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May 5, 2009, 10:37 AM ET
How Much Should Charity Board Members Be Required to Give?
Should nonprofit groups have formal contribution requirements for those who serve on their boards of directors? Or is the expectation of giving something that is simply understood?
Virginia Ikkanda-Suddith, a fund-raising consultant in Los Angeles, recently asked those questions, to members of the Chronicle‘s LinkedIn group.
The question prompted sharp disagreements among nonprofit officials and consultants about how charities should communicate giving requirements to their board members.
June Jimenez, director of development at the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, writes that her organization asks board members to either donate or raise $2,500 for the organization — an expectation that is spelled out in their job descriptions.
Peter Hansen, vice president of development at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, said the expectations should be spelled out differently, depending on the type of organization.
“In my experience with larger not-for-profits, stating a minimum gift level could suppress giving,” Mr. Hansen writes. “However, I have served on boards of smaller institutions where setting a minimum gift level was very important, especially in working with volunteers who did not have experience as directors.”
Policies can only go so far, though. Board members will contribute and raise money for organizations that they believe in strongly, writes Gail Perry, a consultant and author in Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
“I have found personally that board members will gladly and willingly give and get as hard as they can when they are engaged and excited about the organization’s work. When they are not engaged, they tend to find this policy offensive. They will give the minimum when they ‘have’ to,” Ms. Perry writes.
“Our job, of course, is to get them so fired-up that they are sitting on the edge of their seats ready to help out and give too. That’s a tall order.”
How does your organization handle personal donation and solicitation policies for its board? If you have served on a board, how have you felt about being asked to contribute and raise money? Click on the comments link below this post to share your thoughts.
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