1. Volunteer Board Fundraising Special Interest Group
The Quick Reference Guide to setting up a Volunteer Board

2. Head of Philanthropy, Children’s Museum London
Welcome
Jennifer Coleman
Chair of the VBF SIG
Head of Philanthropy, Children’s Museum London
First official VBF SIG event
Now have 7 committee members. Would welcome more if you are interested in getting involved.
Planning a series of events over the coming year that will take you through the volunteer board cycle from inception to wind-down/refresh
Want to be led by our members so if there is something you want to hear about, let us know
Please use the LinkedIn group to start discussions, share ideas and share best practice between each other
The Institute of Fundraising is a great source of information, best practice and guidance so if you are not already a member please do look through the leaflets available on your way out
Later on we are lucky to have a panel of fundraisers with a range of experience setting up volunteer boards for you to quiz, but before that I’m going to share our quick reference guide…

3. What is a Volunteer Board?
Senior volunteers (well connected, high level, often with a business background such as CEOs, CFOs, Private Equity, Entrepreneurs)
Formal structure (Chair, Board members, associate members)
Board meetings (formal Board meetings, Chaired by the volunteer Chair, attended by senior charity staff)
Fundraising target (fundraising target linked to campaign or annual organisational target)
Peer led fundraising (Board members raise funds through their networks/using their expertise)
…first, let’s be clear on what we mean by a ‘Volunteer Board’

4. So, you think you want to set up a volunteer fundraising board?
Is there a specific campaign/area of work that needs support?
Do you have a strong case for support?
Are the senior staff in your organisation able/willing to give time to support the Board?
Are your fundraising colleagues able/willing to work collaboratively with the Board?
Will share 5 key things to think about when you embark on setting up a volunteer fundraising board
First question to answer is, does your organisation need one and is it ready for one?
Volunteer Boards can open doors for your organisation and secure funds you would not be able to access otherwise, but they require a lot of resource to manage so you should only embark on setting one up if you and your organisation are really ready.
Some questions to consider to help you clarify this…
If you decide to proceed, the first thing you then need to do is…

5. Refine your case ? =
This might sound simple as having a compelling case for support is the basis of all fundraising, but it’s surprising how often it is overlooked.
Your organisation wanting to increase income is not a reason to set up a Board.
You will only be able to harness the power of senior volunteers if there is a mission they can really get behind. They will need to sell the mission to others so they will test it and you need to be confident it can stand up to scrutiny.
The sorts of contacts your senior volunteers will introduce you too could be very different from your core base of supporters and might expect different things. They will often be from business backgrounds so will expect robust business plans, clear impact and outcome measures. They will want to know why you are different to all the other charities out there.

6. Agree roles internally
Your may be managing the relationship with the Volunteer Board, but you will need to be able to navigate successfully internally to really make the relationship work
They will need access to senior staff
They will also be interested in and able to add value to a range of fundraising activities, some of which may not be the responsibility of you or your team
It’s important to agree roles up front so you are all working in a common interest
Need to work with, not against, your colleagues

7. Research potential Board members
Begin by reviewing existing supporters, particular major donors or CEOs or Executives of corporate supporters who have been passionate about your cause
Speak to Trustees
Research senior volunteers who have previously served on Volunteer Boards who might now be looking for a new challenge
Use head hunters
Often best to set out to form a steering group of volunteers who can help you to form the Board, inlcuding securing the right Chair which I’ll cover in more detail in a little while, and who may or may not go on to be Board members themselves

8. Draft terms of reference
Before you can recruit anyone you need to define your JD
Board members need to be clear what they’re signing up for
Important to agree parameters (what can they do, what can they influence, what support are you able to provide) but keep it simple
ToR will include things like: commitment to give personally or through company or trust, commitment to attend meetings, commitment to open up network, expectation of access to senior charity staff
Example terms of reference will be available to take away with you
Draft as you should finalise in collaboration with your Chair as they will need to enforce them

9. Identify your Chair
This is perhaps the most important step of all, the right Chair will help you achieve your goals against the odds, the wrong Chair will drain resource and may make it impossible to deliver results
This is also arguably the most challenging step Things you need to look for are someone who:
is passionate about your cause (if they are not passionate they are unlikely to commit and will not be able to enthuse others)
understands and is comfortable working with and representing your organisation
Is willing to open their network to recruit both Board members and donors
Is able to give a significant gift themselves directly or through corporate or trust support
Is willing to hold their Board to account
Is willing to give the time necessary for Board meetings, individual meetings with staff, Board members and prospects
Have worked with a fantastic Chair who delivers results and is a pleasure to work with, and a Chair who did not drive activity, was challenging and did not deliver. One Board is flourishing, the other has now folded.

10. To recap… Refine your case Agree roles internally
Research potential Board members
Draft terms of reference
Identify your Chair

11. Panel discussion Lucy George (Capital Appeal Manager, WWF)
Frances Lawrence (Major Donor Fundraiser at Cabrini Children’s Society)
Henry Shelford (Development Manager at Missing People)
Dagmar Ulrich (Fundraising Manager at NSPCC)

12. Thank You Please get in touch, and look out for future sessions:
LinkedIn – Institute of Fundraising – Volunteer Boards SIG