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There are a few general rules about board giving. The most important is “opportunity, not obligation.” This means that if the board members feel like they “have to” give, then it is likely they will not give at the level that makes them feel good or is helpful to the organization in the long term. If this conversation starts for the first time when the organization wants to approach a funder, it is easy to get stuck in “how much” rather than “why” it’s important that board members make a charitable contribution to the organization.
I encourage organizations to remember several important points about board giving:
If your board struggles with these concepts, a few conversations they can have with themselves and their families may help – specifically:
In some cases, these conversations can also be used for the board to learn what the organization can do better to cultivate, solicit and steward charitable gifts in a values driven way.
At the end of the day, board giving should help members understand the benefits annual charitable giving brings to an organization. It also allows the board to better understand the cultivation that occurs when each donor is personally asked and thanked for gifts in a meaningful way.
Finally, staff should not be the “asker.” This is awkward at best. A better scenario is that board members ask each other, and staff is there to lend support, structure and backup.