Free · Certificate included
Board Fundraising Expectations
Understand your fundraising role and give and get with confidence.
What you’ll learn
- Understand give-and-get expectations for board members
- Make a personal gift and a confident ask
- Open doors to donors without feeling salesy
- Find a fundraising role that fits your strengths
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
Why boards must fundraise
You joined the board because you believe in the mission.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 2
Give and get, not give or get
Many boards frame their expectation as "give or get" — make a personal gift or raise an equivalent amount from others.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 3
Why 100% board giving matters
Of all the numbers in nonprofit fundraising, one carries outsized weight: the percentage of board members who personally give.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 4
Your role: far more than the ask
Here is the reframe that frees most reluctant board members.
6 min Quiz Interactive - 5
Overcoming the fear of fundraising
The fear is almost universal: board members picture fundraising as begging, imagine rejection, and worry it will damage their personal relationships.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 6
The board fundraising agreement
Unspoken expectations breed resentment and inconsistency.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 7
Becoming a fundraising ambassador
Pull it together with the mindset that makes everything easier: think of yourself not as a salesperson but as an ambassador for a cause you love.
5 min Quiz Interactive
Sources & further reading
- BoardSource — The Board's Role in Fundraising
- BoardSource — Board Members and Personal Contributions
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) — Tips for Turning Your Board into Fundraising Ambassadors
- Giving USA / Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — Giving USA 2025: U.S. charitable giving reached $592.50 billion in 2024
- National Council of Nonprofits — Board Roles and Responsibilities
VolunteerBadge Academy courses are provided free for general educational and informational purposes only. Every course is researched from reputable, authoritative sources (cited on the course), but VolunteerBadge and ScreenForge Labs, LLC make no representations or warranties of any kind — express or implied — as to the accuracy, completeness, currentness, reliability, or suitability of the content for any purpose. Content may contain errors or omissions and may become outdated, and laws, regulations, standards, and best practices vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This material is not legal, medical, mental-health, clinical, financial, safety-certification, or other professional advice, and completing a course or earning a certificate creates no professional relationship, license, accreditation, or endorsement and is not a substitute for training, certification, supervision, or policies required by law, your organization, your insurer, or a licensing body. Always follow your organization's own policies and applicable law, use your own judgment, and consult a qualified professional (such as an attorney, licensed clinician, or medical provider) about your specific situation. In an emergency, call 911 (or, for a mental-health crisis, 988). To the fullest extent permitted by law, VolunteerBadge and ScreenForge Labs, LLC disclaim all liability for any loss or harm arising from reliance on this content or participation in any course.