When you’re heading into a capital campaign, it’s natural to focus on donor strategy, naming opportunities, and goal setting. But there’s one group of stakeholders who can make or break your campaign long before you go public: your board.

The good news is that you don’t need a board packed with millionaires to be successful. The 2024–2025 Capital Campaign Benchmark Study from Capital Campaign Pro found that board giving only makes up an average of 15% of total campaign goals.

But what this stat doesn’t show is how powerful your board can be in shaping momentum, credibility, and access to other major donors.

So, how do you truly engage your board in a way that goes beyond lip service or check-writing? Here are seven tips that can move your campaign forward by getting your board aligned, activated, and excited.

1. Keep your board in the loop from the start.

If you want your board to be strong campaign partners, they need to be looped in from the beginning, not at the point when you’re asking for approval or feedback on materials. “Starting early” means the board understands that a capital campaign is coming, is aligned with its goals, and is committed to supporting the staff who will be doing the heavy lifting.

This support can show up in a few critical ways:

Approving a realistic budget that allows for campaign staffing and outside support
Backing the decision to bring on consultants, even before gifts come in
Encouraging participation on campaign committees
Giving staff the time and flexibility to focus on campaign planning and execution
Understanding that campaigns are marathons, not sprints, and that the board’s role is to champion the staff along the way

The sooner your board embraces its role as supporters (not just funders or overseers), the smoother your campaign will go.

2. Set expectations and be clear.

Most boards want to be helpful. What they don’t want is confusion. The more direct you are about what support from them should look like, the better.

Define your board’s role within the campaign, and put it in writing. This might include giving a personally meaningful gift, helping identify major donor prospects, hosting a cultivation event, or participating in thank-you calls. It could also include attending campaign briefings, offering feedback on communications, or joining a campaign committee.

Once you’ve clarified what you need from your board, communicate often. Review expectations at board meetings, include them in campaign updates, and make it easy for board members to follow through with specific steps and deadlines.

Avoid vague asks like “help spread the word” or “get involved.” Make it real and actionable.

3. Play to your board’s strengths.

Not every board member has deep pockets. And that’s completely fine. Financial gifts are just one of many contributions your board can make and are arguably the least important.

The most successful campaigns lean into board members' individual strengths. One person might be a master networker. Another might be a persuasive speaker. Someone else might be organized and willing to help with campaign logistics.

Here are a few practical ways your board can support the campaign beyond giving:

Host a donor briefing in their home or office
Make personal thank-you calls to early campaign donors
Invite a potential lead donor to lunch with the campaign chair
Offer industry expertise if the campaign involves construction or programming
Participate in feasibility study interviews

If you’re not sure where to start, try a quick self-assessment. Ask each board member what roles they feel most comfortable in. Use that feedback to tailor your requests.

4. Provide the right tools and training.

Your board probably includes people with very different levels of fundraising experience. Some may have served on development committees, while others have never made a fundraising ask in their life.

Level the playing field by offering just-in-time support. Many consultancies that you might hire to help with your campaign will likely provide training for your staff, volunteers, and board. In fact, this should be a requirement of your agency search.

Be on the lookout for trainings geared around board member roles and responsibilities, solicitation trainings, and other board-specific topics.

Trainings don’t have to just be formal exercises. Informal exercises like role-plays during regularly-scheduled board meetings can, for example, can help build confidence. Keep the tone light and encouraging. These sessions can be short; even 20 minutes at the start of a board meeting can go a long way.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s familiarity. And familiarity builds consistency.

5. Involve your board in donor strategy.

When you’re thinking about donor cultivation, don't overlook the role your board can play in building relationships.

Some board members may be able to make introductions to major prospects. Others might be willing to join you on or lead feasibility study interviews with longtime supporters, for example.

You don’t need the whole board involved in every donor conversation. But a few strategically selected members can be incredibly helpful in deepening relationships and lending weight to your campaign.

6. Make your campaign personal and celebrate involvement.

Acknowledgment fuels engagement. If a board member hosts an event, brings in a new donor, or volunteers for a campaign-related task, take time to recognize them. Publicly and privately.

This doesn’t require fancy awards or plaques. A handwritten note, a shoutout at a board meeting, or a thank-you email from your executive director goes a long way.

When you hit a campaign milestone, bring the board together to celebrate. Show them how their involvement contributed to progress. Share stories, photos, and numbers that demonstrate traction.

The more people feel like their effort matters, the more they’ll give.

7. Keep the communication flowing.

Campaigns aren’t quick. They unfold over 2-3 years in most cases. Without clear and consistent communication, board members may feel out of the loop or unsure about what’s happening.

Don’t rely on quarterly meetings alone to keep people engaged. Instead, build a rhythm of updates that keeps everyone informed and energized.

Here are a few options:

Include a campaign report at every board meeting
Send a monthly update email with campaign progress and next steps
Highlight a board member in each newsletter
Create a simple dashboard or infographic to track gifts secured, pending asks, and the percentage left toward your goal

Clear communication builds confidence. And confidence leads to more active participation.

Board engagement is not about pushing everyone into the same mold. It's about understanding your board members as individuals and creating opportunities that feel right for them. When board members are given clear expectations, meaningful roles, and consistent encouragement, they tend to show up and stay engaged.

You don’t need a wealthy board to succeed. What you need is a board that’s informed, connected to the mission, and ready to do its part.

If that foundation is strong, the rest of your campaign can grow from there.