At its core, a nonprofit board's commitment to giving is a testament to their faith in the organization's mission and operational integrity. This isn't merely about the amount each member contributes; it's the act of giving itself that matters. A board that achieves 100% participation in giving sends a clear, unanimous message of support and confidence in the organization's direction and leadership.

1. Start with a Comprehensive Orientation - A solid orientation is the foundation for effective board training. Make sure to provide new board members with an overview of the organization's mission, goals, programs, and financials. Introduce them to the staff and share relevant documents like bylaws, strategic plans, and board policies. It's also a good idea to pair new board members with experienced mentors for ongoing support and guidance.

Clear Communication of Roles and Responsibilities - To keep board members engaged, it's crucial to communicate their roles and responsibilities clearly. Provide a comprehensive board member handbook that outlines their duties, the organization's expectations, and the board's code of conduct. Be specific about individual responsibilities such as chairing committees, fundraising, and serving as liaisons with stakeholders…

Set Fundraising Goals and Expectations To engage your board in fundraising, you must first set clear fundraising goals and expectations. Provide the board with a clear understanding of the organization's fundraising needs and the role that they can play in meeting those needs. Establish specific fundraising targets and create a plan for how the board can achieve them. Most boards were never given these precedents, and therefore are reluctant to fundraise if there is not a clear objective and timeframe in mind.

Board members join your organization as a way of demonstrating they would like to help with your mission, but what if they need help? Not everyone who joins a board for the first time is a seasoned nonprofit professional. They may not know what they don't know, or they may be unwilling to ask for help, training, and support.

The first thing to keep in mind is, that in 9 of out 10 cases, raising money was not mentioned when the board was recruited. They agreed to serve on their own time with no pay to help their community, and when your predecessor had the conversation, philanthropy was not part of it.

Have your agenda be “action oriented”. This means decisions need to be made, tasks accomplished, objectives set, and problems solved. Sometimes even with the best of intentions, meetings become about reporting information, which can be put in written form and read at any time.