Welcome to Step 3 of our 4-Step Fundraising Process: Recruiting and Equipping Your Fundraising Team.

If you've made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back. In Step 1, you built a targeted list of ideal funders. In Step 2, you crafted a solid fundraising plan, complete with your irresistible offer, engagement process, goals, and an outline of the team roles and materials needed. Now, it's time to bring that plan to life by assembling and equipping your team. This step is all about turning your solo efforts into a collaborative powerhouse—because fundraising is a team sport, and trying to do it alone leads to burnout and missed opportunities.

Let me emphasize why this is so crucial: By tapping into your team and board, you can multiply your results exponentially. You'll leverage diverse skills—like a volunteer's grant-writing expertise or a board member's network connections—to create far more impact than you could naturally achieve on your own. A well-equipped team doesn't just execute; it innovates, nurtures relationships, and sustains momentum. Additionally, starting small with volunteers allows you to bootstrap without a large budget, scaling up as funds become available. Remember, your goal isn't to hire a fancy staff overnight—it's to build a lean, motivated group that aligns with your mission and drives results.

In this video, we'll cover how to recruit your team (including volunteers and interns), effectively involve your board members, and develop the execution materials outlined in your plan. I'll explain each part, its importance, and how to brainstorm it personally. Then, we'll discuss using AI to refine team roles and create those materials quickly and professionally. By the end, you'll be ready to launch in Step 4.

Let's start with recruiting your fundraising team.

From Step 2, you already have an outline of the roles needed—things like a Founder/Executive Director for oversight and high-level requests, a Development Coordinator for outreach and research, a Program Manager for events and impact demonstrations, and perhaps a Communications Specialist for messaging. If your nonprofit is just starting or cash-strapped, don't worry about hiring paid staff right away. Opt for volunteers or interns to begin with—they're passionate, mission-driven, and often bring fresh energy. As you raise money through initial campaigns, you can transition to part-time contractors (e.g., via Upwork or Fiverr for specific tasks), and eventually full-time roles as your organization scales.

Why start with volunteers? They're accessible, cost-effective, and can test the waters for long-term fits. Many are eager to contribute their skills in exchange for experience, resume building, or personal fulfillment. Plus, involving them builds a sense of community ownership in your mission.

To brainstorm recruitment personally: Review your role outlines from Step 2. For each, jot down 2-3 ideal traits (e.g., "organized, good with people" for a coordinator). Consider where to find them—start with your personal network from Step 1. Ask friends, family, or board members for referrals. Then, expand to platforms. Spend 10-15 minutes listing potential recruits and outreach ideas.

Here are some top platforms to find volunteers and interns—I've curated this list based on reliable, widely used options that are free or low-cost for nonprofits:

• VolunteerMatch.org: A leading site where you post opportunities, and volunteers search by cause and location. Great for local recruits.
  
• Idealist.org: Focuses on social impact roles; post volunteer gigs, and connects with mission-aligned people worldwide.
  
• LinkedIn: Use the "Volunteer Opportunities" feature or post in groups like "Nonprofit Professionals" or search for "volunteers interested in [your cause]."
  
• Catchafire.org: Matches skilled volunteers (e.g., marketers, writers) with nonprofits for short-term projects—perfect for developing materials.
  
• Local universities or colleges: Reach out to their career centers for internship opportunities, especially in fields such as social work, business, or communications. Sites like Handshake.com can help.
  
• AmeriCorps or local community centers: For service-oriented volunteers, or check Craigslist/Nextdoor for community postings.
  
• Taproot Foundation: For pro bono professional services, like graphic design for materials.
  

When posting, be clear: Describe the role, time commitment (e.g., 5-10 hours/week), skills needed, and perks (e.g., skill-building, networking). Interview candidates virtually to ensure a good fit—ask about their passion for your mission and their relevant past experience.

Once recruited, onboard them with a simple orientation: Share your mission, plan, and tools like Google Workspace or a free CRM like HubSpot for tracking prospects.

Next, involve your board members.

Your board isn't just for governance—they're fundraising multipliers. Remember the personal networks you mapped in Step 1? Board members can tap into their own resources to open doors. All you have to do is provide them with email scripts, call scripts, or templates they can send to their contacts. For example, a script might say: "Hi [Name], as a board member for [Your Nonprofit], I'm reaching out because I think you'd love our work helping [target population]. Would you be open to a quick chat?" Then, your fundraising team (or the board member if they're comfortable) can follow up to make the ask using the four-step process.

Why important? Boards often have high-affinity connections—professionals, donors, influencers—who trust them personally. This multiplies your reach without extra effort from you.

Brainstorm: List your board members and assign 5-10 network contacts each from Step 1. Draft simple scripts tailored to categories (e.g., warmer for personal networks).

Use AI here: Input your mission and role descriptions, and it can generate customized scripts, job postings for various platforms, or even interview questions.

Now, equipping your team: Developing the execution materials.

From Step 2, you have a list of needed materials—like email templates for the "Know You" step, grant templates for foundations, fundraising appeals (e.g., social media posts), proposals and sponsorship packets for corporates, a case for support (a one-pager on your mission and impact), donation pages (via tools like Donorbox or GoFundMe), impact reports, event invites, thank-you letters, and social graphics.

Why develop these with your team? Collaboration ensures buy-in, leverages diverse skills (e.g., a volunteer's design talent for graphics), and customizes materials to your voice. It also builds team capacity—interns learn while contributing.

To brainstorm personally: Prioritize 5-7 key materials based on your plan. For each, outline content: What problem it solves (e.g., proposal: Tailors ask to funder's motivations), format (PDF, email), and who on the team can help create it.

Then, work with your team: Assign tasks—e.g., a volunteer drafts email templates, and you review them. Use free tools: Canva for graphics, Google Docs for templates, WordPress or Squarespace for donation pages.

Supercharge with AI: This is where AI shines. Use prompts to refine team roles (if necessary, from Step 2) and develop supporting materials. For example, input your mission, offer, and a material type (e.g., "email template for Get Them to Like You step"); AI can generate full drafts, including personalized scripts for board outreach. Sample prompts in the workbook: First for role descriptions/job postings, second for material templates by type, third for scripts and appeals.

Remember, materials should provide value—focus on stories, data, and benefits for funders, not just requests. Test them: Send a sample email to a friendly contact for feedback.

Putting it all together:

Aim to recruit 3-5 team members (volunteers/interns) within 2-4 weeks. Develop core materials in the next 1-2 weeks, involving everyone. Track in a shared doc: Who's responsible, deadlines, status.

This step transforms your plan from a piece of paper to action. By building a team, you're not just raising funds—you're creating a sustainable system that grows with your nonprofit.

Pause here, review your Step 2 roles and materials list, and start brainstorming recruits. Post on one platform today! In Step 4, we'll launch your campaign. You're almost there—keep the momentum! See you soon.