- How did you first hear about our organization?
- What made you decide to give your first gift?
- Why do you enjoy giving to this organization?
- What is your favorite program/service/etc to donate to?
- What do you hope to accomplish through your philanthropy?
From there, you can get a better sense of your ideal donor to target. And then you can dive into donor interviews. Start by setting up short interviews with any current donor that seems like a fit based on the qualities of your ideal donor that you’ve identified through your analysis.
From the 60 Minutes Archive: Billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad
Ask supporters…
As a current/potential supporter, ask fundraisers or nonprofit leaders…
So grab coffee or a meal with your favorite supporter or nonprofit staff and have a deeper conversation. What’s missing? What questions would you ask?
Top 50 Most Common Interview Questions
How to prepare for common job interview questions:
Do your homework. “One of the biggest complaints of hiring managers is that many job interview candidates know very little about the company they’re interviewing for,” says Andy Teach, author of From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time, and host of the YouTube channel FromGradToCorp. Google the company you’re interviewing with and read some of the articles that pop up; study the company’s website; know the company’s mission, its products and services, its locations, and who their top executives are. Go to the Public Relations tab on their website and print out some of their latest press releases. “Study them so that you can talk in the interview about what’s going on with the company now,” he says.
Prepare a list of likely questions. Shweta Khare, a career and job search expert says getting a list of common questions for an interview is easier than ever before. “You can never underestimate the importance of preparation. It’s the first step and the most important,” she says.
Identify what the organization wants and needs. “While the focus of ‘Why should we hire you?’ (and other similar interview questions) is on ‘you,’ the interviewee, it’s important to remember the answer isn’t all about you,” says Miriam Salpeter, job search coach, owner of Keppie Careers and author of Social Networking for Career Success and 100 Conversations for Career Success. The most successful interview responses focus on the hiring manager’s needs. “Framing replies that demonstrate you understand their problems, or ‘pain points,’ makes a big difference when competing with many other qualified candidates.” Prepare by identifying the skills employers are looking for. “Use their in-depth job descriptions, view videos the employers post about their organization, and visit their Facebook page and Twitter feeds,” she suggests.
Find out their values and beliefs
1. Why did you first give to our organization? (Richard Radcliffe, U.K. legacy consultant says this is the most important question to ask.)
2. What interests you most about organization? Why? What is less interesting to you? Why?
3. Why do you give to our organization? How would you describe our mission? What does it mean to you?
4. What are the most critical results you expect our organization to produce?
5. What do you tell others about us? How do you describe this organization to others?
6. Why does this cause matter to you? Why now in particular?
7. What do you believe would most transform [this particular situation]?
8. Which other organizations effectively address this cause?
9. How does our organization compare to other organizations working in this cause?
10. If you had 5 minutes with our CEO, what would you say? Why? If you were our CEO for a day, what would you do? Why? (Credit: colleagues at AFP Calgary:)
FAQ
What questions should I ask a philanthropist?
- Should I give anonymously or publicly?
- When and how should I involve my family?
- Should I give in perpetuity or give while I’m alive?
- How can I measure results in a practical way?
- What are the most common mistakes philanthropists make, and how can I avoid them?
- What non-financial resources can I bring to the table?
How do you prepare for a philanthropy interview?
- Be professional in videoconference interviews.
- Explain how the opening is a good fit for you professionally.
- Expect negative questions.
- Request clarification when questions are unclear or difficult.
- In group interviews, make eye contact with everyone.
What are the questions asked in NGO interview?
