The Board’s Role in Fundraising: Staying FOCUSED Where It Matters Most
When we talk about fundraising, it’s easy for board members to think, “That’s the staff’s job,” or “I’m not comfortable asking people for money.” But the reality is this: organizations almost never rise above the level of their board, especially when it comes to fundraising.
Your board doesn’t have to be made up of professional fundraisers to make a major impact. What it does need is clarity, unity, and a shared sense of responsibility. One simple way to frame the board’s role in fundraising is through the word FOCUSED.
Let’s walk through what that looks like in practice. And download this PowerPoint presentation to use at your next board meeting!
F – Focus: From “Me” to “We”
Effective boards move the conversation from “me” and “them” to “we.”
Instead of:
• “The development office needs to raise more money,”
FOCUSED boards say:
• “We as a board must help create the conditions for successful fundraising.”
That shift in language matters. When board members see themselves as partners, not spectators, in the fundraising process, they start asking better questions, making stronger connections, and holding themselves accountable for the organization’s financial health.
O – Organization: Raising the Bar
Organizations rarely outperform their board. If the board’s expectations are low, vague, or inconsistent, the fundraising results will reflect that.
A strong board:
• Sets high standards for transparency, stewardship, and impact
• Insists on a compelling, clear case for support
• Supports staff with the resources and encouragement they need to do their best work
“Better” isn’t good enough. Your donors, your staff, and your mission all deserve excellence.
C – Commitment and Involvement
Some board members are deeply committed but not truly involved. Others are involved, showing up at events and attending meetings, but not personally committed. Effective fundraising boards need both.
Ask yourself:
• Do I show up, prepare, and engage fully at meetings?
• Do I advocate for the organization in my circles?
• Do I follow through on what I say I’ll do?
The ideal board member is not just a name on letterhead; they’re a visible, active ambassador for the organization and its fundraising efforts.
U – Urgency: Do It Now
Successful fundraising has a strong sense of urgency.
Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is uncertain, but today is in your hands. That’s true for your donors and your organization alike.
Boards help create urgency by:
• Setting clear timelines for campaigns and goals
• Holding themselves and staff accountable for progress
• Moving decisions forward instead of letting them stall in endless discussion
Donors respond when they understand why this matters now.
S – Strong: Strong Boards, Strong Staffs
Strong boards hire strong staff, and strong staff raise more money.
A strong board:
• Recruits and retains capable leadership
• Provides honest feedback and support
• Trusts staff to execute while staying engaged at the strategic level
When both board and staff are strong, aligned, and action-oriented, the organization moves from surviving to thriving. Dreams become reality because decisions are made, relationships are cultivated, and opportunities are seized.
E – Educate: Know the Mission, Share the Story
Board members can’t champion what they don’t understand.
Every board member should:
• Know the mission by heart
• Be able to explain, in plain language, why the organization exists
• Articulate the case for support, what funding will do and why it matters
People give to opportunities they believe in. When board members confidently and consistently share the story, they open doors that no brochure or email ever could.
D – Donate: Lead by Example
In today’s fundraising landscape, it’s not enough for board members to give only their time. Financial participation is essential.
Prospective donors, foundations, and corporate partners often ask:
• “Does the board give?”
• “Is there 100% board participation?”
A board that gives generously, at a personally meaningful level for each member, sends a powerful message: We believe in this mission enough to invest our own resources first.
At the end of the day, being FOCUSED as a board means seeing fundraising not as a burden, but as a shared calling.
As Henry Ford put it: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, but working together equals success.”
When boards work together, focused on mission, aligned in commitment, and willing to lead by example, fundraising stops feeling like an obligation and starts becoming a natural expression of that shared purpose.