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Development Director Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Development Director interview questions and answers.

  1. How do you feel about asking donors for money? See answer
  2. How do you involve the entire organisation in development and fundraising? See answer
  3. What is your approach to asking donors for a second or third gift? See answer
  4. What do you look for in donor management software? See answer
  5. How has your education prepared you for a position as development director? See answer
  6. What is your approach to improving your skills as a development director? See answer
  7. Describe your experience with writing grant applications. See answer
  8. What role do you see social media playing in fundraising? See answer
  9. As a development director, how do you provide donors with a voice inside the organisation? See answer
  10. Describe a time a critical project was short on funds. How did you handle the situation? See answer
  11. How do you develop a positive relationship with prospective donors? See answer
  12. What is your experience in strategic planning as a development director? See answer
  13. How do you establish an effective communications programme with monthly donors? See answer
  14. Describe your management style as a development director. See answer
  15. Why are you interested in being a development director for our organisation? See answer
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Development Director Interview Questions and Answers

How do you feel about asking donors for money?

A development director needs to be comfortable fundraising and asking for donations. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's perception of their role in raising monetary resources. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of the full scope of duties and responsibilities as a development director
  • Ability to comfortably ask donors for money
  • Practical communication skills and ability to be persuasive

Example:

"I know that part of my role as a development director is to lead by example for my fundraising team and that means being comfortable asking for donations. It excites me to show a donor how they can make a difference by contributing to the organisations' cause."

How do you involve the entire organisation in development and fundraising?

A successful development director involves the entire organisation through internal communication and sharing critical goals and objectives. The purpose of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to sharing the fundraising objectives with the organisation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to provide clear direction and correspondence
  • Ability to share the organisation's goals and objectives with the team
  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport and trust within the organisation

Example:

"Involving the entire organisation requires clear communication so that everyone understands the objectives and how they play a part in the larger goal. Showing staff how they can be involved and how their daily work makes a difference is key to people wanting to help even more."

What is your approach to asking donors for a second or third gift?

A development director needs to be comfortable going back to donors for additional donations, as required. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's comfort and approach in asking past donors for subsequent gifts. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to clearly define the reason for additional donations
  • Persuasive demeanour with the ability to remain donor-centred
  • A systematic approach to asking for multiple donations

Example:

"When approaching donors for additional gifts, I make sure to have a concrete reason for the funds and what we will use the extra money for. This helps the fundraising staff and I to address specific questions regarding why we need additional urgent donations. I also..."

What do you look for in donor management software?

Depending on the organisation, a development director may use a donor management software programme to track incoming donations, donor information, and other critical information. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to using donor management software in their position. What to look for in an answer:

  • Strong foundational skills in computer literacy
  • Awareness of donor management software programmes available
  • Critical thinking skills to choose the best programme for the organisation's needs

Example:

"If I were selecting a software programme to use, I would look for several crucial areas of functionality. First, it would need to keep clean donor records with contact information and historical data. The programme should have a built-in communications feature, such as an email service to send out newsletters. Also..."

How has your education prepared you for a position as development director?

Depending on your company, you may require a development director to have a specific educational background. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's academic training and their ability to use their knowledge to benefit the organisation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Completion of company-specific educational requirements
  • Ability to adapt knowledge to the benefit of their position
  • Understanding of a development director's duties and responsibilities

Example:

"Upon completing my bachelor's degree in communications, I had a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge and was excited to share what I learned in my position. By understanding development best practises, I'm able to lead a development strategy effectively and efficiently."

What is your approach to improving your skills as a development director?

A development director must be interested in constantly improving their professional skills and abilities. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's desire to participate in professional development. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in taking part in professional development opportunities
  • Ability to implement new ideas and concepts into their position
  • Communication skills to ask questions and discuss ideas with others

Example:

"In my career, I feel continuous learning is vital to my long-term success. I am a member of several networking organisations for non-profit directors. I also attend an annual conference to learn new skills, brainstorm with others, and bring back new ideas and concepts that have worked in other organisations."

Describe your experience with writing grant applications.

A development director needs to be proficient at writing grant applications and other formal correspondence. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to write a successful grant application. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with grant writing and the approval process
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • organisational skills to provide precise details that support the application

Example:

"In my previous position, I was instrumental to the writing and approval of over $50,000 worth of grant money. This injection into our organisation made a profound difference to several critical projects that we were in fear of losing."

What role do you see social media playing in fundraising?

A development director needs to stay informed of all available resources to communicate the organisation's goals and objectives, including social media. The purpose of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to using social media to advance the organisation's cause. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of all available resources for communication with potential donors
  • Communication strategies that use social media to increase awareness
  • Knowledge in social media platforms that can be used effectively

Example:

"I believe that social media platforms have provided non-profits, such as yours, with an incredible opportunity for a larger reach and more awareness regarding the organisation's cause. Using social media can be a cost-effective strategy for donation drives and campaign awareness."

As a development director, how do you provide donors with a voice inside the organisation?

A development director must maintain donors at the heart of the organisation and provide a purpose for their gifts. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's approach to donor representation within the company. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of the importance of donors and potential donors to the organisation
  • Ability to represent the donor's gifts on their behalf
  • Communication and interpersonal skills to correspond with donors about their impact

Example:

"As a development director, it's my responsibility to represent the donors. This means that I create and develop solid lines of communication with donors, so they understand how their gifts impact the organisation. It also means me expressing the donor's hopes during strategic planning, board meetings, and fundraising efforts."

Describe a time a critical project was short on funds. How did you handle the situation?

A development director must handle budgetary responsibilities for fundraising goals and projects. The purpose of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to handle short funding and critical thinking and problem-solving skills to manage the situation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to handle financial responsibility for fundraising
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills to develop strategies for short funding
  • Creative thinking and problem-solving skills to implement viable solutions

Example:

"I once had an urgent project that needed to be completed but was short by 25% according to the budget. I immediately sat down with my team to brainstorm solutions. We looked at what areas of the project could be minimized without affecting the outcome. We also looked at..."

How do you develop a positive relationship with prospective donors?

A development director must build and develop professional relationships with prospective donors to encourage donations. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to making these partnerships for the organisation's benefit. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport and trust with potential donors
  • Communication skills to ask questions and hold meaningful discussions
  • Interest in networking and building partnerships

Example:

"As a development director, developing positive professional relationships with prospective donors is part of the role I enjoy most. I believe in building partnerships based on trust, honesty, and integrity, with a genuine interest in creating a cooperative relationship."

What is your experience in strategic planning as a development director?

A development director often participates in strategic planning sessions with the executive board. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's level of experience in contributing to strategic planning. What to look for in an answer:

  • Hands-on experience in taking part in strategic planning sessions
  • organisational skills to gather various critical details used for planning
  • Communication skills to offer insights and practical suggestions

Example:

"In my previous position, I attended four annual strategic planning sessions with the board of directors. My role during these planning sessions was to provide insight and guidance regarding development and fundraising activities. Part of my role was also regular board updates on my department's progress."

How do you establish an effective communications programme with monthly donors?

A development director must develop, implement, and maintain communication strategies for all levels of donors. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to creating a programme to stay in touch with monthly donors. What to look for in an answer:

  • Critical thinking and strategic planning skills to develop an effective form of communication
  • Creative thinking and problem-solving skills to implement and troubleshoot a plan of action
  • Communication skills to provide impactful messaging to monthly donors

Example:

"There are many strategies that can be used for creating a communication programme with monthly donors. Some things to consider are what resources I have available, the time it'll take to implement every month, and the accessibility to donors. I also..."

Describe your management style as a development director.

Depending on your organisation, a development director may be required to lead a team of people within fundraising and development. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's management style and how it would fit within the company's current culture. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of their professional style of management
  • Communication skills to provide clear direction and guidance
  • Interpersonal skills to build and develop a team

Example:

"I would consider my management style to be collabourative and mentoring. I enjoy leading a team and providing them with the tools necessary to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. It's my responsibility to provide a clear vision of what needs to be done while mentoring them to encourage their best work."

Why are you interested in being a development director for our organisation?

A successful candidate needs to understand the organisation's mission, values, and goals. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's research before the interview and how their expertise can positively contribute to your company. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in researching the company and position before the interview
  • Communication skills to express their motivation for applying
  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport with the interviewer

Example:

"Working for a non-profit organisation such as yours has been a career goal for many years. My immediate and extended family have used services and programmes like the ones you offer many times, and I've seen first-hand the impact it creates in people's lives."

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