How did you develop leads in your most recent fundraising position?

How to Answer
Pro Tip
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

Highlight your relationship-building skills. Every person you have gotten to know has helped introduce you to other people. Every corporate, nonprofit, and civic contact leads to new possibilities for connection. Delineate for the interviewer specific strategies you employ that result in reliable leads.

You should also highlight other ways you develop leads. These could include attending networking events, public speaking and tabling engagements, direct mail and e-mail campaigns, prospect research, and more.

"Networking is a critical part of my role as an individual gifts manager. Our organization partners with community centers around the county to offer afterschool arts and STEM classes to middle school and high school students. I attended fundraising events for other nonprofit organizations as well as local universities and colleges. Going to these events allowed me to build strong relationships with other fundraisers who often introduced me to individuals they knew who were interested in funding arts and STEM programs. These potential donors introduced me to their friends who were also potential donors. I have learned that taking the time to establish sincere relationships pays dividends in terms of lead generation."

"I have been lucky in my current position to be able to represent our organization's community development work through regular public speaking engagements. This started out as a one-time discussion of improving affordable housing options, and the response was so positive that I turned it into a monthly series. I built in time at the end of the presentation to mingle with community leaders, investors, and individuals interested in bringing new life to the area while preserving its history. This became a reliable way to develop strong leads who already had community ties."