Ten tips for building a high value fundraising operations team
Building a high-value fundraising operations team is essential for driving long-term growth and maximising donor impact. A well-structured team doesn’t just research prospects or generate reports; it creates the foundation for strategic decision-making, donor stewardship, and sustainable success. Whether you’re scaling up or optimising an existing team, focusing on the right strategies can make all the difference. In this article, we’ll share the top ten tips for cultivating a fundraising operations team that delivers exceptional results, ensuring your organisation is equipped to meet challenges and opportunities.
#10: Be sure operations team members are well integrated into the teams they serve and understand the metrics of success that drive fundraisers.
#9: Be proactive with what your team can offer the wider fundraising team to help and solve problems. Don’t wait to be asked.
#8: It’s up to the team head to think creatively about training – aside from conferences like RIF, there are few opportunities – or progression.
#7: Fundraisers will mistake you and your team for other shared-service providers. Embrace this.
#6: Think beyond data and research. A strong ops team includes writers, donor journey coordinators and project managers.
#5: Let specialists do their thing. Support them, help them develop, and get out of their way.
#4: It’s really easy for an operations team to go unrecognised and under compensated; recognising this work must be built into planning.
#3: Good team culture is vital to a high-performing team, but don’t mistake a well-gelled team for a team capable of effective collaboration.
#2: Fundraisers sometimes don’t want to give up operations tasks like prospect research, due diligence or event planning, even when there is someone else (trained) to do them, so building this team and developing trust may take time and planning. Find an ally at the top of the fundraising team who is keen to get fundraisers out the door.
#1: Morale and motivation are your biggest challenges once the team grows – once miraculous individuals are now a potentially impersonal team.
And a couple of bonus tips:
Spend time cultivating relationships across the fundraising team to make sure your team are included and appreciated.
If your team feels both too big and too small at the same time you’re doing something right.
From cultivating relationships across the organisation to empowering specialists and aligning with fundraising goals, these strategies ensure your team is a valued partner in driving results. Remember, a thriving operations team isn’t built overnight—it takes planning, trust, and recognition. By focusing on morale, culture, and strategic alignment, you’ll position your team to not only support fundraisers but also elevate the impact of your entire organisation.
Special thanks to Jack Clarke-Saul, Head of High Value Fundraising Support Services, for his vital input into this list.