Hiring a fundraiser is a major milestone for any nonprofit.
For the small nonprofit, especially, hiring a fundraiser isn’t just about having room in the budget. It’s about setting them and your organization up for success.
We know that bad hiring decisions and turnover can be costly for any nonprofit. With a new fundraiser, there’s even more to consider, as they’ll need to build strong relationships with key partners and community members in order to be successful. And that takes time!
If you want to hire (and keep) a great fundraiser, you must have more than a burning need to foist development onto a new person… you’ve got to be fundraiser-ready.
Here’s what to have in place before you bring that amazing person on board:
A clear mission and a vision for a better future
This might seem like an easy checkmark because, of course, we have a mission and vision! It’s right there on our website!
But hold up. Is your nonprofit’s vision, in particular, doing the job you need it to do?
Before any significant increase in fundraising efforts (like hiring a fundraiser!), you’ve got to make sure your vision for the future is clear, loud, and proud—not just an assumption. Not just your mission, in other words.
- Can leadership, staff, and board members confidently articulate the change you’re creating in the world?
- Do you have a simple, emotional way to explain this vision and why your mission matters right now?
- Can you paint a vivid picture of the future you're inviting your community of supporters to help build?
I see many organizations inadvertently lose sight of their vision—it gets “lost in the sauce” of grant applications and programming, and fighting to make payroll. A fuzzy vision is one of the biggest obstacles to raising money and something that any fundraiser (no matter their level of experience) will struggle with when building authentic relationships and inspiring new supporters.
Systems that support
As a “systems-first fundraiser,” here are the three key fundraising systems that I recommend nonprofits of any size have in place when fundraising at scale in the community:
- A database that works for you: You need a way to track gifts, organize donor and community data, and follow up consistently.
- An email marketing platform: Email is one of the most powerful tools to stay connected, share stories, and solicit donations from a broad base of community supporters.
- Online giving system: If someone wants to support your cause, they should be able to do it quickly, easily, and securely online.
Fundraisers depend on technology to amplify their efforts and build more trusting relationships with donors, so choosing the right tools that will serve you now and for the next 3–5 years is a smart investment.
(Need some systems support? Grab my free Systems First Toolkit here - three practical tools, including an Operations Checklist to help you audit your systems, spot the gaps, and plan your path forward.)
A fundraising-friendly culture
Fundraising is a team sport. And it works best in organizations where everyone, from the board to the ED to program staff, embraces their role in building relationships and sharing the impact of their work.
That means:
- Leadership is equipped and excited to meet donors, make thank-you calls, and build relationships with key partners.
- Board members understand their role in the full fundraising process.
- Staff celebrate fundraising wins, share stories, and have systems in place to collect and share impact data.
At the same time, it’s critical to set realistic expectations for your new hire:
- Fundraising takes time and consistency. Don’t expect major gifts in month one.
- Avoid the “kitchen sink” job description. If you're asking for events, grants, marketing, and major gifts all in one role, you're setting up for burnout.
- Build a culture where fundraising is embedded in the day-to-day, not siloed.
When fundraising is treated as central to your mission (not a necessary evil), your team will attract stronger candidates, retain them longer, and raise more money with joy, not stress.
Are you fundraiser-ready?
Being fundraiser-ready is more than just having the budget for another staff position. It’s about clarity of vision, having the right infrastructure in place, and nurturing an organizational culture that invites and celebrates giving in the community.
If you’re missing a few pieces, that’s okay! Recognizing the gaps now gives you the opportunity to fix them, and sets the stage for your new hire to thrive.
Want some tools to help you get fundraiser-ready? Access my free Systems First Toolkit here or follow me on LinkedIn, where I nerd out on fundraising ops and building your community giving program from the ground up.
Kim Peterson