Finding great fundraising talent doesn’t have to feel like searching for unicorns! On this Fundraisers Friday conversation, Julia Patrick and Tony Beall team up to demystify the talent search and show nonprofits how to recruit smarter, not harder. Whether you’re scrambling to fill a vacant role, thinking about future staffing needs, or exploring nontraditional ways to build your dream team, this conversation is packed with smart ideas and refreshing encouragement.
Tony kicks things off with a reality check: “There’s a lot of talent out there—but how do we find them, and how do we know they’re the right fit for our organization?” From there, the episode unpacks practical strategies for evaluating current and future needs, exploring interim and fractional solutions, and rethinking how we define “qualified” candidates.
One concept is hiring for ‘high will, low skill’—especially in entry-level and mid-tier fundraising roles. These candidates bring enthusiasm, adaptability, and mission alignment, even if they lack years of sector-specific experience. As Tony explains, it’s about looking beyond resumes and finding people who are ready to grow with your organization.
The duo also makes a strong case for casting a wider net when posting jobs. Sure, LinkedIn and Indeed are fine—but why not also try your Chamber of Commerce, Urban League, or networking groups? They suggest your next superstar might be a hotel events manager or a corporate sales leader ready for a purposeful pivot into the nonprofit world.
They also tackle “the poaching taboo” head-on. Recruiting local fundraisers isn’t shameful—it’s smart, as long as you’re doing it to grow your mission, not to raid someone else’s donor portfolio.
Finally, they discuss the pros (and myths) around using recruiting agencies. Think they’re just for C-suite hiring? Think again. Even small shops can benefit—these pros understand the landscape, fine-tune job descriptions, and save tons of time and stress.
These two provide you a toolkit for building a resilient, adaptable, and passionate development team—one smart hire at a time.