Boards That Raise: Simple Ways to Unlock Your Board’s Fundraising Potential

Charlyn Moss
Jun 30
3 min read

Your board can be one of your strongest fundraising assets, so why does it so often feel like a roadblock instead?

If I had a penny for every time I heard about dysfunction on a nonprofit board, I could donate every dollar Working Within has raised right back to our clients. People management is tough, and accountability is tougher. A board embodies both. Many founders never expect that the group meant to champion their cause might stall their momentum.

The good news: even a disengaged or uncertain board can become a powerhouse for fundraising once you give members clear direction and practical tools. Here’s how to diagnose the friction and then turn it into forward motion.

Why Boards Feel Tough

There are a variety of reasons you might be experiencing friction with your board:

They hold us accountable. Most executives answer to no one else quite like they do to their board. Knowing every major decision will be scrutinized can feel exhausting, especially when revenue is tight or programs are shifting.
We can become too friendly. When board members are also long-time friends or early boosters, the line between governance and camaraderie blurs. Familiarity can make honest feedback harder and cause expectations to slip.
They bring different experiences and viewpoints. Diversity of thought is healthy, yet without a shared framework it can stall decisions. One member may think like a marketer, another like a financier, and a third like a grassroots organizer. If you never align them, conversation spins in circles.
We were never taught to engage boards. Few graduate programs cover board relations in depth, and many founders learn by trial and error. A lack of structure invites confusion for both staff and directors.
They lack the right tools. Asking a board to raise money without prospect lists, talking points, or clear goals is like sending them into the desert without water. Even seasoned professionals falter if they do not know where to start.
They have too much or too little control. Some boards micromanage every vendor contract while others rubber-stamp entire budgets in ten minutes. Either extreme leaves staff unsure when to seek approval and when to act.

How to Turn Your Board Around

Managing a team of bosses can be frustrating. But it can also help add rocket fuel to your organization's growth. Here’s how to transform your board from surviving to thriving:

Audit skills and capacity. Map each director’s strengths to your strategic needs. If advocacy or financial modeling is missing, name the gap. A simple matrix clarifies why some initiatives lag and where new expertise is necessary.
Reset expectations with a wide-angle view. Facilitate a retreat or extended meeting that revisits mission, vision, and current priorities. When members see the full landscape, they understand why their role matters and how they can lend weight in the right places.
Cut old ties gracefully. Directors who skip meetings or resist accountability drain momentum. Offer sincere thanks for their past service, then follow your bylaws to rotate them off. New space invites new energy.
Recruit fresh voices with expectations up front. Create a clear role description that details meeting cadence, committee work, and fundraising duties. Share it before orientation so every candidate joins with eyes wide open.
Give simple homework backed by simple templates. Provide each director with a one-page prospect sheet, a personal story prompt, and a sample outreach email. Assign one small ask for the next 30 days. Small wins build confidence and create a rhythm of action.
Look inward and model commitment. Staff must meet deadlines, honor reporting schedules, and respond quickly to board questions. When executives show accountability, directors feel safe leaning in.
Meet one-on-one and follow up promptly. Personal check-ins reveal individual motivations, clear confusion, and prevent small concerns from turning into missed votes. Summaries with clear next steps keep everyone aligned.
Partner closely with the board chair. A chair who champions your turnaround plan accelerates every other step. Share weekly updates, invite them to join select donor calls, and celebrate wins together.

Getting your board aligned strengthens your organization’s ability to fundraise, grow, and lead with clarity. When board members understand their role, see the full picture, and are equipped with the right tools, your capacity expands. You gain more advocates, more outreach, more credibility, and often, more dollars. High-functioning boards contribute more than votes and approvals. They unlock opportunities. If you want to grow, stabilize, or scale your work, board engagement is one of your most powerful levers.