Sample Checklist for a Fundraising Consultant Interview
When you call to inquire about a consultant's services:
- Describe your project and projected goals, including how much you want to raise and what you expect to do with it;
- Let them know general facts about your organization—the strength of the board and their commitment to the campaign, number of staff members, if you have any fundraising activities in place, how the community perceives you;
- Describe your community and what they are looking for to help improve their lives;
- Ask them how they would start a campaign for your organization—this should give you clues as to their level of experience and how well they think on their feet!
- Explain what you feel will be some of the difficulties in your campaign and ask if they’ve worked on campaigns with similar hurdles.
- Ask them to send you their client list, references, and history information.
Watch and listen for the following during the interview:
- Preparation for the interview;
- Past performance with similar organizations in similar communities;
- Compatibility with your community;
- Interest in your campaign and mission;
- Innovative plan for your particular situation;
- Feasibility Study: number of people to be included in the study; identification of those to be interviewed; timeframe of the study; results; cost;
- Writing skills;
- Will they assist with grant writing?;
- Board and volunteer solicitation training;
- Will they help with prospect research?;
- What type of administrative support will they provide?;
- Will they help you set up a fundraising database? (if you don't have one, of course);
- Is this someone you would look forward to working with?;
- If the consultant is a member of the firm ask if he/she will be the consultant that actually works with you. If not, interview the actual consultant with whom you'd be working;
- Willingness to respond quickly;
- Credibility and integrity of the consultant/firm;
- Do they have experience with planned giving?;
- What are their expectations of the Board? Executive Director? Director of Development? CFO?;
- In what geographic area do they work?;
- Acceptable fee (In fundraising, the cheapest is not always the least expensive).
