BUILDING TEAMS TO BUILD FUNDS

If you complete this lesson of your online course, the Board will gain knowledge of the legal obligations which provide the foundation for a strong, healthy, effective governing board and a Constructive Partnership with its leadership staff.

Why do you want to know this? One can’t drive a car without knowing the rules of the road. The same is true of board members who need to understand the laws & responsibilities by which they operate. Constructive Partnerships are built upon an understanding of who does what.

You will discover:

• The legal duties of the board of directors and how those duties are expressed and carried out in their roles and responsibilities. 
• How duties and responsibilities are shared and / or overlap with those of the CEO / Executive Director.
• How your board will gain this knowledge and how this knowledge becomes the first step in building a constructive partnership between the board and leadership staff.

You will receive:

• Video Lesson
• Two exercises to help identify the nature of the relationship between the board and leadership staff
• Handout of Board Roles and Responsibilities (can be included in orientation manual)
• Chart from BoardSource demonstrating where Board Chair & CEO responsibilities overlap
• Board Orientation handout. Includes what to include in your board orientation manual and onboarding
• Self-Assessment tool

If you complete this lesson, you will have the tools needed to build a healthy partnership between your board and leadership staff to advance the mission, increase your impact, inspire stakeholders and raise necessary funds

Why do you want to know this? The guidelines and strategies will build mutual trust, respect, & honesty which is the foundation needed to build a board / leadership staff partnership to raise funds.

You will discover:

• The importance of having a written  communications plan in place guiding internal and external communications
• Communication Guidelines: built upon the roles and responsibilities learned in lesson one, which will aid development of a constructive partnership between the board and leadership staff
• How social capital theory can guide a deeper connection between the board and leadership staff
• The communication strategies to build a deeper connection to support a constructive partnership between your board and leadership staff. 
• How to communicate with your board about fundraising

You will receive:

· Video Lesson

· Communication Guidelines

· Board Fundraising Policy

· Board Pledge Form

· Self-Assessment tool

If you complete this lesson you will have a model you can use that engages your board and leadership staff in an annual fundraising campaign to grow your major donor program.

Why do you want to know this?  You will align your people with your fundraising, programs and communications to increase your major gifts by a minimum of 10% per year per donor. 

You will discover:

• How to prepare your organization to ask for and receive funds from the right people in the right amount at the right time. 
• How to set your campaign goal amount, develop a gift pyramid, and determine the number of prospects and volunteers needed to reach your goal.
• How to develop donor profiles and conduct capacity research
• How to determine levels of asks and be prepared to receive funds 

You will receive:

· Video Lesson

· Campaign Calendar

· Funding History for Income sample

· Funding History for Expenses sample

· Gift Pyramid sample

· Donor Profile Cheat Sheet

· Prospect Research directions

· Stewardship Plan Sample

· Pre-Call Sample Letter

If you complete this lesson your board, leadership staff and other volunteers will overcome their anxiety about making an ask and will set up visits with prospective donors

What you need to know is that fundraising is not about asking for money. You need to know why the donor loves to give money to you and you need to be prepared for objections to requests for a visit.

You will discover:

• How to relieve anxiety through exercises
• How to anticipate objections you may receive to a request for a visit
• How to become completely comfortable in making calls to request visits with donors 

You will receive:

· Video Lesson with practice sessions

· Agenda for Training Day

· Training Day Exercises

· Handout of Why Fundraising Isn’t Scary

· Phone Call Tips

· Sample Phone Call Script

· Objections to Visits – Role Play

· Confirmation of Visit Letter

If you complete this lesson of your online course your board, leadership staff and volunteers will be successful in making the asks which will allow you to reach your annual major gift goal.

What you need to know is how to connect your story to the work of the organization and how to ensure that the work of the organization is a fit to the donor’s interests and passion.

You will discover:

• How to use a Listening Circle to practice telling your own story 
• Exercises to practice the four stages of making the ask
• How reminding yourself of the reason you are passionate and why you believe in the work of your organization provides the energy, enthusiasm and empathy that donors respond to. 

You will receive:

· Video Lesson

· Instruction on use of listening Circle

· Instruction on preparing for “yes,” “no,” and “maybe” responses to the ask

If you complete this lesson of your online course you will have the tried and true manner of maintaining and retaining your major gift donors while continuing to strengthen internal relationships.

What you need to know is how to implement the stewardship plan with involvement by staff, board and volunteers.

You will discover:

• The importance of a stewardship plan
• Who should participate in stewardship
• How stewardship strengthens the relationship between your nonprofit and its donors as well as strengthens your internal relationships

You will receive:

· Video Lesson

· Instruction on who and how to practice stewardship

· Instruction on moves management to track stewardship