Why Your Board Needs a Fundraising Role

Sheree Cannon
Apr 8
3 min read

Updated: May 14

How to activate your board’s potential without creating overwhelm or conflict

Sheree Cannon | Nonprofit Strategist & Consultant | Author

Introduction

Many nonprofit leaders feel stuck in the same cycle:“Our board supports the mission, but they won’t help with fundraising.”

Sometimes it’s hesitation. Sometimes it’s confusion. And sometimes it’s an unclear or outdated understanding of what “fundraising” actually means.

This white paper offers a new lens. Your board doesn’t need to become a group of major gift officers. But every board does need a role in funding the mission—and that role should feel empowering, not intimidating.

When you shift the culture around fundraising, you activate more than money. You activate trust, alignment, and shared ownership.

Why Board Fundraising Matters

A nonprofit board holds fiduciary responsibility for the health of the organization. That includes financial oversight, strategic direction—and yes, resource development.

Fundraising isn’t a nice-to-have skill for board members. It’s a core part of their leadership role. And when it’s neglected, the pressure lands squarely on staff—leading to burnout, imbalance, and missed opportunities.

A board that’s involved in fundraising:

Builds stronger donor networks
Supports leadership through advocacy and visibility
Demonstrates shared responsibility for the mission
Helps raise more money with less pressure on staff

“Your board doesn’t need to ask for every gift—but they should help create the conditions for generosity.”

Common Misunderstandings to Clear Up First

Fundraising = Asking for Money
→ Not necessarily. Fundraising includes inviting, stewarding, thanking, hosting, introducing, and storytelling.
Board Members Must Be Wealthy
→ No. But they must be willing to give meaningfully and support fundraising in a way that fits their capacity and comfort.
Staff Should Just Handle It
→ Development staff drive the strategy. The board helps build the relationships that fuel it.

What a Healthy Board Fundraising Role Can Look Like

There is no one-size-fits-all model—but healthy boards often:

Make a personal annual gift that is meaningful to them
Host donor gatherings or make introductions
Attend events and serve as ambassadors
Share impact stories from a board perspective
Help thank donors with calls, notes, or visits
Use their networks to expand visibility
Participate in fundraising planning and strategy

Even modest efforts make a difference when they’re consistent and authentic.

How to Start the Shift

1. Set Clear Expectations Early

Include fundraising expectations in board member role descriptions, onboarding materials, and annual agreements. Be specific and supportive.

2. Offer Multiple Ways to Contribute

Give board members options: hosting, introducing, thanking, giving, storytelling, inviting. Help them find their “lane” and grow from there.

3. Educate Without Shaming

Many board members fear fundraising because they’ve never been trained. Offer workshops, model scripts, or peer sharing. Empower, don’t pressure.

4. Make It a Cultural Norm

Frame fundraising as a shared responsibility—not a job for a few. Celebrate board involvement, recognize small wins, and reinforce the “why.”

5. Include Fundraising on Every Agenda

Make development a regular board-level conversation—not just a year-end report. Invite questions, share metrics, and show progress.

Conclusion: Your Board Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect—Just Present

You don’t need a board full of major donors or natural fundraisers. You need a board that understands their role in sustaining the mission.

Start small. Offer support. Build confidence. Normalize participation.

Because when your board feels like part of the funding strategy—not outside of it—everything shifts. And your organization becomes stronger from the inside out.