This is a question-and-answer series related to community college fundraising. This is article 10 of the series.
Question: How do you motivate your board members to ensure 100 percent board participation in giving?
Answer: We have 100-percent giving on the foundation board, because all of them are required to contribute at least $1,000 each year. If they do not contribute this amount, they are required to resign from the foundation board. This policy was in place before I was hired, and it is an excellent one that is taken seriously by most foundation board members.
Foundation board members who have to be forced or coerced to contribute to the foundation should not serve on the foundation board. Period. If they do not think enough of the organization and our mission to support us philanthropically, they should resign from the board immediately. This approach will allow us to recruit new board members who will “put their money where their mouth is.” #GiveGetOrGetOff
Leave a Reply