Chapter 3: Leadership
This lesson provides the foundational knowledge for why strong leadership is critical for a professional fundraising program. The next step is to put this knowledge into practice by defining and committing to your leadership team's roles.
Task: Your task is to start the conversation about leadership responsibilities within your organization.
For Beginners (Seed/Taking Root Stages): Schedule a brief meeting with your founding team or board. Use the discussion prompts from our resource to talk about the importance of everyone's role in championing the mission and making personal donations.
For Emerging Organizations (Sapling Stage): Dedicate a portion of a board meeting to defining or refining the fundraising roles and responsibilities of the board and staff. Create a small development/fundraising committee and create a 12-month development plan to begin implementing these roles.
Resource: To assist you, we've prepared a comprehensive guide: "Defining Your Leadership Roles in Fundraising." This resource includes a sample agenda for a board meeting discussion, a template for a board member's "give or get" commitment form, and a sample job description for a fundraising-focused staff member.