Interviewing Major Gift Officer Candidates

How Can You Find the Right Fundraiser?

I get asked by many of our clients seeking great fundraisers: "What questions should I ask?" "How can I find the right one?"

For expert advice contact Campbell & Company's search division, they work on the very high level national searches. What I have found in hiring my own staff members when I was a university vice president, and what has worked with clients are the following ideas.

First, look at that resume for impact statements. Not, I was responsible for the annual fund, but I boosted the annual fund by 25%. Where have they made a difference in terms of results: dollars raised, volunteers recruited, campaign goals achieved.

Conduct a phone interview. Can they market themselves to you over the phone? If not, they won't be able to market your institution.

• Tell me the process of how you secured the largest gift in your fundraising career?
• What was the most disappointing major gift you have worked on and why?
• What process do you use to take a nondonor to major gift status?
• Given the materials we have supplied to you and assuming we are a major gift prospect of $25,000 or more, spend 15 minutes presenting a case for support for our organization.
• What tools do you need to be successful in major gifts fundraising for our institution?
• What skills do you bring from other life experiences that will help make you successful in this job?
• How do you continuously develop your skills as a major gift fundraiser? Be very specific, tell stories of exactly what you have done in the past year.

Tom Wilson
Author, Winning Gifts

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