I'm faking it.

Over the past few weeks, I have spoken with various people who despite their admittingly not having a clue about what they are supposed to be doing are nonprofit board members and in some cases board officers.

They told me how during meetings they go through the motions as they watch colleagues who have been on the board longer and try desperately to model their behaviors. One said, "Since day one I have been been posturing in hopes that no one discovers my secret -- 'I'm faking it.'"

During each conversation, I put each one of these genuinely dedicated people at ease by telling them, "The people you're trying to impress are most likely faking it, too." 

You see, most people who join a board (even those lucky enough to be courted, recruited and on-boarded properly) never actually receive formal board training. So they fake it. They watch those who were already at the table and follow their example -- assuming it's right when more often than not it is wrong.

We don't know what we don't know.

I included "Nonprofit Board Training" in my Pay-What-You-Can Nonprofit Training Program to ensure current board members, board hopefuls, and those starting a nonprofit can have access to best-practices training regardless of the organization's budget. If you are a current board member, hope to become one, or you're in the process of starting a nonprofit, this training is for you! The next board training will be held on Monday, July 23 from 6-9pm in Baltimore. Reserve your seat for just $15 and join me in my information-packed, interactive training (valued at $180)! Share this opportunity with your full board so you all can gain the knowledge, skills and tools for board success! 

Michelle Nusum-Smith, a licensed nonprofit consultant, coach and trainer, is owner and principal consultant at The Word Woman LLC, a consultancy that helps nonprofits, government agencies, and individuals to develop the skills, knowledge and resources to achieve their missions to do good. With nearly 20 years of nonprofit experience, Michelle has expertise in organizational development and leadership, board development, program development, financial management, fundraising, marketing, and community relations. She is licensed to offer consulting services for the Maryland Nonprofit’s Standards for Excellence® program and has the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to work with nonprofit organizations across the country.

www.thewordwomanllc.com • info@thewordwomanllc.com • 240-215-4984

Street Corner Fundraising Success Requires More Than a Sign and a Bucket

There are many organizations that take to the street corner to raise funds for their cause or special project. I recently found myself stopped at a busy intersection near The Avenue at White Marsh Mall in Baltimore County, MD. If you've ever been there, you know busy is an understatement. So it's an ideal location for fundraising. So it was not surprise to see a group of young men in basketball jerseys and their chaperone out on each corner. They were each carrying a red bucket.

One young man walked down the median in my direction but never looked my way or uttered a word. So I motioned for him to come over and asked, "What are you doing?"

He said, "We're raising money for a trip to Myrtle Beach."

Knowing that was not the full story, I asked, "Why are you going to Myrtle Beach?"

He said, "We're going to play in the tournament."

Being a professional fundraiser, my heart went to this young man who clearly had not been prepared to fundraise. I reached into my purse and handed to him the first cash I found --  a five dollar bill.

His face lit up with a huge smile. He thanked me for my donation and wished me a good day. I wished him and his team good luck and drove away.

As a Do-Gooder and a fundraiser, I was predisposed to the idea of supporting his team. But what if I wasn't? Like the other drivers, I would have tried not to make any eye-contact and anxiously wished that the light would hurry up and change. 

It isn't easy to walk up to anyone, but especially a stranger, and ask for money. A sign and a bucket are not enough to prepare volunteers (of any age) to effectively engage motorists who likely have little or no direct connection to your cause. Whether you're a basketball team, soup kitchen or other group who takes to the street corner to raise money for your cause, training and coaching is critical to your fundraising success. You do your front line solicitors a disservice by sending them out ill prepared. The would-be donor sitting behind the wheel wants to hear a succinctly stated case for support. Your solicitors should be trained on what to say and on how to say it (with a smile, of course).

Perhaps if that young man had walked up to me and told me the name of his team, that they had played hard and made it to the tournament in Myrtle Beach, and given me specific reasons why they needed to raise money (i.e., charter the bus, certain members don't have support from home), I may have dug a little deeper into my purse.

Michelle Nusum-Smith, an experienced nonprofit leader, consultant, coach and trainer, is a self-proclaimed “Do-gooder who helps do-gooders to do good.” Michelle is the owner and principal consultant at The Word Woman LLC, a nonprofit consulting company. She has nearly 20 years nonprofit experience, including program development, financial management, fundraising (including grant writing and individual donor cultivation), human resource management, marketing and public relations, board relations, and event planning.

www.thewordwomanllc.com • info@thewordwomanllc.com • 240-215-4984

Helping a Deeply Passionate Board With Clashing Ideas to Find Its Magic

I was recently asked to facilitate a leadership training and strategic planning retreat for the executive board of a volunteer led organization. The request came with an urgent plea to help the board to refocus and increase its accountability for delivering tangible (measurable) impact.

The process started with a customized, anonymous survey I sent to each member of the board. After several days of no responses, I checked in with my point of contact and asked "Is this an indication of what I can expect the day of the retreat?"

Clearly, this group would require kid gloves.

Finally, I started to see responses. Ultimately 4 of the 10 responded. The responses were as I had expected -- very little consistency. In one case where I had asked them to rate the group (poor, fair, good excellent) on its success in addressing a purpose (goal) outlined in their bylaws, each respondent gave a different answer. That was telling! For a moment, I feared I wouldn't be able to move the group from where they were to where I was asked to take them. 

But the optimist in me said, "Keep moving forward! You can do this!"

So I developed a full-day session that included interactive training, discussion, self-assessment, team building, setting of clear goals, identifying of agreed upon activities, and finally, personal goal setting. All of this would take place in what I told the group was "safe space". Participants were encouraged speak freely and listen actively but at all times use R-E-S-P-E-C-T.  

Though a low-energy, disconnected group begrudgingly entered the room lacking a clearly defined vision, they were in no short supply of passion and genuine commitment to their cause.

With each discussion and activity over the course of the day, the board gained more and more clarity as they developed a shared vision.  It was beautiful to witness!

By the end of the day, they were a force to be reckoned with! Their energy was bubbling over, members were taking pictures of my notes from the white boards (despite my promise to submit a formal report), and each one expressed how much they enjoyed the time we'd spent (even on a gorgeous day).

A few days later when I was reviewing their evaluations, I couldn't help from blushing when I read, "Thank you for your knowledge and skills and your magic in getting this board together."  There was definitely magic in the room, but it had always been inside that incredible board. It was my honor to help them bring to it out.  

Could your board use some help to bring out its magic? Let's talk.

Michelle Nusum-Smith, an experienced nonprofit leader, consultant, coach and trainer, is a self-proclaimed “Do-gooder who helps do-gooders to do good.” Michelle is the owner and principal consultant at The Word Woman LLC, a nonprofit consulting company. She has nearly 20 years nonprofit experience, including program development, financial management, fundraising (including grantwriting and individual donor cultivation), human resource management, marketing and public relations, board relations, and event planning.

www.thewordwomanllc.com • info@thewordwomanllc.com • 240-215-4984

8 Simple Ways to Make Volunteers Feel Appreciated

No matter the size, every nonprofit needs volunteers to operate and to achieve its mission. From the people that serve on the board and those who support special events to those who serve in an ongoing capacity, EVERY volunteer is invaluable. But does every volunteer feel invaluable? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Of course, there isn't a single nonprofit that doesn't recognize how invaluable their volunteers are yet many still fail to make their volunteers feel appreciated.

So, in honor of National Volunteer Week (April 12-18, 2015), here are 8 simple ways to make your volunteers feel appreciated:

1. Give each volunteer a written position description with clearly defined duties and responsibilities as well as the time commitment.
2. Assign a contact person to each volunteer and give the contact a copy of the volunteer’s position description. Give the volunteer a written copy of their contact’s information and instructions on when and how to appropriately make contact. If possible, have a backup contact.
3. Provide volunteers with ongoing opportunities to ask questions and gain clarity.
4. Provide ongoing opportunities and encourage volunteers to provide feedback.
5. Sincerely and personally say “Thank you”.
6. Privately and publically acknowledge each volunteer’s contribution.
7. Provide each volunteer with a token of appreciation, such as a certificate and/or small gift.
8. Host a fun, social volunteer-centered event that includes activities suggested by your volunteers.

Keep doing good and creating opportunities for people to do good with you!

Michelle Nusum-Smith, an experienced nonprofit leader, consultant, coach and trainer, is a self-proclaimed “Do-gooder who helps do-gooders to do good.” Michelle is the owner and principal consultant at The Word Woman LLC, a nonprofit consulting company. She has nearly 20 years nonprofit experience, including program development, financial management, fundraising (including grantwriting and individual donor cultivation), human resource management, marketing and public relations, board relations, and event planning.

www.thewordwomanllc.com • info@thewordwomanllc.com • 240-215-4984