Major Gift Officer Hiring Questions

Major Gift Officer Hiring Questions

By Tom Wilson Major Gifts Guru

Question – “We’re getting ready to hire a vice president for our hospital foundation. What questions should we ask in the interview?”

Call references first as they will provide insights into the candidates’ experiences. As you review what references said, determine what follow-up questions to ask your candidates.

Then, look at their resume to see what natural questions come to mind. Such as: In your last position it notes you were responsible for the foundation. What impact did you have in your last full year there on giving? How many new donors? What was the largest gift and what was your role in securing it?

Also look for gaps in the resume. They happen, but try to find out why they left before securing a new job first.

Other questions you may want to consider asking include:

How do you work with volunteers and foundation board members to raise money? In answering the question, use some concrete examples from your career experiences.

How do you help a board member reluctant to ask for money overcome this challenge?

Talk about the best gift you landed and how the process worked.

What was your worst fundraising experience? Why was it a challenge and what did you learn from it?

How do you work with your staff to help make your foundation successful?

What role do you see for physicians in helping us raise money?

What role for the CEO?

Tell us about your experience in securing planned estate gifts? Provide a specific gift closing story.

What are your greatest strengths as a major gifts fundraiser?

What areas would you like to improve on?

As you can tell, most of these questions are trying to determine past behaviors and actions. They are the best predictor of the future. Look for impact, clarity of stories, and nuances that indicate the person’s direct role in securing gifts rather them observing the process. Also, try to find the “impact player” who has taken their last organizations to new levels of fundraising prominence. Try to separate out the “being responsible for” from the “increased major gifts by 30%” aspects of their resume and answers.

When I was running a university fundraising staff, I would ask new candidates to present written documents as well as an outline presentation to our staff and volunteers to make sure the person could write, present, and think on their feet as their audience asked questions.

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