5 Reasons Board Members Shy Away from Fundraising and Strategies to Overcome Them

The board plays a crucial role in ensuring the long-term viability of your nonprofit organization. Yet, many organizations share a concern that board members lack involvement in their organization's fundraising activities. So, we’ll share five typical reasons that explain the limited participation of some board members in fundraising, and simple strategies to increase their participation.

Board members are crunched for time

We have to recognize that our board members are volunteers, so inevitably, they may have other responsibilities such as full-time jobs, family responsibilities, or even other volunteer commitments. Some volunteers have more time to give than others, which will of course impact how much time board members can contribute to their work on the board. Volunteers may be very passionate about their work, but since they are not getting reimbursed, it’s reasonable that they’ll organize their time around their various responsibilities. 

Managing board members with a tight schedule is a key part of any organization's success. It is important to understand what they can realistically accomplish, and provide them with opportunities to work within the constraints of their busy schedule. This allows them to contribute productively without feeling overwhelmed, ensuring that the board functions smoothly and efficiently.

Board members lack of fundraising experience

Some or all of your board members may be new to fundraising, and lack experience. Being on a board can be a great way for some people to develop skills that they do not already have, and in fact, that can be what draws many people to volunteering for a board. People can also leverage their board work to build their personal networks, and to build expertise in areas they are interested in. Furthermore, many people will volunteer for a board to help them build their careers. On one hand, this variation in skills that board members have can be extremely beneficial for your organization since it often leads to a board that has a diverse skill set. Still, while having different experiences on your board can be a strength, it can also cause an issue if board members do not have the skills or knowledge to contribute in the ways that you would like them to. For example, if your board members lack fundraising skills, this can inhibit their ability to enhance the success of your organization’s fundraising strategy. 

To manage this challenge, when onboarding new board members, consider carrying out a skills assessment to understand what strengths and weaknesses your board members may have. If they lack fundraising experience, professional development can be an extremely beneficial solution. Board members can be encouraged to attend workshops and training sessions that are relevant to their roles. And, there are a wide range of cost-effective and even free learning opportunities which can be beneficial for the retention of volunteers over time.

Unequal participation between board members

We’ve heard from many organizations that tell us they have board members who are nice people, they’re personable, they show up to meetings, but really, there are only one or two members that will really help with the workload. Eventually, the work may become unmanageable, and in the worst case scenario, the few people doing all of the work burnout, and decide to step away from the organization altogether. 

Strong communication at board meetings can really help alleviate this challenge. Spend time at meetings updating the board on fundraising activities, and discuss how each member can be involved. Engage members by involving them in activities they enjoy rather than assigning tasks. This strategy promotes active participation and contribution from all.

They are uncomfortable asking for money

For many people, the word “fundraising” means asking for money. And for those of us who are parents or guardians and have had to sell chocolate bars to fundraise for your child’s sports team or school, we all know how uncomfortable that feeling can be. This can be a challenge when your organization lacks capacity, and relies on board members to contribute by asking for donations from the community. So for many board members, the idea of asking for money is just uncomfortable.

Fundraising plans are a helpful tool that can include many activities other than asking for money. So there is a role for board members who do not want to ask for donations but are still eager to contribute to the organization's fundraising efforts. Board members can brainstorm ideas on how each member will participate, and tailor fundraising activities to their comfort level and skill set. So, even board members who shy away from asking for donations can still significantly contribute to the organization's fundraising endeavors.

Board members are tied to past practices

In some cases, board members may be deeply tied to past practices. This can be a particular issue with board members who have served for a long-term. Sometimes, when people have been on a board for a long time they are not necessarily interested in doing things in a new way because they believe in the success of past activities. If you’ve heard a volunteer say something like “we have to do that event” or “we’ve always done it this way,” this can often signal that there may be some tension in developing a new approach. 

To deal with this challenge, avoid making assumptions about the board member. While it may seem this board member is difficult, consider the fact that they may be a significant asset to your organization with their historical knowledge. Harnessing this volunteer's strengths requires finding an effective approach that considers their point of view when trying new fundraising initiatives.

Encouraging board members to fundraise may be challenging, but it is crucial to guide and simplify their participation. As these are volunteers, we should assist them by organizing the fundraising activities we wish to have them involved in, and making them feel valued as contributors to your organization's success.