14. Jennifer Coleman-Peers – Volunteer board fundraising; doing it with more income and less stress

There’s nothing new about the benefits of charities working with a board of volunteers to raise funds. This is a classic strategy and there is a reason it’s still used so widely – when it works well, it’s so much more powerful than staff seeking funds for an appeal on their own. But it’s not for the faint-hearted, and when it goes wrong it can be stressful and frustrating. In this episode of the Fundraising Bright Spots podcast, we share an classic interview from the resource library of the Bright Spot Members Club. Rob Woods talks to Jennifer Coleman-Peers, a major donor fundraiser and social impact consultant whose extensive experience includes three years leading the Volunteer Board Fundraising team at the NSPCC. Jennifer and Rob discuss a range of ideas to help increase the up sides and decrease the risks that come with working with influential people to raise funds for your charity. Jennifer explains the four things you need in place if you are to make this strategy work; the most important factors to prioritise when seeking and selecting a chair; how to find board members; and how to make boards more effective.