New column every Monday: "The Fundraising Guru," March 10, 2008

Your board members are the engine
that drives your fundraising
by Dr. Stephen L. Goldstein

Your board is the catalyst for all of your fundraising. It takes the lead/opens doors/multiplies itself to make your nonprofit successful. Take Step 1 in determining your board's individual and collective energy by asking each and every board member to fill out the Self-Assessment below.

1. Individual Board Member
Self-Assessment

From 0 (Not at all) to 10 (Very)
1.1. How committed are YOU to the goals
of your nonprofit?.……………..……………………...……0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What are you willing to do to raise your score? _____________________________________________________________


1.2. How committed are YOU to telling others
about your nonprofit?..................................................0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What are you willing to do to raise your score? _____________________________________________________________


1.3. How serious a loss do YOU think it would be
if your nonprofit went out of business?.........................0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What are you willing to do to raise your score? _____________________________________________________________


1.4. How committed are YOU financially to
your nonprofit?.............................................................0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What are you willing to do to raise your score? _____________________________________________________________


1.5. How committed are YOU to getting others
to invest in your nonprofit?.........................................0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What are you willing to do to raise your score? _____________________________________________________________

1.6. Your total: ____ of 50

Next week: Take Step 2--Individual board member's assessment of your board's commitment.
Email Stephen Goldstein your questions and comments: trendsman@aol.com.