Someone asked me recently about the best way to teach Board members about fundraising and resource development at Board meetings. Since this is something I do a lot of, I had plenty of ideas to share.
It's tempting to simply inundate them with information - the donor pyramid, Fundraising 101, how to make an ask, etc. As professional fundraisers, we are well versed in this material. Keep in mind that Board members are volunteers and not as experienced or educated in fundraising. Share enough to help them be successful, but not so much that you overwhelm them.
As you prepare to train your Board, take into account some basic adult learning principles. Adults will retain more if they are active participants in the training. So be sure to engage them in activities - don't lecture. And remember that there are many different styles of learning, so be sure to vary your style and delivery.
When you have the opportunity to teach your Board about fundraising in short bursts at each Board meeting, here are some things you can do:
o Have them pair up and share why they said "Yes" to being on the Board. This helps them tap into their passion for the organization.
o Have them tell each other a story about how the organization is changing lives in the community.
o Have them share their thoughts about fundraising - what they are scared of and what they feel comfortable with. This helps begin to overcome fear of fundraising.
o Create a crossword puzzle with the words in the puzzle being answers and the clues being about basic facts of your organization. For example, 1 across might be the number of kids served each year (answer - Fifty).
o Create a game of Jeopardy around organizational facts.
o Have them brainstorm about people in their sphere of influence who they can talk to about your organization or send an appeal letter to.
Over time, this will help 'bring them along' and increase their comfort level with fundraising in general. And you'll find that by using interactive, microbursts of training, your Board members will enjoy it more and remember it longer.
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