Client Overview
is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes military veterans to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Today, the organization has built a network of more than 120,000 veterans and civilian volunteers. As a result, it serves as a critical resource for communities in need.
At its core, Team Rubicon combines disaster relief with veteran empowerment through continued service. Because of this dual mission, the organization has developed a culture rooted in collaboration, resilience, and purpose. Therefore, cultural fit plays a central role in every leadership hire.
The Challenge
At a key moment in its growth, Team Rubicon needed to expand its Development leadership team. Specifically, the organization aimed to hire a Director of Individual Giving to lead fundraising strategy. In addition, it needed to bring on Major Gift Officers and Planned Giving Officers to strengthen donor engagement.
However, this hiring effort presented a unique challenge. Not only did candidates need strong technical skills, but they also had to align with the organization’s mission and culture. In other words, success required more than experience alone.
Team Rubicon prioritized candidates who demonstrated:
- Grit
- Teamwork
- Service before self
Ultimately, the organization needed a recruiting partner who could evaluate both capability and cultural alignment.
How Recruiterie Helped
To meet these needs, Team Rubicon partnered with Recruiterie. From the outset, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) emphasized the importance of building a team that balanced expertise with mission alignment.
Therefore, Recruiterie focused on identifying candidates who could deliver results while also strengthening the organization’s culture.
Step 1: Understanding the Culture
First, Recruiterie worked closely with Team Rubicon’s leadership team to understand the organization’s culture and expectations. Rather than focusing only on job requirements, the team took a broader, more strategic view.
During early conversations, the CDO highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared purpose. In fact, Team Rubicon operates as a tight-knit organization where every individual contributes to a larger mission.
As a result, Recruiterie defined a candidate profile that emphasized both technical ability and personal values. Each candidate needed to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and a strong commitment to service.
Step 2: Targeted Recruitment
Next, Recruiterie launched a targeted search for the Director of Individual Giving and other key roles.
For the Director position, candidates needed to bring:
- Strong nonprofit fundraising experience
- Expertise in major donor cultivation
- The ability to build and execute long-term strategy
At the same time, Recruiterie prioritized candidates who could thrive in a collaborative environment. In particular, the team looked for individuals who valued teamwork and shared accountability.
By combining these criteria, Recruiterie curated a candidate pool that balanced qualifications with cultural fit.
Step 3: Building a Cohesive Development Team
After successfully placing the Director of Individual Giving, Recruiterie continued its partnership with Team Rubicon. Subsequently, the firm supported the hiring of Major Gift Officers and Planned Giving Officers.
These roles played a critical role in expanding the donor base and securing long-term funding. However, Recruiterie did not treat these as standalone hires.
Instead, the team worked closely with the CDO and the new Director to ensure alignment across all hires. As a result, each new team member complemented the others in both skill set and working style.
This approach helped create a cohesive Development team with shared goals and strong collaboration.
Step 4: Strengthening Team Alignment
As new hires joined the organization, Recruiterie remained actively involved. In addition to supporting onboarding, the team provided guidance on building strong working relationships.
Over time, leadership began to see clear results. For example, the CEO noted a strong sense of camaraderie among the new team members.
Furthermore, Recruiterie conducted regular check-ins to reinforce alignment and address any challenges early. Because of this ongoing support, the team maintained its close-knit culture even as it grew.
The Result
As a result of these efforts, Team Rubicon successfully built a high-performing Development team.
The new Director of Individual Giving and supporting staff helped:
- Expand fundraising efforts
- Increase engagement with high-value donors
- Strengthen long-term revenue strategy
Consequently, the organization improved its ability to respond quickly to disasters and support veterans across the country.
Moreover, leadership credited Recruiterie’s thoughtful and structured approach for the success of these hires. Not only did the new team members perform well, but they also integrated seamlessly into the organization’s culture.
Recruiterie’s Philosophy
At Recruiterie, we believe that successful nonprofit teams require more than technical expertise. Instead, they depend on a strong alignment between people, mission, and culture.
For this reason, we take the time to understand each client’s values, goals, and working style. Then, we use those insights to guide every stage of the recruiting process.
In addition, our approach remains highly collaborative. By aligning leadership and candidates early, we help organizations build teams that work effectively and stay mission-focused.
Why Team Rubicon Chose Recruiterie
Ultimately, Team Rubicon chose Recruiterie because of our deep expertise in nonprofit recruiting and our focus on cultural alignment.
Through a structured and thoughtful process, Recruiterie helped the organization build a Development team that delivers results while staying true to its mission.
As a result, Team Rubicon strengthened its fundraising efforts and positioned itself for continued growth and impact.
To learn more about how Recruiterie can help your nonprofit organization build the right team, visit www.recruiterie.com.
