In the most recent installment of our virtual series on Nonprofit Board Empowerment, we tackled one of the most debated questions on nonprofit leadership: “What role should the board take in fundraising?”
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We had four seasoned nonprofit leaders leverage their many years of experience from working with boards, serving on boards, and consulting for boards to share their perspectives on how to fundraise effectively. Each presented a different approach and defended their methodology as the others raised objections and asked provocative questions to get the audience thinking. This debate-style format wasn’t meant to tell you what will work best for every organization but rather provide helpful insight for you to leverage as you analyze and evaluate your own fundraising efforts.

For nonprofit leaders, few things create more anxiety than unexpected shifts in federal policy. Whether it’s changes in funding streams, new compliance requirements, or shifts in public priorities, these transitions can feel like existential threats to the communities and causes we serve. The uncertainty alone can be overwhelming. Will critical programs lose support? How will new regulations affect operations? What does this mean for long-term sustainability?

These concerns are not only valid—they are deeply felt by board members, staff, and the people who rely on nonprofit services every day. But while policy changes bring challenges, they also present opportunities for organizations that are prepared to respond with clarity and strategic focus. In times of uncertainty, effective nonprofit boards play a crucial role in guiding their organizations with resilience and vision, transforming fear into action.

As a nonprofit Executive Director, Board President, or Director of Development balancing fundraising challenges is becoming more difficult as the giving landscape continues to change. Nonprofit leadership is asking questions like:

• How can we continue receiving the funding we need to operate when giving is down compared to previous years?
• Where can we find new supporters for our mission, outreach efforts, and programs?
• Are our old fundraising methods still going to work in the future, or do we need to take a new approach?
• What are top organizations doing and what can we learn from them?
• How can we think about fundraising more holistically to better align our efforts? ​

​When you hear the phrase “community outreach” what comes to mind? Most people immediately think of nonprofit organizations hosting community events, which isn’t necessarily wrong. However, on its own it’s an incomplete view of what community outreach means for nonprofits. Hosting events can be an important component of what outreach in our communities looks like, but it is, by no means, all that should be included.
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Often, this overly simplistic view of what is included in community outreach comes from a misunderstanding of what community outreach should accomplish. The goal of community outreach shouldn’t just be to recruit volunteers and increase funding to support the organization’s mission. Outreach should also be the organization’s mission. 

Previously, our colleague Deniz Satir put together a resource to help organizations understand an Executive Director's role in fundraising and allowed us to share it with our readers. In it she explained that the best nonprofit leaders will take steps such as developing a fundraising strategy, cultivating donor relationships, engaging with the board, practicing financial stewardship, and aligning the team around fundraising efforts. Those responsibilities are critical components to developing and executing a successful fundraising strategy, and they beg the next question: “What should a Board’s role be in fundraising?”
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Should a Board just allow the ED to own the organization’s fundraising strategy unilaterally, rubber stamping plans and loosely reviewing results? Or should they take a more active role? And how does the Board’s responsibility change when the organization is undergoing significant change like a mission shift or leadership transition?

​Fundraising is vital to the success of any organization, which means that nonprofit leadership must be constantly focused on not only managing existing donor relationships but also attracting new donors to fill the funding pipeline. But knowing how to expand your donor base is a tricky topic for a variety of reasons. 

​Find out how today’s top nonprofits will be fundraising this year to retain key staff, sustain important programming, maintain their presence in the community, and make a real impact!  

What are some of the essential elements of fundraising that EDs should be familiar with to find success? Let’s shed light on the division of responsibilities within nonprofit organizations when it comes to development efforts: