Uplifting Blog

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

I hear this more often than you might think: “Our board is supposed to bring in money… and they’re not.” This is usually said with fatigue, disappointment, frustration, and a sense of being let down. And I understand why. Fundraising is written into board job descriptions. It’s mentioned in recruitment conversations (hopefully). It’s assumed in strategic plans. So, when revenue doesn’t materialize from board engagement, it feels personal and that something isn’t working. Most