We all know how hard it is to find the right person to fill our important fundraising positions, and we all know how tricky the interview process can be. “The Utter Uselessness of Job Interviews,” an article in the April 9, 2017, New York Times, backs up what I’ve thought about this process for many years as an employer and recruiter in the fundraising field.
The research and examples cited state that undisciplined interviewers and process often result in undesired outcomes. In particular, the interviewer’s bias in asking questions and interpreting responses leads to unpredictable hiring success.
I agree with the article’s main suggestion that you should use the same set of questions and strict process with each candidate. I would also say that you should come up with questions that show knowledge of the subject, job-related skills, creativity, and successful experience that combines all three.
Getting an interview for the job of Director of Annual Giving is a big step forward in your career as a nonprofit worker. As the fundraising leader on the front lines, you’ll be able to combine your desire to make a difference with your proven abilities in strategic planning, building relationships, and leading high-performing teams.
During the interview, you’ll need to show off your skills and experience to stand out from other qualified candidates. This starts with careful planning, because on the big day, you never know what questions people will ask!
To help you get interview-ready, I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide covering 30 common Director of Annual Giving interview questions Read on for tips, sample responses, and insights into impressing your future employer.
Why Do You Want This Role?
This is often one of the very first questions asked. Not only should you say that you want the job, you should also explain why you want this particular role at this company. Show how much you care about their mission and how your background makes you a good fit.
Sample Response I’m excited to apply my 7+ years of annual giving experience to further your mission of providing arts education to underserved youth What draws me here is your data-driven approach and innovative programs like the student ambassador initiative. My track record of growing donor retention and using digital strategies will enable me to strengthen your annual fund and help engage the next generation of supporters.
What Strategies Have You Used to Increase Donor Retention?
With donor retention being a key metric for annual giving success, interviewers want to know your proven tactics for cultivating loyal, long-term supporters. Demonstrate that you understand the lasting value of stewardship.
Sample Response: In my current role, we boosted donor retention by 43% over 3 years by implementing a robust stewardship program. This included sending handwritten thank you notes, inviting loyal donors to exclusive events, and launching a monthly newsletter with impact stories. I also analyzed donor data to create targeted reactivation campaigns for lapsed supporters, which recovered 15% of inactive donors in the first year.
How Do You Prioritize Various Fundraising Campaigns?
Juggling multiple priorities is standard in nonprofit fundraising. Share how you stay organized, align resources, and ensure all campaigns get the focus they need. Showcase your time management and multitasking chops.
Sample Response: With any concurrent campaigns, I use a project management method to assess factors like staff bandwidth, donor fatigue, and revenue goals. Higher priority campaigns get more resources and customized KPI dashboards for real-time tracking. For lower priority campaigns, I leverage digital tools and volunteer support to keep costs low while maintaining momentum. Clear communication with my team and stakeholders is crucial so everyone understands expectations and timelines.
What Metrics Indicate an Effective Annual Giving Program?
Demonstrate your understanding of key annual giving metrics beyond dollars raised. Highlight figures that provide deeper insight into the health and growth of the donor base.
Sample Response: While total funds raised is important, metrics like donor retention, average gift size, and percentage of recurring donors also reflect program effectiveness. I also look at participation rate, especially among new constituents, as building a broad base of support sustains an annual fund long-term. Cost per dollar raised helps assess operational efficiency too.
How Would You Retain a Major Donor Reducing Their Gift?
Major donors warrant careful stewardship, especially when they change their giving. Share your approach to listening, communicating, and maintaining the relationship even if the gift decreases.
Sample Response: First, I would meet one-on-one to understand their reasons and see if we can address any concerns. I would reaffirm our gratitude for their generosity and highlight impact to remind them of the vital difference they make. If the reasons are beyond our control, I would respect their choice while exploring creative options like a pledge over multiple years. The goal is preserving the relationship, not just the gift.
How Have You Used Digital Strategies for Fundraising?
Today’s supporters are online. Discuss innovative tactics you’ve used across social media, email, mobile, and other digital platforms to connect with donors where they are. Showcase your ability to drive results in the digital age.
Sample Response: In a recent role, I executed a six-figure peer-to-peer campaign on Facebook that exceeded its goal by 25%. We made donating easy with one-click payment integration. I’ve also used Instagram to share powerful visual stories and implemented monthly e-newsletters with segmented content that boosted email click-through-rates by 8%. Applying digital best practices is now second nature to me.
What’s Your Approach to Setting Annual Giving Goals?
Your response will reveal core planning, analysis, and leadership skills crucial for this role. Share a strategic, data-informed process for setting ambitious yet achievable annual fundraising targets.
Sample Response: The first step is thoroughly reviewing prior year data on donors, gift amounts, retention, acquisition, and other KPIs. I layer on current internal and external factors that could impact revenue, like program changes or economic climate. With historical context and a present-day perspective, I can develop data-backed goals aligned with organizational objectives. I ensure stakeholders are looped in so we have consensus before finalizing the annual plan.
How Do You Engage Board Members in Annual Giving?
Demonstrate you understand the value of board participation for annual fund success and know how to motivate true leadership commitment, not just dollars.
Sample Response: I work closely with each board member to create a personalized engagement plan based on their interests, networks, and philanthropic goals. This paired with consistent communication about fundraising progress and impact helps deepen their involvement. I also make sure we publicly recognize their contributions to set an example and encourage others. Engaged board members become powerful annual giving advocates.
What Role Does Storytelling Play in Your Approach?
Share why storytelling matters – it connects donors to impact and makes giving feel meaningful. Prove you have the skills to craft and deliver compelling stories that inspire supporters.
Sample Response: Storytelling brings our mission to life. Through impactful stories, donors see how their gifts transform lives, which motivates renewed support. On social media, I regularly share bite-sized stories of students whose arts education was enabled by scholarships. For major donors, I prepare customized packages with in-depth profiles of program participants – this led to a 25% increase in $1K+ gifts last year.
How Do You Align Annual Giving and Organizational Strategy?
Hiring managers want to know you can translate big-picture organizational goals into donor-centric annual fundraising strategies that advance top priorities. Share your collaborative approach to ensuring strategic alignment.
Sample Response: Each year, I meet with our ED and program directors to understand priority initiatives on the horizon. I translate these priorities into annual giving goals and a narrative focused on how donor dollars will fuel this work. Regular check-ins throughout the year, paired with impact reporting to leadership and the board, ensures our annual giving efforts continue advancing core strategic goals.
What’s Your Most Successful Campaign? Why?
Quickly summarize a stellar fundraising effort from your experience. Focus on what made it effective – was it an innovative concept, a meticulous planning process, or creative problem-solving during execution? Keep it high-level in 2-3 sentences.
Sample Response: A peer-to-peer team relay event I organized had over 500 participants and doubled its $100K goal. Engaging peer networks via a fun, active challenge was the key ingredient driving success.
How Have You Handled Budget Constraints?
Money doesn’t flow freely in the nonprofit world. Briefly share one way you’ve been resourceful and delivered fundraising results without breaking the bank.
Sample Response: During a campaign with a slim budget, I tapped into my corporate connections to secure in-kind event space, catering, and printing donations. This allowed us to spend virtually nothing on fixed costs.
What If You Face Resistance from Internal Stakeholders?
Navigating office politics and differing opinions is part of the job. Share how you proactively communicate to prevent or overcome internal resistance, while maintaining strong working relationships across your organization.
Sample Response: I’ve found transparency and active listening go a long way. Discussing plans proactively and gathering input from colleagues early on helps secure buy-in. If challenges arise mid-stream, I meet 1:1 to better understand concerns, then adapt approaches when possible to resolve issues together.
How Do You Segment and Engage Donors?
Show that you strategically group supporters and tailor outreach accordingly. Share segments you may target and tactics to deepen engagement with each.
Sample Response: I divide donors into groups like new acquisitions, mid-level supporters, major donors, and lapsed donors. Each segment receives communication catered to their history and relationship with us. For example, personal phone calls to update new donors on impact or exclusive events for major donors. Customizing the approach fosters deeper engagement.
Tell Us About a Time You Motivated Your Team to Achieve a Challenging Goal. What Was the Outcome?
Prove you can rally your staff around a stretch goal and lead them to success. Share what specific actions you took to motivate and guide your team.
Sample Response: My team was charged with a $200k holiday fundraising drive, a 50%
Annual Giving Officer Interview
1. What do you consider to be the pillars of a successful annual giving program?
2. What databases are you familiar with and how do you optimize their features?
3. Given what you know about our organization, what would be the pillars of our annual giving program?
4. How do you determine who to include in your leadership donor portfolio?
5. How do you use giving societies for greatest results?
6. Tell me a story about relationships you have created, and solicitations you have made with annual donors.
7 SENIOR MANAGER / DIRECTOR Interview Questions and Answers!
FAQ
What questions should I ask a nonprofit organization in an interview?
What questions to ask in a donor relations interview?
What questions should you ask a fundraising interviewer?
The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with the types of fundraising campaigns that are most effective for their organization. Use your answer to highlight any previous experience with different types of fundraising and how they helped your organization achieve its goals.
What does a fundraising interview look like?
They might plan campaigns, organize donor contact information, draft emails and other written material and arrange both virtual and in-person fundraising events. In a fundraising interview, a hiring manager might ask questions about your professional experience and relevant skills.
What does a director of fundraising do?
Directors of fundraising often oversee a team of fundraisers who are responsible for raising money from donors. The hiring manager may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills and how you’ve managed teams in the past. Use your answer to describe your experience managing a team, including any steps you took to help them succeed.
Do directors of fundraising need to create and update plans?
Directors of fundraising need to be able to create and update plans for their organization’s fundraising efforts. This question helps the interviewer assess your ability to plan effectively. In your answer, explain how you would develop a schedule for updating your fundraising plan.
