Saturday, September 20, 2008

Personal Giving by Nonprofit Board Members: Why 100% Matters


There are many factors that determine fundraising effectiveness and feasibility in the nonprofit sector, but success almost always starts with the board of trustees. Board members are selected for a variety of reasons and they have varying degrees of direct responsibility for raising funds. Personal giving by board members, however, should always be understood as a core responsibility.

One of the most basic measures of organizational health is the commitment of every board member to contribute within his or her means. If board members don’t provide regular support, it suggests that they do not understand what it means to lead on the organization’s behalf. It could also suggest that they don’t understand why the organization needs financial support. Nonprofit staff members and board chairs have an obligation to make sure that the reverse is true. A high functioning board should strive for a personal 100% participation rate.

Read the rest of this article here.

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