Most senior fundraisers spend 70% of their week in tactical work instead of leading growth. I’m a practicing Chief Development Officer scaling a $27M shop, and I share the systems that actually work. Every Sunday, you’ll get a 5-minute executive brief with one system, real proof, and one action you can use right away.
Is your board helping—or holding you back?
|
The Board That Builds MillionsIssue #018 This week's strategic brief (4-minute read) Hi Reader, Imagine you're at a board meeting and the directors are debating email open rates while potential million-dollar donors sit untouched. They're interested. It’s likely that they just aren’t sure how to apply their energy effectively. The difference between these two is huge. We're talking millions of dollars in annual revenue. The Value GapYour board members joined because they believe in your mission. Yet, many boards slip into tactical mode, debating things like appeal wording instead of unlocking doors to major donors. The result? A $20M organization gets governance oversight designed for a $2M shop. I surveyed fellow chief fundraisers and one thing stood out: boards that focus on critical introductions and leadership giving create exponentially more value than those focused on operational oversight. Two Modes of Board EngagementThe Board Engagement FrameworkHere's your playbook to pivot board energy from oversight to partnership. Step 1: Clarify High-Value vs. Low-Value Activities Share this during new board orientations: High-Value Activities (Board-work only): Leadership giving | Prospect introductions | Corporate connections | Strategic planning | Mission ambassadorship Low-Value Activities (Staff handles): Campaign execution | Marketing metrics | Database management | Event logistics | Tactical decisions Be direct: "Your strength is in connections, influence, and bold leadership. Let us handle the details." Step 2: Restructure Board Reporting Old reports: direct-mail response rates, email metrics, cost per dollar raised. New reports: pipeline velocity, board-sourced prospects, partnership milestones. Shift reports from activity metrics to revenue outcomes. Step 3: Design High-Value Engagement Replace passive reviews with active wins:
Step 4: Lean Into Each Board Member’s Strength Don't expect uniform engagement. Maximize each director's unique value:
Step 5: Establish Clear Decision Rights Draw clear lines to prevent drift. Board Owns:
Staff Owns:
When tactics creep into the conversation, immediately redirect. What It Looks Like in PracticeSince implementing this framework in my shop:
Last month, our board pooled $75,000 as a challenge for gifts made during our national conference. Every dollar raised was doubled – up to their pledge. The result? $99,000 in new gifts over four days, plus their $75,000 match. Total: $174,000 in revenue. Zero debates on metrics. Just pure firepower that amplified our impact. Scale CheckIf your board chair texts tomorrow: "Let's chat fundraising" – what happens?
If not, that's your next priority. Coming Next WeekNext Sunday: The Corporate Partnership Strategy That Moves Beyond Sponsorships Most organizations chase $5K event sponsorships when they should be building $100K+ alliances. Next Sunday, we'll show you how. Your TurnAudit your last three board meetings:
If you can shift one agenda item from oversight to strategy this month, you'll feel the difference immediately. Question for YouWhat's your top board roadblock right now? Getting leadership gifts? Facilitating introductions? Ending micromanagement? Reply and let's brainstorm solutions. Until next week, Christine P.S. Great boards don't oversee, they ignite. Channel their energy to fundraise at the highest level and watch your revenue grow. I'm Christine Bork, Chief Development Officer at the American Academy of Pediatrics. Chief Fundraiser Weekly helps leaders escape daily chaos and zero in on growth. If this sparked an idea, post it on LinkedIn so other fundraisers can benefit. Not a subscriber yet? Get it in your inbox. |
Chief Fundraiser Weekly
Most senior fundraisers spend 70% of their week in tactical work instead of leading growth. I’m a practicing Chief Development Officer scaling a $27M shop, and I share the systems that actually work. Every Sunday, you’ll get a 5-minute executive brief with one system, real proof, and one action you can use right away.
The Unseen Cost of Absorbing Everyone's Budget Anxiety Issue #022 This week's strategic brief (4-minute read) Hi Reader, On Monday, your CFO asked, “Will we hit budget?” By Thursday, your CEO, board chair, and program VP had asked the same question—in four different ways. You’re managing revenue. But you’re also managing everyone’s budget anxiety. I learned I had become the office anxiety absorber. That emotional labor cost me about $100,000 of strategic time each year. The Anxiety You're...
The 10-Minute CEO Briefing Formula Issue #021 This week's strategic brief (5-minute read) Hi Reader, I used to walk into CEO briefings with detailed slides and quarterly dashboards. My CEO would glaze over by minute three. Then I realized: CEOs don't need fundraising briefings. They need intelligence that helps them make decisions. Here's the formula that transformed those conversations from "fundraising updates" to "strategic partner briefings." When 10 Minutes Changed Everything Our 100th...
How to Pressure-Test Big Ideas Issue #020 This week's strategic brief (4-minute read) Hi Reader, Today marks twenty issues of Chief Fundraiser Weekly. What began as a short Sunday experiment has turned into a community of sharp, generous nonprofit leaders helping each other grow from $10M to $25M and beyond. If you’ve found these weekly briefs helpful, I’d love your feedback. It takes less than two minutes and helps more fundraising executives discover Chief Fundraiser Weekly. 👉 Share your...