Philanthropy links staff, board members, donors, clients, volunteers, and people in need. Through their gifts of time and money, donors and volunteers join with you in helping solve community problems and make a positive impact. Nonprofits who successfully build and nurture these relationships and this “culture of philanthropy” are more likely to succeed in fundraising, program goals, and community impact. It’s not enough to have great programs.

Having the right board members on board will determine the future of your organization and its potential for fundraising success. Too often, board members are recruited because they are known by an existing board member and they seem interested in the cause. If you want to have a strong, active board, it’s essential that you select your board members carefully and evaluate them before any recruitment begins. This matrix will help you evaluate and consider a potential board member’s suitability and skill.

Planned gifts are for everyone! You don’t have to be wealthy to make a planned gift. What is a planned gift anyway? It’s simply a gift that you make using something besides cash. It could be a gift of stocks, a gift of real estate, or a gift of assets you leave after your death.