Client Overview
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stands as one of the oldest and most respected veteran advocacy organizations in the United States. With more than 1.5 million members, the VFW works to ensure veterans receive the care, benefits, and recognition they deserve.
In addition, the organization provides advocacy, outreach, and community-building programs. At the same time, it promotes patriotism and honors those who have served in foreign wars.
Because the VFW values tradition and service, it places a strong emphasis on thoughtful leadership and strategic growth. For this reason, the VP of Development—who has served the organization for over 30 years—set out to build a sustainable development team. The goal was clear: strengthen fundraising efforts while staying true to the VFW’s core values.
The Challenge
Three years ago, the VFW reached a critical point in its fundraising growth. Although the organization had a strong foundation, it needed to expand its development team in a strategic way.
However, the challenge went beyond simply filling roles. The VP of Development needed professionals who not only brought the right expertise, but also understood the needs of veterans and the VFW’s mission.
At the same time, the organization wanted to grow carefully. Rather than rushing the process, leadership focused on building the team with intention and patience.
Key roles included:
- Major Gift Officers to build relationships with high-net-worth donors
- Planned Giving Officers to develop long-term giving strategies
In addition, the VP prioritized pacing. A slower, more thoughtful approach would allow for proper onboarding, training, and integration into the broader organization.
How Recruiterie Helped
To meet these goals, the VFW partnered with Recruiterie. From the beginning, both teams aligned on a deliberate and long-term approach to hiring.
Rather than focusing on speed, Recruiterie prioritized quality, cultural fit, and sustainability. As a result, the hiring strategy matched the VFW’s vision for steady, intentional growth.
Step 1: Understanding the Organization’s Needs
First, Recruiterie took time to understand the VFW’s mission, values, and culture. This step laid the foundation for a successful partnership.
During early discussions, the VP of Development emphasized the importance of hiring individuals who felt connected to veteran advocacy. In addition, candidates needed to appreciate the VFW’s strong sense of community and service.
Therefore, Recruiterie worked closely with leadership to define both technical and cultural requirements. The team looked at skills, experience, personality, and work style.
As a result, the recruitment process focused on long-term success instead of quick placements.
Step 2: Strategic and Sustainable Hiring
Next, Recruiterie began filling key roles over time, including Major Gift Officers and Planned Giving Officers.
These positions played an essential role in:
- Expanding the donor base
- Building relationships with high-value donors
- Creating long-term fundraising strategies
However, Recruiterie did not fill these roles all at once. Instead, the team followed a phased approach.
By spacing out hires, the VFW gave each new team member time to integrate fully. In turn, this approach ensured proper training, stronger support, and better overall performance.
As a result, the development team grew steadily and sustainably.
Step 3: Building a Cohesive Team
In addition to hiring qualified candidates, Recruiterie focused on building team cohesion.
To achieve this, the team worked closely with the VP of Development throughout the process. Each new hire needed to complement the existing team, not disrupt it.
Therefore, Recruiterie evaluated how candidates would collaborate, communicate, and contribute to team dynamics.
The result was a group of professionals who not only excelled individually but also worked well together. Moreover, each team member understood the shared mission and contributed to common goals.
Step 4: Supporting Long-Term Success
Over the course of three years, Recruiterie maintained an active partnership with the VFW. Rather than stepping away after placements, the team continued to provide support and guidance.
For example, Recruiterie helped leadership assess progress, refine hiring strategies, and maintain alignment across the team.
As time went on, the VP of Development expressed strong appreciation for this approach. In particular, they valued Recruiterie’s patience and commitment to finding the right fit.
Because Recruiterie understood both the nonprofit sector and the VFW’s culture, the firm consistently delivered thoughtful, well-matched candidates.
The Result
As a result of this partnership, the VFW built a stronger and more effective development team.
Specifically:
- Major Gift Officers developed lasting relationships with high-net-worth donors
- Planned Giving Officers secured long-term gifts to support future initiatives
Consequently, the organization strengthened its fundraising efforts and improved donor engagement.
In addition, the gradual hiring approach created a more integrated and aligned team. Each member understood the mission and contributed meaningfully to long-term goals.
Leadership also noticed stronger collaboration across the team. Over time, a sense of camaraderie developed, which reinforced the VFW’s culture of service and mutual respect.
Recruiterie’s Philosophy
At Recruiterie, we believe growth happens over time—not all at once. Therefore, we approach every partnership with a focus on long-term success.
First, we take time to understand each organization’s mission, values, and goals. Then, we use those insights to guide every hiring decision.
In addition, we emphasize cultural fit, collaboration, and sustainability. This approach helps nonprofits build teams that perform well and stay aligned with their mission.
Why VFW Chose Recruiterie
Ultimately, the VFW chose Recruiterie for its thoughtful and strategic approach to recruiting.
Over three years, Recruiterie partnered closely with the VP of Development to build a cohesive and high-performing team. Rather than rushing hires, the firm focused on steady, sustainable growth.
As a result, the VFW now has a development team that supports both immediate fundraising needs and long-term success.
To learn more about how Recruiterie can help your nonprofit build a sustainable team, visit www.recruiterie.com.
