You may be applying for a job as a development director or you may be hiring a fundraising professional, either way, here’s 25 more job interview questions. This is a follow up to my first post with 25 job interview questions for development directors. Use these interview questions as a basis for discovering the right fit for the fundraising role you have open.
- What drew you to fundraising?
- In your research about our organization, what do you believe is unique about us that you can use to demonstrate this is the right place to donate to?
- How do you normally structure a vision trip?
- How do you manage your staff? What is the largest staff you’ve managed?
- What is the role of the board of directors in fundraising?
- If you have a disagreement with the executive director about an approach to a fundraising campaign, how would you resolve it?
- How do you overcome resistance to fundraising programs from your program staff?
- Outline a successful fundraising appeal.
- What is your philosophy on relationship building with prospects?
- How do you get the entire organization involved with fundraising?
- Tell me what “the donor is the hero” means to you.
- How have you grown as a fundraiser?
- What professional organizations are you a part of?
- How do you structure a fundraising department?
- What do you look for from your donor management system?
- Tell me about a time you had to say “no” to someone internally. Why did you say no? How did you handle the situation?
- What would the people who’ve worked for you say is your weakness? Strength?
- What elements make a fundraising event successful?
- How do you grow revenue from a planned giving program?
- What is the role of social media in fundraising? Can you raise money in social media?
- Share about a time when a fundraising campaign you developed failed. What lessons did you learn?
- What do you enjoy least about fundraising?
- How do you handle two of your staff who don’t work well together?
- What is your definition of success?
- Describe a multi-channel fundraising campaign you managed and how you measured success in each channel.
In today’s ever-evolving nonprofit landscape, the role of a Development Director is not just pivotal—it’s multifaceted. These 25 interview questions are curated to provide hiring committees with a holistic perspective of potential candidates, touching on their technical know-how, strategic insight, interpersonal skills, and passion for philanthropy. However, it’s essential to remember that while questions are a starting point, truly understanding a candidate’s fit and potential comes from a comprehensive evaluation of their past experiences, current competencies, and future vision for the organization. As we delve deeper into the intricacies of fundraising and development, ensuring we have the right leaders at the helm becomes even more paramount. Happy hiring!
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