Step One: How to Create Board Member Income Heroes

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Imagine you have the board of your dreams. They’re your heroes, especially when it comes to helping you to earn revenue.

Guess what? To turn this from a dream will take some work, but you can do it.

The first step in creating board member income heroes starts with you. Imagine the future. Identify the specific behaviors your board member heroes take. What exactly will your dream board do?

Here’s an example of a refined, specific list of five income heroes’ behaviors that we developed with the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Houston last fall:
Be a learner.
Make an annual gift.
Invest time in us.
Help us to network and access people.
Lead others.

Why does this matter?

When you know the specifics you can recruit the right people and lead them to your idyllic spot.

Before

At a meeting with a prospective board member, you say, “We need you to help us raise money.”

The prospect thinks, “I’ll make a token gift. That equals help.”

After

You add, “Let me tell you what that means and how we’ll help you to help us.”

The prospect thinks, “I need to give more than a token gift.”

People want to be heroes. If they love your cause, they want to be your heroes.

The easiest way to help your board members be heroes? Recruit potential heroes. Then, guide them to your vision. But first, know what you want your board members to do. Take the first step. Create a specific list.

Contact Karen for a free consultation on helping your board to be income heroes.

Author
Karen Eber Davis

Karen Eber Davis Consulting guides executive directors and CEOs to generate the resources, boards, and support they need to make remarkable progress on their missions. As the award-winning thought-leader, advisor, and founding principal of Karen Eber Davis Consulting, Karen helps nonprofit leaders get answers, generate revenue, and grow their mission. Davis is known for her innovation and practicality based on her work with or visits to over 1,000 nonprofit organizations and her experience leading board and team events. She is the author of 7 Nonprofit Income Streams and Let's Raise Nonprofit Millions Together.