Assessing Your Fundraising Culture - FREE DOWNLOAD!
Why—and How—to Assess Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising Culture
Fundraising is a Team Sport
A strong fundraising culture doesn’t just happen. It’s built intentionally by clarifying expectations, equipping your board with the skills they need, and cultivating shared accountability for sustaining your mission.
Yet many nonprofit boards assume fundraising is solely a staff function or the job of just a few highly engaged members. Over time, this mindset can stall growth and weaken long-term sustainability.
That’s why conducting a fundraising culture assessment is such a valuable step. It helps you take stock of where you are today, surface gaps in understanding or engagement, and spark meaningful conversations about what a thriving fundraising culture looks like for your organization.
How to Get Started:
Use a Simple Assessment Tool
Share a clear, easy-to-complete questionnaire with statements about board expectations, giving, participation, confidence, and recognition. Ask each board member to rate their agreement.Review Results Together
Discuss the responses as a group. Where are you strong? Where are there disconnects or uncertainties? This dialogue can uncover hidden barriers and opportunities for growth.Set Priorities for Improvement
Based on the results, identify a few concrete next steps like clarifying giving expectations, offering fundraising training, or celebrating board fundraising successes more visibly.
A fundraising culture assessment isn’t about assigning blame. Rather, it’s about building a shared commitment to the resources your mission deserves. When everyone understands their role and feels equipped to participate, fundraising becomes a collective strength, not a burden.
Ready to explore your own board’s fundraising culture? Start with our short, editable Fundraising Culture Assessment, and see where the conversation takes you.