Boards Don’t Need an 800-Pound Gorilla

To the Editor:

Your article “When Board Members Aren’t Rich” (October 2) discussed a number of creative fund-raising techniques. However, all too often non-profits limit their goals to the perceived ability of their board as “big hitters.” Such limitations are unwise.

Take, for example, a feasibility study done for a Girl Scout council. Another fund-raising consultant suggested that the group could not be successful in raising $1.5-million because it did not have an “800-pound gorilla” as a leader. The consultant proceeded to list over a dozen possible chairs for the effort … all of them men.

Our firm assumed responsibility for the campaign following the feasibility study. We encouraged the board and volunteers to dedicate themselves to the project. We asked them to consider those closest to the council and how those people could bring assets to this project. In fact, we encouraged them to seek female leadership and increase their goal to $2-million. Eighteen months later, they met their goal with the leadership of a dozen volunteers, of whom all but two were women who made significant gifts to the campaign.

The moral to this story is that agencies must look carefully at themselves and stick with what they know. This involves assessing the willingness of the volunteers and leadership to stretch — for the good of the organization — as well as to stay close to their mission and prospects. The Girl Scouts did it … without the 800-pound gorilla.

Robert F. Hartsook
President
Robert F. Hartsook and Associates
Wichita, Kan.