Operationally
Different charities will have access to and employ different resources to devote to fundraising. For some charities, this might mean staff members that are employed purely to fundraise, for others this might mean that staff wear a number of hats, combining fundraising with other responsibilities.
As a trustee you should be asking your staff where and how you can support them with fundraising. This might mean helping to implement the strategy by having the fundraiser report to you or another designated board member. It could mean networking on behalf of the charity at events, and it could mean putting the CEO in touch with your networks who you think could support your charity. You should have honest conversations with your staff about where you can help.
It is important for trustees to realise where their skills, expertise and networks can be used to support fundraising.
To help put your fundraising strategy into practice your charity might want to consider creating a fundraising sub-committee, sometimes called a development board. This is a group that can involve trustees, staff and (where possible) key volunteers to focus on fundraising. The fundraising sub-committee should meet regularly to discuss the charity’s fundraising strategy and progress against the strategy. This can be a good way of ensuring that your charity gets those in the room who are passionate about fundraising, and have the skills and knowledge to support the charity, but also allows the board to concentrate on the wide variety of issues that is required of them as part of good governance.
Ultimately, you as a trustees should look to be proactive in being involved in your charity’s fundraising. With charities facing continuous financial strain it is not advisable to take a ‘hands-off’ approach. Charities where their trustees are engaged with fundraising can more easily plan and prepare for both for potential risks and potential opportunities. You should look to make reviewing the charity’s fundraising as a regular part of trustee meetings.
So if you haven’t already, the next time you talk the people who are responsible for fundraising, ask how you can help.