Master 35 United Way interview questions covering community impact, fundraising, and mission-driven leadership.
Question 21 of 35
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
Example Answer 2
How to Answer
Community Answers

Isaiah Swanson is a volunteer recruitment professional who has interviewed, trained, and supervised thousands of volunteers supporting dozens of nonprofit programs helping families in crisis, homebound seniors, and victims of natural disasters.
Innovation and progress are fundamental to the sustainability of any organization. The interviewer wants to know that you are a creative thinker and can adapt when processes, programs, and procedures change.

Isaiah Swanson is a volunteer recruitment professional who has interviewed, trained, and supervised thousands of volunteers supporting dozens of nonprofit programs helping families in crisis, homebound seniors, and victims of natural disasters.
"In any position I have, I think about creative ways to improve the way we do things. Innovation is necessary because the world is always changing, and we have to adapt to those changes to continue to meet our goals and push the mission forward. For a few years, we had issues with our paid staff getting lost on their way to client assessment visits. For several years, we printed hardcopy route sheets for our staff. When I reviewed the process, I realized we were wasting a lot of money on paper and giving staff poor directions. I worked with our Chief Financial Officer to allocate some funding to procure a contract app development specialist who worked with program leaders to create an app that could optimize client routes. This saved us nearly 5,000 and eliminated instances of staff getting lost in the field."

Isaiah Swanson is a volunteer recruitment professional who has interviewed, trained, and supervised thousands of volunteers supporting dozens of nonprofit programs helping families in crisis, homebound seniors, and victims of natural disasters.
"I believe that regular reflection on procedures is necessary to ensure that we are working as efficiently as possible. I manage a program that pairs volunteers with homebound seniors seeking companionship; the volunteers would call their 'phone buddy' once a week to talk about life and see if there was anything they needed. During a reflection session on program operations, volunteers informed me that they loved the opportunity, but they felt they could have more impact if they were each paired with more than one client. I embraced this idea wholeheartedly and worked with volunteers to develop a process for confidentiality training and scheduling calls. Ultimately, this change allowed us to include more seniors in the program."

Isaiah Swanson is a volunteer recruitment professional who has interviewed, trained, and supervised thousands of volunteers supporting dozens of nonprofit programs helping families in crisis, homebound seniors, and victims of natural disasters.
Show that you not only embrace change but can also be a catalyst for change that enhances the mission of the organization. Displaying a forward-thinking vision shows that you are committed to your work.

Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
0 - Character Count
Prepare for questions about donor relations, community partnerships, and nonprofit passion.
Get StartedJump to Question

Written by Isaiah Swanson
35 Questions & Answers • United Way

By Isaiah

By Isaiah