Many executive and development directors feel that their boards don't perform adequately in the fund raising department.  But what happens when board members actually threaten to ask for funds in a way that staff members perceive as inappropriate?  This is a problem many E.D.'s and D.D.'s would like to have, I suppose, but what IS inappropriate fund raising?  If fund raising activity is not on the "not" list (illegal, unethical, unreliable, impractical, unsupportable, unseemly, results-not applicable), should staff find methods chosen by  board members to raise funds "acceptable?"  To be a bit more specific:  when is it appropriate for an E.D. or development director to censor the "way" that a board member develops and solicits for a major gift to cover an expenditure for an activity planned by staff and approved as part of the annual budget?

When do fund raising methods deployed by board members cross the line so that these activities undermine the operational control of staff?  At some point, shouldn't board members be trusted to portray the community value of an organization in their own words and tap into their own passion?  If staff have been unable to motivate board members to take risks to meet strangers and ask them for doncations, shouldn't board members be supported in finding their own motivation?  Can't board members have the freedom to find the best way to connect operational funding needs with the passion and perspective of individual prospective donors?  OR, should board members only perform fund raising actions in a way and manner that is highly scripted and controlled by staff?  I am reminded of an old abortion rights slogan:  "If you can't you trust me with a choice how can you trust me with a child?"   In this case, the question is:  if you can't trust in my discretion then how can you trust me with your mission?

Comments

Add New Search

Write comment
Name:
Email:
Title:
UBBCode:	-color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.22

3.22 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."