Clarifying the Board’s Role in Fundraising: Why Ambiguity Undermines Success
Board engagement is one of the most frequently cited challenges in nonprofit fundraising. Development staff feel boards are disengaged. Board members feel unsure or uncomfortable about what is expected of them. Executive leaders are often caught between competing perspectives.
At the heart of these challenges is rarely a lack of goodwill. More often, it is a lack of clarity.
When Board Fundraising Roles Are Unclear
Most board members join because they believe in the mission. They bring professional expertise, community connections, and a desire to contribute meaningfully. When fundraising expectations are vague, however, even committed board members struggle to engage productively.
Common symptoms of unclear roles include:
Board members avoiding fundraising altogether
A small subset of board members carrying most fundraising responsibilities
Staff feeling pressure to manage board participation without authority
Tension or frustration surfacing during board meetings
Ambiguity creates discomfort. Discomfort leads to disengagement.
Reframing Board Fundraising
Fundraising is not a single activity. It encompasses governance, stewardship, advocacy, relationship-building, and accountability. Boards do not need to perform every task, but they do need to understand where they fit.
Effective board engagement begins with answering a few essential questions:
What fundraising responsibilities belong to the board as a governing body?
What expectations apply to individual board members?
How will staff support and guide board involvement?
How does fundraising connect to mission oversight?
When these questions are addressed explicitly, board members are more confident and more willing to participate.
The Role of Advising and Board Education
Advising and facilitation provide a neutral space to align expectations. A skilled advisor helps organizations:
Translate fundraising best practices into board-appropriate language
Clarify roles without shame or pressure
Address misconceptions about fundraising
Establish shared accountability
This work is especially important during periods of transition such as new board leadership, new executive leadership, or evolving fundraising goals.
Clarity Builds Confidence
Boards that understand their role are more engaged, not less. Clarity reduces anxiety and creates opportunities for meaningful contribution.
When boards and staff operate with shared understanding, fundraising becomes a collective effort rather than a recurring source of tension.