Nonprofit Leaders: Should you wait to re-hire a Development Director?
A nonprofit CEO came to inquire on the timing of re-hiring a Development Director role they’ve struggled to keep filled. My advice?
Wait.
Why? They aren’t ready.
Do they need more money? Yes.
But, for the position to stick this time around, they need to shore up some core areas that are blocking healthy revenue generation, and frankly, sabotaging the success of the person in that position.
Those things that are blocking revenue generation? They must be fixed at the root so that your entire organization and future staff member can ATTRACT investment-level donors.
Wondering if this might be you?
Start by looking at three core areas that KEEP donors from giving larger gifts and STOP fundraisers from being effective:
➡️ PLANS - Do your donors know your larger, strategic objectives? Do they know WHY you need their money every year?
➡️ PROGRAMS - Do your donors REALLY know what you do? The REAL problem their gift will solve?
➡️ NEED - Do your donors know you need their money? Seriously. Do you have the financial plans in place where you can sit down and have investment-level conversations?
Donors don’t ever give their best gift if one of these areas isn’t clear.
These are not ‘fundraising shifts”...these are shifts of organizational clarity. And that’s what investment-level donors are dying to hear from you. No new fundraising staff member will fix this.
These must be translated into the donor’s POV. Fix these at the root, and your fundraising hires will be more successful. I see it every day.
How about you? What’s one shift you need to make today?
Whenever you’re ready, here are THREE things you can do next:
👣 Follow me on LinkedIn where I share the same lessons I teach my clients about attracting larger gen-ops dollars and adding 7-figures + to their bottom line.
🍎 Read my GUIDE! THE TRUTH ABOUT GIVE/GETS :: Top 5 Reasons Your Board’s Give/Get Is Leaving Thousands (Sometimes Millions) on the Table. See how limiting board members to the Give/Get model restricts gifts and keeps your staff from reaching their full fundraising potential. Here to get it.
📈 Work with me to scale your org's revenue by 2-5X and fund your organization’s Strategic Plan // If you’re a business-minded CEO already raising MILLIONS but need to diversify revenue and secure more general-operating dollars to invest in growth, you can apply to work with me here.