Welcome to Day 17 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge!
You have the perfect governing board—now you want them to step onto the “fundraising bus.” Nonprofit board engagement is one of the most powerful ways to secure new grants, but many board members don’t know where to start.
Today’s challenge is to pick one engagement tactic and try it with one board member.
9 Ways to Involve Your Board in Funder Relationships
1. Use a Relationship Questionnaire
Once a year, ask board members to list their professional and personal connections. You’ll be surprised to find who is golfing with a foundation trustee or serves on a committee with a Program Officer.
2. Poll the Board for New Funders
When you identify a new prospect, send their trustees’ names to your board, asking whether anyone has a connection there.
3. Attend Local Funder Events
Encourage board members to network at Chamber of Commerce meetings, Community Foundation open houses, or local award ceremonies.
4. Reach Out for a Monthly Goal
Ask your board to commit to one email or phone call per month to a current or potential funder. Ensure they have the funder’s preferred contact method.
5. Introduce the “Index Card” Game
At your next meeting, pass around cards with foundation names and their key staff. If a board member knows someone, they take the card and commit to an introductory reach-out.
6. Remember: Funders Are People Too
Encourage board members to share relevant articles or industry news with a funder without asking for money. It builds a relationship based on shared interest, not just a transaction.
7. Provide a Cold-Call Script
Remove the fear of the unknown. Give them a simple script that covers an introduction, your mission, and an invitation for coffee.
8. Serve as a Grant Reviewer
Suggest that board members volunteer for local grant review panels (when your organization isn’t applying). That experience gives them an inside look at what makes a winning proposal and begins a relationship with that funder.
9. Advocate via Social Media
For board members active on LinkedIn or Facebook, ask them to follow your top funders and thoughtfully share or comment on their posts. Also, tactfully ask board members to review their own personal posts and remove any that might not reflect well on your organization (e.g., polarizing opinions).
Empower Your Board for Success
Use these resources to guide your board’s involvement:
- Download: Grantmaker Relationship Guide – Follow this free guide’s advice to develop a clear, strategic plan for grantmaker outreach.
- Read: 4 Roles for the Board of Directors – Understand the strategic “why” behind board fundraising.
- Explore: 10 Ways to Improve Relationships with Grantmakers – Discover more tips for your board to use when cultivating new partners.
- Assess: How does your board’s engagement impact your readiness score? Use the GRASP Tool to find out.
Join the Discussion
We want to hear from you! What is the most successful way you’ve engaged a board member in a grant relationship? Did your board member host a site visit, make a call, or provide an introduction?
Leave a note in the comments below and share your board engagement wins!