Summary: This is the first special Sunday installment of The Fundraising Talent Podcast where we talk to someone who isn’t a frontline fundraiser but rather someone who is actively identifying fundraising talent for his clients. Jonathan McIntosh is a Nonprofit Development Recruiter at ThinkingAhead Executive Search in Nashville. Jonathan agreed to share with me some perspective of what it looks like to identify fundraising talent in today’s competitive market. Jonathan shared his insights into the organization’s readiness for fundraising talent and the recognition that, at a minimum, some organizations may need to mature their understanding of fundraising operation before they hire an experienced fundraiser. I also appreciated Jonathan’s characterization of meaningful engagement that reveals a creativity of approach, an ability to push through resistance, and a willingness to make sure the timing is right for the donor’s gift. Some of the other key points of our conversation: A great fundraising candidate is someone who loves and cares for the donor and who doesn’t just see dollar signs. Sometimes organizations are not prepared for major gifts, and it’s important to understand that hiring a top-notch candidate isn’t necessarily the way to fix that. A good fundraising professional is someone who is first a great listener. Organizations often wait too long before they enlist the help of a recruiter. The best candidates are not looking for new opportunities but are actively doing the same job a new employer would expect of them. If you’d like to connect with Jonathan, he suggested reaching out to him via LinkedIn.
