Should Board Members Contribute Financially to the Ministry They Serve?
This seems to be every board's complaint: "I give time and energy, so I don't have to give money.
" Time is valuable, but it does not replace financial giving.
I hear the time contribution excuse from board members all the time - especially board members who do not do much more than attend a monthly or quarterly board meeting.
Meeting attendance is important, of course, but if that is all a board member is willing to do, then it is time to move on.
Your volunteer leaders on the board are the people who are closest to the organization, who are most passionate about the mission, and know best how deserving the ministry is of financial support.
If these board members are not willing to make a financial investment in the organization, why would a community member, a foundation, or a corporation want to? It is the ministry's responsibility to ensure that board members understand the organization's expectation for board contributions, and that expectation should be clear from the beginning.
Occasionally you will be recruiting for members of the board because of their expertise or position of authority but they should still also be committed enough to the ministry to give financially.
If your organization asks ANYONE for a donation, the board should be first to give.
Contributions do not have to be huge, but they should be sacrificial.
Everybody, even people who are unemployed, make some charitable contributions.
Whether it is $2 or $2 million, board members should be asked to give a gift that would be considered generous given their individual means and abilities.
Consider this: your volunteer leaders must, from time to time, go on solicitation calls or ask others for a contribution.
If the board member has made a contribution first, he or she is really asking the prospective donor to join him or her in the support of the organization.
This is an easy request.
However, if the board member has not made a contribution, the request feels like begging for charity.
No one likes to beg.
That is precisely why most board members hate soliciting.
They are begging rather than not recruiting.
Foundations and corporations want to know that the board is supporting the organization financially.
If the board is looking for funding from the community but is not giving of their own means, the foundation is likely to pass.
Clearly, the answer is "yes, board members must contribute financially" and "no, time contributions alone are not enough.
" This may be a tough message for the board.
But why would individuals, foundations, and corporations contribute when the board of the ministry does not sufficiently value the ministry by offering financial support? I have been on many donor meetings where the donor asked if I give to the organization myself.
I have also seen many grant applications ask for a list of board member contributions.
If you want funding from others, you had better be able to answer this question appropriately.
" Time is valuable, but it does not replace financial giving.
I hear the time contribution excuse from board members all the time - especially board members who do not do much more than attend a monthly or quarterly board meeting.
Meeting attendance is important, of course, but if that is all a board member is willing to do, then it is time to move on.
Your volunteer leaders on the board are the people who are closest to the organization, who are most passionate about the mission, and know best how deserving the ministry is of financial support.
If these board members are not willing to make a financial investment in the organization, why would a community member, a foundation, or a corporation want to? It is the ministry's responsibility to ensure that board members understand the organization's expectation for board contributions, and that expectation should be clear from the beginning.
Occasionally you will be recruiting for members of the board because of their expertise or position of authority but they should still also be committed enough to the ministry to give financially.
If your organization asks ANYONE for a donation, the board should be first to give.
Contributions do not have to be huge, but they should be sacrificial.
Everybody, even people who are unemployed, make some charitable contributions.
Whether it is $2 or $2 million, board members should be asked to give a gift that would be considered generous given their individual means and abilities.
Consider this: your volunteer leaders must, from time to time, go on solicitation calls or ask others for a contribution.
If the board member has made a contribution first, he or she is really asking the prospective donor to join him or her in the support of the organization.
This is an easy request.
However, if the board member has not made a contribution, the request feels like begging for charity.
No one likes to beg.
That is precisely why most board members hate soliciting.
They are begging rather than not recruiting.
Foundations and corporations want to know that the board is supporting the organization financially.
If the board is looking for funding from the community but is not giving of their own means, the foundation is likely to pass.
Clearly, the answer is "yes, board members must contribute financially" and "no, time contributions alone are not enough.
" This may be a tough message for the board.
But why would individuals, foundations, and corporations contribute when the board of the ministry does not sufficiently value the ministry by offering financial support? I have been on many donor meetings where the donor asked if I give to the organization myself.
I have also seen many grant applications ask for a list of board member contributions.
If you want funding from others, you had better be able to answer this question appropriately.
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