Let's face it, there is no official path to becoming a fundraiser in a nonprofit organization.

A good number of fundraisers today will tell you they "fell" into it.

They were in sales and they stepped over into fundraising.

They were an admin and someone moved them over into fundraising because the spot was vacant and they needed to fill it.

Occasionally I run into someone who earned a Certificate in Philanthropy or a CFRE.

Unfortunately, not one of these "paths" guarantees a successful fundraiser.

Here's what most nonprofits are looking for in a fundraiser

---> They have a friendly voice (So when they call someone or answer the phone, they fall into the "likable" category. If they "like" you, they'll give you money, right?)

---> They are willing to sit behind a screen all day and work "the list" in the database (This is where fundraisers hide most of the year, so this is a job requirement)

---> They can issue a donation receipt (For obvious reasons)

---> They're okay with "going it alone" (Minimal involvement from the Executive Director. Little to no contact with the staff. No contact with the Board.)

Here's what I look for in a fundraiser

---> They have a willingness to DO

I'll take an untrained, inexperienced fundraiser any day of the week. I'll take Rachael Ray back when she staggered onto the set of a TV cooking show. Unpolished, rough around the edges, a little deer-in-the-headlights. But determined, focused, and a force to be reckoned with. That's the fundraiser I'm looking for.

---> They understand the integration of messaging and marketing

A successful fundraiser doesn't sit in the corner. They dig in and get familiar with all the moving parts in that organization - analyzing the kind of messaging that gets a response. A great fundraiser buckles down and learns the art and science of marketing.

---> They are willing and able to be a voice in the organization

A great fundraiser is a driving force in the organization. Over time, they learn to lead with power vs. force. (Most don't do this well out of the gates. It's a process. An Executive Director helps nurture that.)

---> They are willing and able to take a lead role in staff meetings and in the boardroom

It is critical for a fundraiser to hear the Board's point of view on raising money. A fundraiser who is valued in an organization can see and hear everything.

---> They are willing to criticize

After three months of being in the organization (and assessing what is and isn't working), a great fundraiser should bring criticism to the table. It is not enough to come into an organization and do what's already been done indefinitely. A successful fundraiser brings valuable insights and a strong and substantiated point of view to the organization.

---> The willingness and enthusiasm to communicate with, and deal directly with, human beings every single day

This is my #1 hiring criteria. My hidden agenda, so to speak. Are they willing to master the art of interacting with, confronting, and directing human beings (the only obstacle we have in this world)? If they are not at minimum willing to do this, there is no other question I can ask that will make any difference at all. They cannot be my fundraiser.

Summer is over, my friends. Let's get focused, get back to work and raise some money. The mission is counting on it.

Sheree Allison merges the worlds of fundraising, marketing, and leadership combined with an entrepreneurial spirit to train and develop nonprofit leaders who are committed to building a world class organization. Connect and learn more about her "rags to riches" nonprofit success story, her book, and her weekly column at www.shereeallison.com.

Teaser image by Brendan Church on Unsplash