Nonprofit Lowdown: Episode #330 - Getting Your Board to Fundraise

Host: Rhea Wong
Guest: Faith Galati, Executive Director of Breakthrough Sacramento
Release Date: March 24, 2025

Introduction

In Episode #330 of Nonprofit Lowdown, host Rhea Wong welcomes her friend and former student, Faith Galati, the Executive Director of Breakthrough Sacramento. The episode delves into effective strategies for mobilizing nonprofit boards to become proactive fundraisers. Faith shares her transformative journey from fearing fundraising to securing substantial grants, emphasizing the pivotal role of mentorship, strategic planning, and genuine relationship-building.

Overcoming Fear of Fundraising

Faith begins by recounting her initial apprehension towards fundraising. “I approached all fundraising with complete fear, terrified that I don't. I can't get it. I need it badly. And I was in the position of. I just felt like a beggar and I needed some direction,” Faith explains (01:41). This fear hindered her nonprofit’s growth, making fundraising an overwhelming challenge.

Shifting to an Abundance Mindset

The turning point came through her participation in Rhea’s accelerator program, now known as the Big Ask Gift program. Faith emphasizes the significance of shifting from a fear-driven approach to an abundance mindset: “I was able to take charge of my objectives rather than, again, using fear to. To drive and was very unproductive previously” (02:03). This mindset shift empowered her to view fundraising as an opportunity rather than a daunting task.

Matching Passions with Funders

A critical insight Faith gained was the importance of aligning her nonprofit’s mission with the passions of potential funders. She shares, “I'm trying to find grantors who likely had a similar passion or dynamically had a similar passion that they didn't recognize” (05:00). By conducting in-depth research, Faith identified unexpected matches, such as securing significant grants from healthcare foundations interested in education due to the research linking higher education to better health outcomes.

Achieving Major Grant Success

Faith highlights a major breakthrough post-program completion: “Once I completed the program and I changed my direction in the way that I was approaching and finding funding sources, I applied for a sizable grant from Sierra Health Foundation” (06:31). This led to a pivotal $550,000 grant, which she later expanded to $900,000 over three years. Faith attributes this success to the roadmap and confidence provided by Rhea’s guidance.

Building a High-Performing Board

Transitioning to board dynamics, Faith discusses the components of a productive board. “Each of them were essentially what we would call founding board members because Breakthrough had closed and we were reopening” (12:23). Despite their lack of nonprofit experience, Faith leveraged their industry expertise by establishing clear roles and committees—Governance, Finance, and Development—each chaired by a board member responsible for regular updates.

Training and Empowering Board Members

Faith underscores the importance of training board members in fundraising. “Finding relevance from a potential donor. The same thing happens with how do we help a board member find their relevance within the agency” (14:36). By empowering board members with knowledge and actionable steps, such as attending specialized training sessions led by experienced members, Faith ensured that each member understood their role in the fundraising process.

Implementing Accountability

A key strategy Faith employed was fostering peer accountability within the board. “I literally came into the board with a list of dates and said, sign up and pass the sheet around” (18:39). By assigning specific fundraising tasks and having board members hold each other accountable, Faith ensured consistent participation and follow-through, enhancing the board’s overall effectiveness.

Innovative Fundraising Strategies: Community Dinners

Faith introduced Community Dinners as a unique approach to engage potential donors. These dinners bring together individuals from various sectors to discuss relevant topics, fostering meaningful connections. “Community dinners... get really excited about the topic... it becomes a springboard for future conversations and it also becomes an incredible friend maker” (26:48). This interactive and educational setting cultivates a community of supporters invested in the nonprofit’s mission.

Personal Touch: The $50,000 Rum Cake

An inventive and personal fundraising tactic Faith employs is the $50,000 Rum Cake. She shares, “For my major donors, I send out a message saying, it's rum cake season, pick your date. And they pick their dates. And I go out... and I hand deliver a cake. Oftentimes, more often than not, I hand the cake over and they hand me a check” (28:56). This personalized gesture not only strengthens donor relationships but also symbolizes appreciation and fosters continued support.

Importance of Mentorship and Community

Throughout the episode, both Rhea and Faith emphasize the value of mentorship and community. Faith reflects, “Everybody needs a mentor. We need someone to bounce these ideas off of...” (33:18). Engaging with a mentor and being part of a supportive community allows nonprofit leaders to share best practices, receive constructive feedback, and collaboratively solve challenges, enhancing their organization’s impact.

Conclusion

Episode #330 of Nonprofit Lowdown offers invaluable insights into transforming board members into active fundraisers through strategic planning, relationship-building, and innovative approaches. Faith Galati’s success story exemplifies the profound impact of guided mentorship and a well-structured board, providing a blueprint for other nonprofit leaders seeking to elevate their fundraising efforts.

Notable Quotes:

• Faith Galati (02:03): “I was able to take charge of my objectives rather than, again, using fear to. To drive and was very unproductive previously.”

• Faith Galati (06:31): “All right. To get a $25,000 grant for me was. That was a big day... we just signed for another three years with them, or approximately $900,000.”

• Faith Galati (09:07): “No one's going to give you money unless you ask for it.”

• Faith Galati (10:10): “You can't go to the take the money and then not come back again until it's time again because they'll feel disrespected and unappreciated.”

• Rhea Wong (25:10): “People tend to want to be part of something that works.”

Resource Links

• Big Ask Gift Program: riawong.com
• Breakthrough Sacramento: breakthroughsac.org

Disclaimer: The above summary is based on the provided transcript and structured to align with the user’s specifications for clarity, detail, and engagement.