An interesting article from the Chronicle of Philanthropy (http://philanthropy.com/giveandtake/index.php?id=1030) presents the idea of requiring a minimum donation amount for all board members. Is this a good thing or does it stifle participation? Does your organization have a similar rule and if so, how well is it working for you?

My problem with a specific donation requirement is this: younger board members do not typically have as much money to give. So if you set the bar at, say, $500...would you deter younger board members who may be valuable resources of time, energy, expertise & ideas? Those things can be much more valuable to an organization than a $500 donation. If you set the bar much lower...at say, $100, then you might have bigger donors say "I was thinking about giving $500, but if $100 is the going rate then I'll give that."

I think it causes more problems than its worth. Simply requiring all board members to donate "whatever they can" is best, in my opinion.

I agree, as a young professional myself, I feel like I have a lot to offer local non-profits at the Board level but I could certainly not afford a $500 donation. At my current job at a local non-profit we encourage Board giving but have no minimum requirement and also take into account each Board members' fundraising as some of our Board memebers are also our biggest fundraisers.