Fundraising Mock Interview

Practice 30 Fundraising interview questions covering donor relations, campaign strategy, and metrics.

WRITTEN BY ISAIAH SWANSON
QUESTION 5 OF 30

Have you worked in sales or telemarketing before?

Ryan Brown
Ryan Brown
Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Experience in telemarketing or any other sales position can position you well for success in fundraising. The interviewer wants to know that you can deliver impressive sales conversions because this means you will likely be able to contribute meaningfully to the organization's overall fundraising goal.

Isaiah Swanson
Isaiah Swanson
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.
Example Answer

"I have worked as a medical sales representative for the past fifteen years. In that time, I have sold several thousand units of integral medical technology to support healthcare advancements in the United States. My sales contributed to record profits for my company five years in a row, and I have always surpassed my sales quota. I would be delighted to bring my skills and experience to bear in this position raising funds for your organization."

Isaiah Swanson
Isaiah Swanson
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.
Example Answer 2

"Although I have never had a sales or telemarketing position, I do have extensive experience in customer-facing support roles that have required me to anticipate customer needs. I feel very comfortable meeting new people and handling client issues on the phone and in person. My ability to help people feel at ease makes them more receptive to my suggestions, and I believe these are essential qualities in sales and fundraising. I know that I can learn about any product, speak about it enthusiastically, and demonstrate its usefulness to customers. In the same way, I would learn everything I could about the nonprofit organization's cause in order to passionately share it with a potential donor."

Isaiah Swanson
Isaiah Swanson
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.
How to Answer

Share if you have worked in telemarketing or sales before. If you have, then you should discuss what you sold, and how you sold it, and come prepared to tell the interviewer specific sales numbers. Backing up your experience with results will assure the interviewer that you are prepared to take on this fundraising position.

If you do not have sales or telemarketing experience, then describe how you would go about securing commitments from potential donors.

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30 Fundraising Interview Questions & Answers

Jump to any question in the set.

01 Why do you want a career in fundraising? DISCOVERY 02 How would you rate your communication skills? DISCOVERY 03 What do you know about the fundraising cycle? OPERATIONAL 04 Tell me about your college education and how it has prepared you for a fundraising position? DISCOVERY 05 Have you worked in sales or telemarketing before? DISCOVERY 06 What experience do you have that you believe relates to fundraising? DISCOVERY 07 How persuasive are you? DISCOVERY 08 How do you build relationships with potential donors you have never met in person? OPERATIONAL 09 What motivates you in life? DISCOVERY 10 Tell me about the largest amount of capital you've raised? DISCOVERY 11 Have you ever led a capital campaign? DISCOVERY 12 Please describe an experience you have had leading a team to success. LEADERSHIP 13 Please describe your management experience. MANAGEMENT 14 Are you able to accommodate non-traditional work hours? DISCOVERY 15 Why would you make a good fundraiser? DISCOVERY 16 How did you develop leads in your most recent fundraising position? DISCOVERY 17 Do you feel passionate about our organization? DISCOVERY 18 What do you know about our programs, and the reason why we are raising funds? DISCOVERY 19 Have you done any volunteer fundraising? DISCOVERY 20 How would you go about seeking new opportunities for professional development in this role? DISCOVERY 21 Please describe your experience with donor acknowledgment. DISCOVERY 22 Have you had any experience utilizing volunteers for fundraising efforts? DISCOVERY 23 Please share a time when you did not meet a fundraising quota. How did you react? BEHAVIORAL 24 What grant-seeking experience do you have? DISCOVERY 25 Do you have any experience incorporating new technology into fundraising efforts? TECHNICAL 26 Are you comfortable asking people for money? DISCOVERY 27 Would you host a dinner for potential donors? DISCOVERY 28 What fundraising techniques would you want to use for our cause? SCENARIO 29 What are some creative fundraising ideas you have? DISCOVERY 30 When have you been rejected before? How did you handle it? BEHAVIORAL
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CAREER
Fundraising Manager
Isaiah Swanson
Written by Isaiah Swanson
30 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS · FUNDRAISING
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