I can hear you snickering … “Sure they’re behind me, miles behind!”

But sarcasm aside, what do you do — or have you done — to get your Board enthusiastic about your fundraising schemes?

Fundraisers are supposed to be marketers, right? So it seems a bit odd that so many fundraisers fail to market their strategies and needs to their Boards.

The first thing I would do is prepare the stories that are necessary to re-ignite in Board members the passions that brought them to the table in the first place. Just as you should with a donor. Get that serotonin flowing!

Only then do you lay the case for how your efforts, properly funded, will deliver more of the satisfaction they want … buried beneath all the analytical justifications they seek.

I hate to say it, but sometimes it pays to lead with the creative … IF you have creative that is easily displayed and emotionally stirring. (In other words, don’t pass around the direct mail letter, although you might read the right excerpts from it!). Alternatively, a story-telling video featuring programmatic success.

Of course, you’ll need to table the supporting analysis. And you need to be able to deliver the case at multiple levels, as most Boards will have members covering the full range of marketing/fundraising astuteness from Alfred E. Neuman to the “I was almost Steve Jobs”. Presumably, you will have pre-sold to the latter, so as to have support from the proper social strata (remember, you’re just a drone). And while you’re at it, pre-sell your CFO too.

Need some help with this? Read Roger’s Investment Paradox post in his ‘Barriers to Growth’ series. In fact, re-read the entire series.

Even corporate marketers seem to need help with marketing their marketing plans to their boards. I guess it’s not dissimilar to the therapist needing a therapist! Here’s an example that actually spurred this post: Five Ways to Get Board Backing for Your Marketing Campaign. The advice here …

1. Involve them early.

2. Plan meticulously.

3. Provide get-out clauses and alternatives.

4. Predict the ROI.

5. Tell a story.

Not bad advice, although as you’ve seen, I’d begin with the story.

Is your Board behind you? If not, what are you going to do about it?

Tom