Uplifting Blog

Your board knows fundraising matters. They know the organization needs resources. They may even agree that fundraising is part of their role. Yet many boards still hesitate to participate. What if the issue isn't a lack of commitment? What if we're sending mixed messages? We tell board members that fundraising is about relationships. We say it's about building community, sharing impact, expressing gratitude, and connecting people to a cause they care about. Then we walk into

Once again, I was recently asked: “Why does my board avoid fundraising?” It’s a reframe of a common question. I always hear something underneath it, self-blame. It is as if the Executive Director was quietly asking, What am I doing wrong? I told her, “It may not be your fault. And it may not be your board’s fault either.” She looked at me, slightly puzzled. I said, “It might simply be the language we’re using.” Here’s what science tells us: your brain is constantly scanning

Have you ever watched a perfectly competent, intelligent, successful board member completely shrink the moment fundraising comes up? Cue the body language shift. Tight shoulders. Nervous laugh. Sudden fascination with the agenda packet. You might think, here we go again. Resistance . What if it’s not resistance? What if it’s also about biology? The good news is that when we understand what’s happening in the body, it gives us a way forward. The VAGUS NERVE, which helps re