence changes participation. And participation changes culture.
This Is Also a Leadership Conversation
Boards alone cannot create a culture of philanthropy. Leadership shapes it first.
Executive Directors who avoid fundraising conversations. Organizations where development operates in a silo. Leadership teams that treat fundraising as transactional instead of relational.
All of this shapes how boards engage. Because boards absorb organizational culture whether nonprofits realize it or not. If fundraising feels disconnected internally, it will feel disconnected to the board too.
The Organizations That Will Thrive Are the Ones That Adapt First
I think the nonprofit sector is entering a major transition point. The organizations that continue operating through:
pressure
scarcity
guilt
siloed fundraising
and outdated “give/get” thinking
are going to struggle more and more to sustain engagement.
Not just from boards. From staff. From donors. From communities.
The organizations that thrive will be the ones that understand something fundamentally different:
Fundraising is not a department. It is an organizational culture. And cultures are built through:
clarity
trust
participation
support
alignment
and belonging
Continuing the Conversation
This exact shift — from pressure-based fundraising to participatory, equitable board engagement — is something I’ll be exploring further in my upcoming AFP Global webinar: “Fundraising Without Fear: Activating Your Diverse Board with Equity and Intention.”
We’ll be talking about:
reducing fear and confusion around board fundraising
creating accessible pathways for participation
building equitable fundraising expectations
and activating boards through clarity, culture, and support instead of pressure and guilt
Because diverse boards do not automatically create engaged fundraising cultures.
Intentional systems do. <You can learn more and register here>
Part 3 of 3!
At the end of this series, I still believe the same thing I said at the beginning:
Your board probably is not the problem.
But your fundraising model might be.
And if nonprofits want stronger boards, healthier fundraising cultures, and more sustainable growth, the answer is not asking people to care more.
The answer is building systems that make participation possible.
Because the future of fundraising will not be built through obligation.
It will be built through culture.
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>.
