How to Answer: How comfortable are you with public speaking and presenting?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Fundraising Manager job interview.
4. How comfortable are you with public speaking and presenting?
What You Need to Know
Fundraising managers are frequently required to present information to organizational leadership including officers, executives, and boards of directors. These presentations detail fundraising progress and strategies for future success. Additionally, fundraising managers should feel comfortable speaking about the organization's programs in front of large groups of people. Everyone has the potential to become new donors or strategic partners!
Written by Isaiah Swanson on May 30th, 2022
How to Answer
Share your experience with public speaking. Perhaps you gave speeches as part of a college course or maybe you have given speeches to small or large audiences related to your profession. No matter your experience level, assure the interviewer that you are excited to speak publicly about their organization's community impact.
Written by Isaiah Swanson on May 30th, 2022
Answer Example
"When I first started my fundraising career as a donor relations coordinator, I was a bit shy and lacked confidence when presenting donor reports to my own team. However, as I gained experience and availed myself of professional development opportunities, my confidence grew. So did my comfort with public speaking. In the past five years, I have given a dozen speeches at local and national fundraising conferences in addition to frequently presenting information to my organization's board of directors on fundraising strategies. Now I feel very comfortable in front of audiences of any size because I am sharing information I understand and really care about."
Written by Isaiah Swanson on May 30th, 2022