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  • 1.  Board of Trustees Giving Form examples

    Posted 08-26-2024 10:27 AM

    Otterbein University is considering a different approach for its annual solicitation to members of the Board of Trustees. Usually the cover letter has come from the VP, yet this year we have a board member who is willing to be the signature. Since the trustee would not typically know the details for an "ask" to fellow trustees, we would like to incorporate a separate document (8.5 by 14) to show the donor's giving in the previous year, to show any major gift pledge schedules outstanding, and a section for Planned Giving. We hope we could borrow from a good format and the right content that could become a one, possible two page, giving overview that we could use with any donors.

    Do you have examples that you could share with us or if you know an institution that has done this well in the past?



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    Tracy Rush
    Executive Director, Advancement Services
    Otterbein University
    trush@otterbein.edu
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  • 2.  RE: Board of Trustees Giving Form examples

    Posted 08-28-2024 11:54 PM
    Tracy, I do not have a sample form to share, but I would love to see those examples, as they could be used by any volunteer (including Class Agents) when soliciting others.

    However, I suggest that the solicitation method should be different.

    In my work, I find these requests are best made in person, not in a letter. They should come from the Board Chair, not the Advancement VP or some other Trustee (unless that other Trustee is the Chair of the Development Committee). Of course, if the Board Member is a major gift prospect already, they have been assigned to someone's portfolio and that person should be making the ask.

    Typically, the Board Chair invites others to join the Board (or be considered for a Board position). The Board Member's "job description" should already indicate an expectation of giving. Therefore, the Board Chair and members have already had the initial giving discussion. The Chair, then, is the ideal candidate for soliciting other Board members and can do so by sharing that they have already made their material donation.

    As a Board member I would be somewhat offended if some "other" Board member asked me for a gift.

    John

    John H. Taylor, Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier Street
    Durham, NC     27705

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987




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