Making It Easy: How to Ensure 100% Board Participation in Your Next Campaign
By Sandra Davis, CEO & Founder of Donorly
📢 This is the first post in a five-part series on board giving—how to set expectations, overcome resistance, and build a culture where board members lead by example in fundraising. Today, we’re starting with one of the most critical steps in any campaign: ensuring 100% board participation.
When launching a major fundraising campaign, securing 100% board participation isn’t just a best practice—it’s a necessity. Lead donors and grantmakers will ask:
"Is your board fully invested in this effort?"
And if the answer isn’t a resounding yes, why should they give?
Board members set the tone for an organization’s fundraising culture. When they give with confidence, they inspire others to do the same. Yet, many nonprofits struggle with uneven board participation—not because board members lack commitment, but because expectations were never clearly defined.
One nonprofit I helped navigate through this culture shift started out as a group of the founder’s friends (this is not unusual).
When applying for 501(c)(3) status, the founder needed to meet the government requirements for at least three board members. He recruited three friends, one of them a lawyer who managed the paperwork and set up the by-laws. He didn’t feel he was in a position to ask much more of his inaugural board at the time. He had never run a nonprofit before. He didn’t even know the procedure for running a board meeting, let alone the usefulness of documenting board responsibilities, devising onboarding processes, creating evaluation systems, or setting clear expectations for giving.
But over time, we were able to guide that board in setting clear expectations through peer-driven leadership, and building a culture where board giving is the norm. We set them up to grow their Board annual giving goals, and prepared them for 100% board participation during a fundraising campaign to build their future home.
I’ve outlined four steps below to ensure 100% board participation during your next capital campaign, and these can be applied to annual support from your board, as well.
If you can, implement these good practices right from the start, but if you’re in a situation like our client, work with your board chair to create a communications plan with a clear timeline. Then begin to guide and implement these practices over time.
1. Set Expectations Early: Board Recruitment & Onboarding
The easiest way to avoid difficult giving conversations later is to set clear expectations before a board member even joins. Every board prospect should understand that financial participation is an essential part of board leadership.
How to Establish a Giving Expectation from the Start
State it upfront. During recruitment, be explicit about both annual and campaign expectations:
“Board service includes a personally meaningful annual gift, and during a campaign, we require 100% board participation.”Put it in writing. A board agreement should outline financial expectations—including campaign participation.
Frame giving as leadership, not obligation. Board members should see their gifts as a vote of confidence in the mission, not as a box to check.
🚀 Pro Tip: If your board has resisted financial commitments in the past, consider hosting an orientation session on board giving best practices, featuring insights from experienced nonprofit leaders.
2. Align Expectations with an Existing Board
What if board members were never told they’d be expected to give? The lead-up to a campaign is the perfect time to reset expectations.
How to Introduce a Giving Expectation to an Existing Board
Acknowledge the shift. Be transparent:
“We recognize that in the past, expectations around board giving weren’t clearly defined. As we launch this campaign, we’re aligning with best practices to strengthen our organization’s credibility.”Emphasize participation over amount. The goal is 100% participation at a personally meaningful level, not a one-size-fits-all gift.
Offer flexibility. Make participation easy:
Multi-year pledges for larger gifts
Employer matching gift programs
A structured “give/get” policy
In-kind contributions where appropriate (e.g., donated event space)
Institute an advisory board for board members who bring value and expertise to your organization, but are not in a position to give
🚀 Pro Tip: If your board has never had a giving requirement, ask a campaign chair or respected board member to share why they personally give—it sets the tone for others to follow.
3. Leverage Campaign Leaders to Drive Participation
The most successful campaigns don’t rely on staff alone—they empower board members to lead. Campaign chairs, committee members, and board champions can play a crucial role in securing gifts from their peers.
How Campaign Leaders Can Encourage Board Giving
Lead by example. The campaign chair and committee should be the first to make their commitments. Seeing leadership step up creates momentum.
Use peer-to-peer outreach. A fellow board member making the ask is far more effective than a staff-driven request. A simple script:
“I’ve made my commitment because I believe in this project—will you join me in leading the way?”Normalize giving in campaign messaging. Instead of treating board giving as a favor, frame it as an expectation:
“We’re already at 75% board participation—let’s reach 100% together!”Provide coaching. Some board members hesitate to give because they don’t understand the impact. A campaign leader or fundraising consultant can guide them to a meaningful contribution.
🚀 Pro Tip: Consider a Board Giving Challenge—where board members match donations from their networks—to boost engagement and increase overall campaign funds.
4. Celebrate Participation & Reinforce a Culture of Giving
Once your board reaches 100% participation, make sure it’s recognized. This isn’t just about fundraising—it’s about building a culture of philanthropy at the leadership level.
Ways to Celebrate and Sustain Board Giving
Acknowledge progress in board meetings.
“We’re thrilled to share that we have reached 100% board participation! My thanks goes out to each and every one of you for your leadership.”Show appreciation publicly and privately. A personal note from the campaign chair or CEO can reinforce the significance of each gift.
Use success to set future expectations. Once a commitment to board giving is the norm, update board agreements and onboarding materials to reflect this standard.
🚀 Pro Tip: Board giving shouldn’t just happen during campaigns. Establish an annual giving tradition—such as a board giving kickoff at the start of the fiscal year—to keep participation high.
A Stronger Board = A Stronger Campaign
When every board member participates in a campaign, it builds donor confidence, drives momentum, and strengthens the organization’s credibility.
By setting expectations early, empowering peer leadership, and celebrating participation, you ensure that your board leads with both commitment and conviction.
Your campaign’s success starts at the top. When your board believes in the mission, the rest of your community will follow.
