The Steier Group - Steier Tips - Identifying the Right Leaders

Steier Tips

Identifying the Right Leaders

As with any winning team, program or business, a successful capital campaign is defined by its leadership. These leaders are volunteers who are emotionally invested and believe in your institution and are willing to make a financial commitment to your organization.

It is critical to begin identifying leaders in the early stages of an effort. Remember to recruit general chairs, honorary chairs and advanced gifts chairs first to allow them to help you enlist others for prominent leadership positions.

During the recruiting process, it is important to identify men and women who are excited about the institution and have an ability to motivate others into action. Leadership should come primarily from those familiar with the organization, such as board members, constituents and vested donors. Those recruited should have the following qualities:

     ·  Name recognition
     ·  A strong tie with the organization
     ·  Active involvement with the nonprofit
     ·  A history of donating major gifts to the nonprofit
     ·  The characteristics that define a forceful and dynamic leader
     ·  An association with friends and contemporaries who are leaders in the         community as well and represent the organization's various constituents

In order to help in the recruiting process, you should develop an organization chart as well as produce job descriptions that clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of each leader. It is also wise to include the amount of time that must be invested during the capital campaign, including meetings, so the leader clearly understands his or her commitment.

E-mail this article to a friend

Other Steier Tips articles: