Stop Requiring Your Board Members to Fundraise: It’s Never Worked and Never Will! | NANOE

VISIT HERE TO JOIN US for Major Gifts Ramp-Up Ohio – May 6-7, 2026

Major Gifts Ramp-Up Ohio
May 6-7, 2026
The Ohio State University
Ohio Union Building (Senate Chamber Room)
1739 N High St. Columbus, OH 43210

For years, nonprofits have repeated a familiar expectation: every board member must fundraise. It shows up in board agreements, recruitment conversations, and governance checklists. It sounds responsible—but most executive directors know the lived reality: required board fundraising rarely works the way people hope it will. Most often it creates pressure, discomfort, and avoidance instead of results.

Most volunteer board members join a charitable organization because they care about the mission and bring valuable experience—not because they’re trained fundraisers!

When well-meaning board members are told they “must fundraise,” many feel unsure where to start. Some try once and stop. Others quietly avoid it. Staff end up doing the heavy lifting anyway.

The issue isn’t commitment—it’s role fit.

The Major Gifts Ramp-Up Model emphasizes that boards are most effective when they focus on what they are uniquely positioned to do well:

• Provide strong governance
• Support and evaluate the CEO
• Protect mission and strategy
• Strengthen financial accountability
• Evaluate and reduce risk
• Contribute their professional expertise

Instead of asking every board member to raise money, this approach asks each one to lean into their strengths.

For example:

• A financial expert improves money management and forecasting
• An attorney strengthens policies and contracts
• A marketer sharpens messaging and visibility
• A technology leader improves systems
• A program expert strengthens outcomes measurement

That kind of contribution directly improves fundraising readiness—even if it doesn’t involve making an ask.

Learn More at the Upcoming MGRU Event

Leaders who want to see this model in action can attend the Major Gifts Ramp-Up event held in partnership with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce on May 6–7, 2026 at The Ohio State University. The event focuses on practical systems for CEO-led fundraising, campaign cabinet structure, and major-gift growth—aligned with NANOE’s updated governance approach.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve ever felt frustrated trying to “get the board to fundraise,” you’re not alone—and you’re not failing.

The model itself is what needs updating.

Boards work best when they give and contribute expertise.
Fundraising works best when professionals lead it.
Campaign cabinets support growth where it counts.

That’s not lowering the bar. It’s finally setting it in the right place.

VISIT HERE TO JOIN US for Major Gifts Ramp-Up Ohio – May 6-7, 2026

Major Gifts Ramp-Up Ohio
May 6-7, 2026
The Ohio State University
Ohio Union Building (Senate Chamber Room)
1739 N High St. Columbus, OH 43210
Use scholarship code: CHAM9193COLU