Because they don’t want to. More to the point, they haven’t had a reason to.

I’m talking about the kind of fundraising that goes beyond your day to day expenses. 

Alice Waters, the founder of Chez Panisse Restaurant and the neighboring Edible School Yard in Berkeley, is considered the mother of the modern slow food movement in the US. 

I love everything she stands for.

A board member of a local nonprofit that I support invited me to attend a lecture with Alice as the featured speaker. Of course I attend and it was everything I had hoped for. 

I was hooked

I had forgotten how much I cared about this issue. Not as much about school gardens and teaching kids about food. Although that’s important and needs to be a priority in our schools, it was the big idea that grabbed me.

Alice shared her vision to bring farmers and the public schools together to make sure that every child had a healthy, delicious and FREE school lunch made up of local food.

Not the government subsidized ones that are crap and stigmatize the kids.

There would be outdoor classrooms in gardens and a big kitchen where kids would be a part of preparing the food. 

Pow! Right between the eyes.

This may not be your passion – fill in the blank for your mission.

The next day, eyes wide opened, I began thinking about how this could happen in our community. Advocacy, finding people that are on fire like me and not afraid of a big idea.

Chances are high I won’t follow up on this on my own. It would take someone noticing my passion and figuring out a way to involve me. I’m busy, and need cultivating just like everyone. Even if I get it. 

Is there was an amazing, life-changing project or idea  just beyond your reach? Something that would get a handful of board members so excited, they could barely stand it.

Cultivate rainmakers! Imagine what’s possible if more nonprofits figured out a way to get real people in touch with their passion. The sky’s the limit.

What’s your first step?

Keep your eyes open and find out where the most inspirational, innovative work is being done in your area. Who’s the authority or considered the best of the best?

Where are they speaking up about it? Are they on the speakers circuit? Have they given a TED talk (do a search here), is there a documentary? Show it in someone’s living room and invite people over. 

Whatever it is, match it with some good food, wine and a handful of people that share your values and mission.

Be intentional. Make it a goal to build a tribe that is on fire to take on a big idea. I bet your board will be more amendable to fundraising. Not all of them and not overnight. But a few will. That’s all it takes for a ripple effect to take place. 

Can you think of a lecture, TED talk, university event, or something else that would knock the socks off of a board member or 2?