Send the announcement to other nonprofits and call directors and development directors that you know and tell them the job is available. If you find such a person, hire them immediately. But if you don't find such a person, look for other sorts of qualifications that are evidence of skills related to fundraising such as running a small business, teaching, or personnel management. Any job that requires that a person be a self-starter and have experience planning, working with diverse groups of people, and good organizational skills is a good background for fundraising. Look closely at volunteer experience, and encourage applicants to describe their work as volunteers.
Many people know more than they realize about fundraising from having volunteered.
People with little or no volunteer experience are not good candidates because they will have little idea of how to work with volunteers. In addition to broadening your criteria in hiring someone, be willing to hire a consultant for a few days to help your new staff person get a running start on their job, or send the new development director to one or two of the many classes and courses that are offered on fundraising. The theories and how-tos of fundraising are not particularly difficult to understand, even though they take a lot of work to implement. Getting someone who is underqualified but bright, committed and eager to do a good job is almost as good as getting an experienced person with the same attributes. Formed in 1983 after itinerant day laborers Harry and Jane Smith were found frozen to death on the steps of the Methodist Church, Harry and Jane's has sheltered 400 people every year.