11 Essential Nonprofit Interview Questions for Hiring a Great Leader

If you’ve ever searched for a new executive director for a nonprofit organization, you know it’s not an easy task. Sure, you’ll likely happen upon plenty of qualified candidates. But, finding the one that’s just right for your particular organization?

Well, that can often feel like searching for a diamond in the rough—if not downright impossible.

Not to mention the fact that nonprofit jobs often pay less than jobs in corporate America. This means you really need to find someone who’s sold out on your mission and vision.

How do you cut through the clutter and hone in on the best candidate for the job? The same holds true for any type of interview: The magic is all in the quality of your questions.

So, to help you out, we’ve rounded up eleven must-ask interview questions for executive directors and other nonprofit leadership roles.

1. What’s your management philosophy?

First things first, you’ll want to discover how this candidate deals with people. How does he or she give direction, inspire employees, and lead and motivate a team?

Relational communication and people skills are by far the most necessary and desirable traits in the nonprofit sector.

Whether your nonprofit is large and widely known or small and scrappy, you undoubtedly want to find that special person who will mesh with the culture that’s already established, while also inspiring your team to be the very best they can be.

This question will likely be very telling in how the potential candidate will deal with those under their leadership.

2. What’s your experience with strategic planning? What plans have you developed and implemented in the past?

Strategic planning is a key duty of any executive director role. It’s the single most important skill set in helping your organization achieve its goals.

A good strategic plan will set overall objectives for the organization, determine strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas of opportunity.

Ideally, you want to find someone with a track record of success—or, at the very least, some experience. Asking for specific examples will take the question past the speculative stage and require applicants to provide real-world stories of how their strategic plans have panned out.

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3. Do you have any experience budgeting?

As you know, budgeting is another key component in the job description of an executive director role. So, it’s another area of experience you’ll need to directly address during the interview stages.

How competent is this candidate when it comes to assessing the financial health of a business? Finding someone who’s experienced in managing the finances will be important for the bottom line and overall well-being of the nonprofit.

4. Can you tell me about your hands-on experience with fundraising?

When fundraising plays such a big role in your nonprofit’s mission, you’ll need someone who’s comfortable taking the reins and leading the charge.

Fundraising doesn’t sound complicated in theory, but you know better. You’ll need to look for job candidates who have true, valuable know-how in that arena, and don’t just talk their around a lack of true experience.

5. What qualities do you think are required in a successful leader?

Effective leadership is crucial for any higher-up position, but particularly for leaders in nonprofit organizations. Asking this question will help you to see what traits the candidate thinks are most important for someone in a leadership role.

There isn’t one “right” leadership style, but some will be better suited to your organization than others.

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Do they think a leader should have high expectations and firm instructions? Does a leader value a more collaborative atmosphere and an open-door policy? This interview question for executive directors may seem simple in nature, but it can really reveal a lot.

6. How would you handle criticisms or questions from the media?

Your executive director will also be interacting with the media quite a bit. Anyone who’s done that before knows that it can involve some delicate decision-making. So, understandably, you’ll want someone who has some expertise in handling key challenges like these.

In a way, your executive director really becomes the public face of your entire nonprofit. Needless to say, you’ll want to ensure you make a solid choice.

7. Can you tell me about a time when you solved a complex problem?

This is one of those age-old interview questions for good reason—it serves to uncover a great deal about a particular candidate.

We don’t have to tell you: in the nonprofit world, you’re always wearing many hats and constantly dealing with new problems. You’ll want to make sure your potential candidate is flexible enough to handle these challenges, while also having the foresight to think proactively.

So, while it might feel like an old, tired cliché, go ahead and use this question in your interviews to find out how applicants cope when unexpected issues crop up. I’m willing to bet you’ll be glad you asked it!

8. How well do you work with a board? Do you have any experience doing so?

Working with a board isn’t always easy, but it’s something that any executive director is going to be required to do. After all, the director isn’t really the boss of your nonprofit—the board is.

You’ll want to find someone who not only understands that balance but thrives in it. That way, your team, your new director, and your board will all be happy.

9. What’s one thing you would do differently for this organization?

Here it is—the question that all candidates dread, yet all interviewers love. And, you can bet it’s an effective one to ask of any prospective directors.

In this role, the executive director will be tasked with generating ideas and improvements for the nonprofit. So, he or she might as well get started right in the interview. Not only will this help you narrow down the best fits for the job, but you also might be rewarded with some great new suggestions!

An executive director plays a key role in your nonprofit, and finding the best fit for the job can often feel like an overwhelming undertaking. However, asking valuable, thought-provoking interview questions will bring you that much closer to the best candidate.

10. Why did you leave your previous job?

It’s important to ask the candidate this question because it can give you insight into their integrity.

Additionally, it can help you identify any red flags that may indicate that the candidate is not a good fit for your organization.

For example, if they needlessly bash their previous employer, it could be a sign of trouble down the road. It’s also important to ask because it can help you gauge their loyalty and commitment – if they speak highly of their previous employer, it’s likely they’ll do the same for you.

11. What is your dream job?

This is a great question that gives you insight into the aspirations and growth potential of the candidate. If their dream job aligns with your organization’s mission, that’s a great sign. It means this position isn’t just a “stepping stone” for them to something greater.

Having passionate employees in the nonprofit world is a must. The last thing you want is a dispassionate director constantly looking toward the exit.

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Make use of these eleven must-ask interview questions for executive directors, and you’re sure to find the perfect person to fill that role!