Building your camp's future: how to hire a development director - Focus on Fund Raising

Camping Magazine, Jan-Feb, 1993 by Suzanne G. Merriman

Meeting Goals

And now to keep that development director! Unfortunately, 18 months to two years is the average length of time development directors stay in one position. However, it is costly and discouraging to a camp to replace a key administrator every year or two. So how can a camp be "out of the norm" and keep its development director beyond two years?

Especially for a newly created position, the CAO must wholeheartedly support this endeavor. Remember the importance of a good fit between the CAO and development director. Equally important, employee benefits should be those given to any professional.

The CAO needs to be direct and honest with feedback, and he or she needs to respond in a timely manner with this new employee. A performance appraisal should be conducted after six weeks. At this same time, the new employee should review his or her expectations and report on progress made. Together, the development director and CAO should set short-term goals for the next three to six months.

After six months, another progress review should be conducted and the job description once again examined. Are there items to add or delete? At one year a full performance appraisal should be conducted. The performance appraisal should center on the mission and the long range goals of the camp.

The development profession is a gift. There is no other profession in the world that relies as much on positive thinking and the ability to help people realize their dreams. With a successful fit, a development director can build success into your camp's future.