The Wrong Tool for the Job

Early in my career, I was asked to make a wallet card.

This request came from a board member, so I took it seriously.

Per his request, it was going to be the size of a business card and will be chock full of information:

• Mission

• Vision

• Values

• Impact numbers

• Program details

(Yes, this was before smartphones. Don't get off topic)

The idea was simple. When a board member was asked questions about this organization, they could produce this card and BAM. All the answers one could ever need.

So I started designing and curating the facts and figures that made the cut. And the final product was handed out a board meeting and was a success! For about a day.

After that, two things became apparent.

1. No board member ever referenced the card or asked for another

2. Many of the facts on the card were already out of date

Wallet cards, pitch decks, and flyers are often requested by and given to board members to "help them with fundraising." But ultimately, these are the wrong tools for the job.

Facts and figures have their place in fundraising (try writing a grant without specific data) - but for the type of fundraising work that most board members are engaged in, it's not what is needed.

Put it another way - fundraising isn't a trivia contest.

When we front-load our board members with answers to "what" and "how" questions, we are failing to prepare them for real, meaningful conversations about our mission. Conversations that inspire interest, curiosity, and generosity. Instead, our board members should be comfortable talking about the "why" of our mission - and the "why" of their connection to it.

If your board is still requesting fact sheets and wallet cards, I can help. We can build a fundraising program for your board that connects them with the mission, engages more donors, and moves the needle on your donor retention.

Interested? Send me a message and let's get started!

Washington folks - I'll be talking about the wallet card (and what to replace it with) at the Washington State Nonprofit Conference on May 7. Register today: https://nonprofitwa.org/washington-state-nonprofit-conference/