Your Board And A Mermaid

You know I love rom-coms. I recently rewatched an oldie but goodie Splash, with Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah.

If you remember the movie, Madison, played by Daryl Hannah, is a mermaid who enters Allen’s very human world. Allen, played by Tom Hanks, has no idea just how different her world really is.

Somewhere between Madison discovering the human world and Allen discovering Madison, I started thinking about boards and fundraising.

Madison is curious about everything. She doesn’t understand this new world, but that doesn’t stop her from exploring it. She watches. She listens. She tries new things. She doesn’t wait until she understands everything before participating.

Imagine your board approaching fundraising with that same curiosity? They can explore. Like talking to a donor and listening to their story.

Allen's journey is different. 

At first, he's uncertain and even fearful of what he doesn't understand. But as he spends time with Madison, something changes.

He's having fun. He's connecting with her. He's enjoying himself. The unfamiliar starts becoming familiar.

I've seen this happen with board members.

Ask a board member to "fundraise," and you may immediately see resistance.

"I don't want to ask people for money." "I don't know any wealthy people." "I'm not a fundraiser."

But invite that same board member to meet donors, and something different can happen.

They talk. They hear why someone supports the organization. They share why they serve on the board. They discover common interests. They laugh. They connect.

And somewhere along the way, fundraising doesn't feel quite so much like fundraising anymore.

It feels like a conversation. And maybe they even enjoyed themselves. (Like Madison and Allen did).

That's important.

Sometimes expect board members to take a big fundraising leap before they've had the smaller experiences that help them feel ready.

We want them to reach out to their networks. Introduce potential donors. Talk about the organization. And even participate in asking for a gift.

But what if we're asking them to jump into the deep end before they've discovered they actually like the water?

Allen eventually makes a choice he probably couldn't have imagined making earlier in the movie. He jumps into the water with Madison. That's a pretty big leap. But he doesn't take it at the beginning of their relationship.

He gets there after spending time with her. After connecting. After experiencing something new. After discovering that what once felt unfamiliar wasn't something he needed to fear.

His experience changed what he was willing to do next.

Isn't that what we want for our boards?

Maybe a board member begins by attending a donor event. Then they make a thank-you call. Then they share a story.

Then one day, they're talking to a friend and say:

"There's an organization I'm involved with that I'd love to tell you about."

They've jumped into the water.

Not because someone pushed them. But because their experiences gave them the confidence to take the next step.

I think we sometimes miss steps with board fundraising.

We expect them to know how to fundraise before taking them through simple steps, making mistakes, and yet being okay with the curiosity of experiencing something new.  Because confidence doesn't come first. Confidence comes after the experience.

You tried something. It wasn't terrible. Maybe you even enjoyed it.

So you became willing to try something else.

That's imperfect action.

Madison reminds us of the power of curiosity. Allen reminds us of the power of experience.

And together, it’s a  reminder that stepping outside our comfort zone doesn't have to begin with a giant leap.

So perhaps the question isn't:

"How do I get my board to fundraise?"

Maybe it's:

"What experience can I give my board that will make them curious enough to take the next step?"

Let them discover that fundraising can actually feel good.

Because the goal isn't to create fearless fundraisers.

It's to create board members who are curious enough to try, confident enough to keep going, and eventually willing to jump.

Mermaid optional.

If your board is still standing at the edge of the fundraising pool, let's connect. I'd love to help them get curious, get their feet wet, and take some imperfect action.

Mermaid still optional. 🧜‍♀️♀️