fundraising – Page 23 – The Healthy Non-Profit

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant!” ~Dr. Seuss

May 28, 2013 erik Board development, Board governance, volunteers

For those of you who regularly follow DonorDreams blog, you know that for the last month I’ve been publishing real letters from real non-profit people. These letters have been anonymous and all center on the theme of things that non-profit boards do that drive the letter writer a little nuts. Rather than just making this a good old fashion “rant,” each author was asked to incorporate a suggested solution into their letter.

I hope you enjoyed this month’s series. If the data analytics for this site are any indication, it looks like many of you enjoyed it A LOT!

As you can see from all of this month’s posts, I incorporated a “mask” theme for a few reasons.

This theme was inspired by the fact that I am the Nonprofit Blog Carnival host this month, and I thought incorporating masks as a visual would tie the ideas of “carnival” and “anonymous letters” together perfectly.
Additionally, humans have used masks for an assortment of things for millennia including ceremonies, protection, medical protection from plagues, disguise, and performance.

Interestingly, I’ve been on an Alaskan cruise for the last two weeks (I just got home last night), and everywhere I turned in all of the gift shops I encountered native Alaskan masks. So, for your enjoyment, I snapped a whole bunch of pictures and included them at the bottom of this post for your enjoyment. (Keep scrolling down below my signature block to enjoy those pictures)

Tomorrow is Wednesday, May 29th, and it is the day we’ve all been waiting for. Tomorrow is the day we celebrate the Nonprofit Blog Carnival. As you know, I asked the nonprofit blogosphere to consider writing an open letter to non-profit boards about something concerning to them along with a suggested solution. I also challenged them to incorporate something from Dr. Seuss into their post because this iconic children’s author is considered by many people to be an “architect of social change“.

If you couldn’t tell, I am hoping this month’s series of posts culminating with tomorrow’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival will become a blueprint for “change” regarding how you engage your non-profit board on a variety of issues.

I titled this blog post with an inspirational quotation from Dr. Seuss that I believe sums up this entire exercise.

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant!“

Now that we’ve got whatever it was off of our chest, I encourage you to shift your thinking to the following questions:

What will you do about it?
How will you tactfully engage your board in addressing the issue you’ve identified as critical?
Can some of these issues become generative questions and conversations that get incorporated into your board meetings?
Do you have a board governance committee that does more than just recruit new board volunteers? If so, what is their role in addressing some of these issues?
How can you use this exercise to develop a system focused on continual organizational improvement?
Have you given any thought to asking your board volunteers to write anonymous letters to you with suggestions on how to improve aspects of your job?

I hope you’re looking forward to tomorrow’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival hosted here at DonorDreams blog. I’ve seen the submissions, and I’m hopeful that you will enjoy them as much as I have. In the meantime, please start thinking about the questions I just posed and use the comment box below to weigh-in with your thoughts keeping the following quotation from Dr. Seuss in mind:

“Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s a great balancing act.”

Here’s to your health . . . See you tomorrow at the carnival!

Erik Anderson
Founder & President, The Healthy Non-Profit LLC
www.thehealthynonprofit.com
erik@thehealthynonprofit.com
http://twitter.com/#!/eanderson847
http://www.facebook.com/eanderson847
http://www.linkedin.com/in/erikanderson847

If you are a lover of this kind of art from the Northwest coast, then I suggest you visit Hill’s Native Art online to check out their large selection.

Dear board volunteers . . . tips from the outgoing CEO

May 24, 2013 erik Board development, Board governance, Fundraising, Planning, volunteers

DonorDreams blog is honored to be hosting the May 2013 Nonprofit Blog Carnival. The theme this month is “Dear board volunteer . . .” and the idea is “If you could write an anonymous letter to a nonprofit board about something they do that drives you crazy, what would that letter look like and what suggested solutions would you include?” If you are a blogger and would like more information on how to participate and submit a post for consideration, please click here to learn more.

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These folks are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board of Directors,

I want to thank you for my time and opportunity with your organization and community. I have learned a great many things during my time here. My hope is that you share these things with your new Executive Director, so that he/she may succeed and serve the clients who need us the most.

First, they’ll need your attention. You need to give them your attention inside and outside the board room, paying attention to key metrics – are we meeting the mission? Are we raising enough financial support – money – to allow the staff to meet that mission? Are you responding to hard and soft metrics with a cause of action – simply put, are you doing things daily/weekly/monthly that help our clients?

Second, they’ll need your advocacy. Are we visible in the community – staff & board together – as advocates of our cause? Are you proud to tell your friends, co-workers and associates that you’re part of our organization? Do you bring people to see our mission in action, either during events or during our day-to-day operations?

Third, they’ll need your aspirations for the organization. Do you think about where we should be in five years? Can you share that with them? Can you share that with your associates? Can you put that into action?

The successful organizations in your community are doing these things, and are thriving. In fact, your lack of attention, advocacy and aspirations are noticeably absent to many others in the community. I’ve been told many, many times during my time here that my passion was appreciated by many, but wasn’t visible in any noticeable quantity from the board leadership. That sent a clear message to them that if our clients weren’t worthy of your passion & talents, as the true leaders of the organization, theirs wasn’t either.

My hope is that you find the staff leader that you’re looking for, as well as that they find the leadership in you that they’re looking for and need as well.

Respectfully,
Your Former Executive Director

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post in a respectful manner. If you want to submit an anonymous letter for consideration this month, please email it to me at the address in your signature block below.If you are a blogger looking to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and want to learn more, then please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . Your community isn’t as UNIQUE as you think.

May 23, 2013 erik Board development, Fundraising, volunteers

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear board volunteer:

If I hear you say one more time, “This process may work everywhere else in the country, but it won’t work here because we are different. Our community is unique.” I think I am going to explode. Guess what…you’re community isn’t different because in the end it is made of people and people are more or less the same wherever you go.

You have the home grown people that have been in the community for 50+ years and know everyone. You have the implants that have been in the community longer than they have been out, and the newbies; both groups who will say that unless you are from here, you are treated as an outsider.

You have people who are political, people who are generous, people who are mean, people who need your services, people who are religious, people who don’t care, people who are leaders, people who are followers, people who say they will do something and don’t, people who will take action, people who say they will take action and don’t, people who work and people that don’t work.

I go crazy when a board volunteer says, “that is great that you can raise that kind of money in that community, but you can’t do that here because we are different.” You’re right; you can’t do it HERE with that attitude.

If you would only realize that because something DOES work somewhere else, with the right leadership and strategies, IT WILL more than likely work here.

So, please quit being the one putting on the brakes and get off the bus.

I know that change is not easy, but we need to push forward towards a solution. Here are just a few simple suggestions that I have: 1) let’s move a few of our more resistant board volunteers off of the board and onto another task force or advisory council; 2) let’s shake up our board leadership; 3) let’s add a few fresh faces by recruiting two or three new board volunteers; and 4) let’s find a donor who is willing to make a challenge gift that is tied to implementation of our original plan.

Sincerely,
Your friendly neighborhood Spiderman

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . Can we stop the paralysis by analysis, please?

May 22, 2013 erik Fundraising, volunteers

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit professionals and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These people are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Up to that fun-filled day, I will publish real anonymous letters every day from real non-profit professionals right here at DonorDreams blog.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Resource Development Committee,

I would like to thank each and every one of who have given so much time, effort and discussion to our new Resource Development Plan. The countless meetings and suggestions on what the appropriate sponsorship level should be for each event has truly been riveting. I am glad that we spent 28 months analyzing the numerous drafts. I also consider the six months of research on organizations within a 625-mile radius a productive use of my time.

I understand the concerns expressed by several board members that if we increase the hole sponsorship or foursome by the astronomical sum of $25.00, we might jeopardize the fundraising of the entire organization. “I told you so” is always a possibility, but if we get unanimous approval, I am confident that we can overcome the steep increases and have successful special events that will generate sufficient income for us.

Maybe we could analyze this plan for a few more months before bringing to the full board and wait for the Marketing Committee to roll out their plan. I am so confident that the new PR plan will be so well received that our RD plan will be a perfect fit. We probably will not have to make any of those dreaded face-to-face asks and not even bother with the time consuming thank you letters.

The goal of a 1.8% increase in giving is not a reach if we stick to the plan and depend on my staff to accomplish it. We are more than willing to make the calls for you due to your hectic schedule and being uncomfortable with asking for money.

If this plan does not work (in which case I would be shocked), I do have a few suggestions for the next one:

No more paralysis by over analysis. Let’s create a plan knowing that it is not perfect and we may have to “tweak” it once or twice.

Make it an action plan with specific steps and dates and hold Directors accountable to them.

Cultivate and get to know our potential donors so we know what they want and what motivates them to give (one size does not fit all when it comes to giving).

There is no “magic” marketing plan . . . show the outcomes of the organization but most importantly show the donor our facility.

Complete a 12-month stewardship calendar for different levels of cultivation.

I have a few other ideas, but those will have to wait just in case our original plan succeeds.

Thank you for all your support,

Sincerely,
Really? All that over a $25 increase?

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . Please stop selling us short to your friends.

May 21, 2013 erik Board development, Board governance, Fundraising, volunteers

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These people are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Up to that fun-filled day, I will publish real anonymous letters every day from real non-profit people right here at DonorDreams blog.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Today’s anonymous letter is a little different from Wednesday and Thursday’s submissions. This contributor decided to take on the persona of the iconic advice columnist Dear Abby.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Member,

First, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your good intentions. I know that your good will toward our organization and your personal investment is sparked by a desire to make a difference. I appreciate that you have invested energy, time, and resources generously.

But why on earth, after making that kind of investment in us, do you constantly sell us short to your friends and colleagues?

If you truly value our mission, why do you assume others won’t? If you really believe in our work, why do you approach those in your sphere apologetically, with a hat-in-hand posture that telegraphs an attitude of begging? Don’t you realize that the message you are sending is that you, as a board member, don’t believe the organization is worthy of their investment? That you expect to receive only whatever crumbs may be leftover after all their “important” investments have been made? If you as a friend, colleague, and person they respect and as a member of the governing body of our organization, communicate that expectation, how could they reach any other conclusion?

If you truly believe in the value of our work, why do I constantly have to fight to keep you from lowering our standards?

You recruit new board members, telling them, don’t worry, we’ll take whatever you have to give. Any amount of time, any amount of dollars. If you are too busy to attend meetings, that’s OK. We’ll send you the minutes. You tell them, if you’re uncomfortable asking your colleagues to support us, we understand, but just let us put your name on our letterhead. How can you imagine this leads anyone to believe there is value in what we do?

When the budget is tight, instead of calling on community leaders to invest in this life-changing work, you suggest we shift to fewer full-time and more part-time staff, who will work for minimum wage. Really? Do you really believe the work they do is no more significant than flipping burgers or dishing up soft-serve ice cream? When we were hiring a new Executive Director, you wanted to advertise for the lowest possible salary to be “fiscally responsible”. Really?? Is our product (keeping in mind that our services saves lives) truly worth less than a car or a computer or a landscaping job or anything else that is produced for a profit? Why would we not want to hire the best possible leader for this critical work?

If you believe our work has value, please, adopt a posture of worthiness in everything you do on behalf of this organization. If you are struggling with that, let me suggest you do two things:

Visit our sites during service hours. If you get to know some of the kids whose lives we are changing, you’ll start to understand that they are worthy of this chance.

Get familiar with our outcomes. They are in the board reports we review each month and they are proof of the results this work is yielding

This should convince you that we are worthy! If it does, please stop apologizing for asking your friends to support us.

If you do these things and still don’t believe we are worthy, please do the right thing and invest your effort somewhere else.

Stop demeaning the work of the rest of us on the board and of our professional staff.

Sincerely,
Your Board Chair

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post in a respectful manner.

If you want to submit an anonymous letter for consideration this month, please email it to me at the address in your signature block below.

If you are a blogger looking for more information on how to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival, please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . I’m sorry about so very much!

May 14, 2013 erik Board development, Board governance, Donor-centered fundraising, Fundraising, volunteers

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Members,

Over the last several years, we have accomplished much together. Our budget has nearly tripled, we serve nearly twice as many youth, and the community recognizes us as an effective and trustworthy not-for-profit. Despite our great successes, we certainly could have done more.

Rising short of our full potential, there are some things I need to share with you.

First, I am sorry that many of you came on the board and were not adequately engaged in the work of the board. Far too many of you just simply coasted along without more regular contact from me or the board leadership team. We wasted your potential.

Second, I am sorry that so many of you were not more thoroughly cultivated before you were brought on board. Far too many of you needed to be exposed to the message and the mission before you were brought on board. We didn’t stoke your passion and develop your commitment near enough.

Third, I am sorry that many of you were brought on board (and this is really hard to say) and never should have been invited in the first place. Too many times, we were bringing people on who just lacked the connectedness within our community. Too many times we were bringing people on who lacked the passion, lacked the ability to work as a team, or lacked the wisdom of life that could make all the difference. We brought you into a situation that set you up for failure.

Fourth, I am sorry that we have not committed enough time to exploring and understanding the board-staff relationship. The challenge of making sense of this complex relationship demands that we spend more time researching and examining best practices, adding to our wealth of knowledge and molding a strategic direction. We owe it to ourselves, our organization, our donors and our members, to become the most effective team possible. To date, we continue to find our “sweet” spot. We need to do more.

Lastly, I look forward to our coming years together. Like the members we serve, we have great potential for growth. So much has been done in such a short time. So much more needs to be done.

Let’s move forward having learned from our recent success, striving to realize our full potential.

Most Sincerely,
I’m sorry . . . so very sorry!

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . please do a better job with your recruitment efforts

May 13, 2013 erik Board governance, Fundraising, volunteers

We will officially celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Volunteers,

Why ME?

After years of on again, off again volunteer work in the community, I was recently asked by a local not-for-profit to be a part of their resource development committee. Planning, strategizing and fundraising have always been kind of a natural for me, so I eagerly accepted the challenge. And what a challenge it turns out to be…

Getting involved with the organization was enlightening. I met a lot of great people who had many terrific ideas. There seemed to be an early interest from the RD committee in meeting and discussing these ideas, although it became readily apparent that the follow through was a bit lacking. It also became apparent to me that there are several types of people, or bees, that flock to the not-for-profits: Executive bees, Worker Bees, and Busy bees.

Now some explanation: The Executive bees, or E-bees are the the group of power brokers that get involved with the not-for-profits. These are people in the community that have influence, wield formal authority, and are typically respected by their peers and fellow board members. The E-bees guide or drive policy, typically bring some fundraising ability to the table, but aren’t going necessarily roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. They definitely bring value to a not-for-profit.

So, the Worker bees, or W-bees, are still respected by their peers, this is the group that will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Want to be able to spot a W-bee in a crowd? It’s not too tough. Go to the next big event. Look for the board members that are setting chairs or moving tables. Take a picture of the board member walking around selling the raffle tickets at the event. I’ll bet that you just found yourself a Worker bee. Don’t worry, these are helpful bees to have around, in of course the right mix.

Now the Busy bee, or B-bees, are are interesting creatures, and they can be a little harder to identify. B-bees, like the name implies, kind of roll around and oftentimes wind up in the mix with the E-bees and W-bees. Often, they feel that they may have influence when in fact they have very little. They may talk a good game, but their lack of follow through and lack of willingness to commit doesn’t make them a very good Worker bee. B-bees like the activity found in the rest of the swarm but aren’t necessarily going to bring much to the table. It has been my experience that Busy bees are responsible for the flurry of inactivity that occurs in not-for-profits. Be careful when dealing with a Busy bee, because like all bees, they still have stingers. And because of their lack of focus on the real issues at hand, they are always slightly more inclined to use those stingers than the E-bees or W-bees. These bees often bring little to the hive and can be more bother than they are worth

OK, so why all the bee analogies? Simple. In order for not-for-profits to be successful, here has to be a healthy synergy with a good mix of the right type of volunteers. People all have to work together. And there has to be the right mix of people to make all of that happen. Like a beehive. Ultimately, of course, it the responsibility of the Board and the Executive Director to ensure that brought proper board development brings the right mix of volunteers together.

Recently, one of the current board members met with me and explained that there had been some transition, and that there several vacancies on the board. He was very excited to meet with me, and after only a few short minutes of conversation asked me “would you like to be on the board?“

I smiled and asked if he was serious. I didn’t ask because because I was flattered by the offer, but because I was so taken back by the way he asked me. This was a Worker bee, who is very involved, very well intended, but had put no thought into why he asked me.

When I asked him why he was so interested in recruiting me he said that it was because: 1) he liked me and 2) he liked some of the work I had done on the resource development committee. I cringed. This, I thought, is the exact reason that the board is in the trouble that it is in.

Boards and execs must make board development a number one priority. There has to be a defined methodology to volunteer recruitment, and it has to have a basis beyond choosing friends and picking the “nice guys”.

Pick a strategy and pursue it.

How many E-bees should your board have? How many W-bees does the board need? Fundraising should be a key component to choosing board members. If prospects can’t fundraise, they may be better served working the beverage cart at the next golf outing. How will you deal with the Busy bees? Does your board have the stomach to truly self-evaluate, and then ask its members annually why they are there? If not, be prepared for a hive full of Busy bees, and be willing to accept the problems that B-bees bring.

When new members are solicited, tell them why they were chosen. It may be their ability to raise money, their position in he community, or their exceptional skills as a Worker bee. By identifying and sharing their desirable traits, you’ll make the board and volunteer recruitment process much easier. Volunteers and board members will have a defined sense of purpose.

Most importantly, you’ll never put a volunteer in the position of asking themselves “Dear Board, why ME?”

Sincerely,
The Honey Bear of Volunteers

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . I can’t do this all by myself.

May 9, 2013 erik Board development, Board governance, Fundraising, Planning, volunteers

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These people are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Volunteers:

First, let me say that I truly appreciate all the time, talent and treasure you give to our organization each year. That said, I must air my concerns regarding some practices that I see as undermining the functioning of our board and the ultimate success of our committees and fundraisers.

We have board committees designed to do work outside of the board meetings and then provide a written report to include in our board packet for review/approval at meetings. These committees are not functioning according to their design and reports are not being completed or submitted. As a matter of fact, few committees are even meeting unless I force the issue. Then I must type up the notes and follow-up on what is to be done.

New board members are learning the wrong way for committees to function. We developed the committee structure through a well thought out process….let’s use it.

You are all aware that we do not have a development person. So, it falls to me or the office manager to complete the tasks that you do not. While I understand that you are all busy, each committee chair could recruit community members to help with their committee. You can delegate and assign work to those folks. You can also check on your committee members completion of assignments.

Call/email/text your committee to stay in touch and remind them of their commitments. Get the job done!

When I am doing committee work, I am not doing the following:

writing grants,

completing billing or grant reporting,

marketing the agency, or

managing our staff and programs.

My job requires 50 hours a week to just keep my head above water. When I take on these other tasks, I am drowning.

I have no problem putting in the 60-70 hour weeks just before a fundraiser, but I cannot do this week in and week out in order to balance my every day responsibilities and those of the various committees. We need to work together to ensure the success of our organization.

With each board member renewing their commitment to their chosen committees, we can guarantee the success of each committee and fundraiser, so please do your part.

Let’s start this year with a great attitude and renewed motivation.

Sincerely,
One sleep deprived exec

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . A few observations and requests from a new member.

May 6, 2013 erik Board development, Board governance, Fundraising, organizational development, Planning, technology, volunteers

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These people are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Members:

I’m absolutely thrilled and honored to be serving with each of you and to be of service to this fine organization. I consider my board service to be a privilege. I hope each of you feel the same way.

I do have some observations after serving on this board for the past seven months. They are as follows:

Madame Board chair, respect your fellow board members. While you were a teacher during your professional days, you are no longer dealing with students. Your fellow board members, or at least this board member, is a professional. Treat me as you would like to be treated. If you are having a bad day, please keep that to yourself. Frankly, I couldn’t care less if you are crabby. Do you really want that fact recorded in our board minutes?

Let’s try and have some fun with our board service. Our organization does not deal with life and death situations. It’s ok to interject some humor in or discussions.

We need to hold our CEO accountable. Setting stretch goals, providing regular feedback on performance and completing a written performance evaluation is important to our work and central to us meeting our outcomes. Let’s not shy away from having the difficult and uncomfortable conversations with our CEO. We will be a better organization in the long run as a result.

While fundraising is not central to our mission there is not one single reason why we cannot develop a culture of fund and friend raising in our organization.

WE NEED A STRATEGIC PLAN. Let’s plan our work and work our plan.

Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest are here to stay. Our clients use social media. We need to be optimized across multiple communication channels. A website is great, but it’s no longer enough. The sooner we understand social media, the sooner we will reap the many benefits it has to offer us.

Just because an organization is 4X larger or 4X smaller than we are, does not mean that we can’t learn from them.

Can we please try to recruit fellow board members strategically?

Can we do something socially as a board so we can get to know one another?

That’s all for me. Just some random early observations from your newest board member. In spite of the above, each of you, in your own way, has energized me around our mission and the importance of our work.

All the best,
The new guy

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please be respectful and share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post. If you are a blogger looking to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and want to learn more, then please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Dear board volunteers . . . Discover your case for support.

May 3, 2013 erik Board development, volunteers

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Today’s anonymous letter is a little different from Wednesday and Thursday’s submissions. This contributor decided to take on the persona of the iconic advice columnist Dear Abby.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Abby,

It seems like every time I need a board member to do something really important, they have a conflict, are too busy, or are uncomfortable with the task. Please help!

Sincerely,
Hoping for Change

Dear Hope,

On a summer evening two years ago, I received a call from one of our staff letting me know that a 17-year-old boy, named John had come to the Club after hours looking for help. John, who was in foster care and has cognitive disabilities, had an argument with his foster mother and she kicked him out of her car on a busy road. John was totally alone, but he found his way to the one place he knew was safe – the Boys & Girls Club.

The Club staff called John’s “in case of emergency” contacts to no avail. His foster mother refused to pick him up, his caseworker was busy. As I received these updates, I became acutely aware of the life my own two children were living. It was after dinner, I was reading them stories, our house had just been professionally cleaned. I began to cry as I thought about the stark contrast between my own children’s life and the life of this most vulnerable boy.

This could have been the day I decided my work was too depressing. Thankfully, this moment became a turning point for me. This is when I realized that what I do is more than just a job. Although, I wasn’t there to open the door for John that night, I knew that I had the power to open a door for others like him. Not only do I owe this to “those” kids, but to my own kids. I owe it to them to do everything in my power to make sure that they do not have to live in a world where a vulnerable child who is left on a busy street at night has no place to turn. This is what I think of when I have too much on my plate, or am uncomfortable with the task ahead of me.

I tell you this story not to sadden you, but rather to shake your board into finding their story.

What is their motivation for being involved? Too often, I hear from board members that they are too busy to attend meetings, have too much on their plates, or are uncomfortable with fundraising. These are frustrating comments to hear – especially as I think about John. In order to be successful as a board member, one must find the story that will motivate them to serve, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

The good news is John still finds his way to the Boys & Girls Club everyday. He is living in a group home with other young adults who have disabilities. He is now a Club volunteer and loves spending his time helping staff maintain the technology labs. The Club is a family for John, but the Club staff and kids also think of John as a part of their patchwork family.

I hope your board has the opportunity to one day find their story. It will change their lives and the lives of many others. When this story is found, the job of a board member becomes more than a series of meetings and tasks. It will be the catalyst for a better, more purposeful life for those you serve and those you love.

Sincerely,
Mission-focused Mary

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please be respectful and share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post.

If you want to submit an anonymous letter for consideration this month, please email it to me at the address in your signature block below.

Here’s to your health!