1. Identify Key Stakeholders

• Identify the relevant stakeholders for the interviews, such as:
  • Nonprofit leadership (Executive Director, Board Members)
  • Program Managers
  • Volunteers
  • Beneficiaries (people directly impacted by the nonprofit’s work)
  • Donors or funders
  • Local community leaders or partners

2. Develop an Interview Plan

• Define objectives: What are you hoping to learn from these interviews? This could include understanding the nonprofit’s impact, challenges, and opportunities for growth.
• Select Interview Format: Will interviews be in-person, virtual, or by phone? Choose the format that suits both you and the stakeholders.
• Draft Key Questions: Develop open-ended questions that prompt thoughtful responses. Example questions might include:
  • What motivated you to get involved with this nonprofit?
  • Can you share specific examples of how the nonprofit has impacted the community?
  • What challenges have you encountered in your involvement with the nonprofit?
  • What areas do you think the nonprofit could improve on?
  • How do you envision the nonprofit evolving in the future?

3. Reach Out to Stakeholders and Schedule Interviews

• Send an Invitation: Send an email or call to stakeholders to request an interview. Be clear about the purpose, timing, and what you hope to achieve through their participation. Example invitation:“I’m conducting interviews with key stakeholders of [Nonprofit Name] to understand its impact on the community and identify areas for growth. Your insights would be invaluable, and I’d appreciate the opportunity to speak with you. Would you be available for a 30-minute conversation in the next two weeks?”
• Offer flexible times: Offer a few time slots and ask if the proposed times work for them.
• Confirm Details: Send a calendar invite with the confirmed date, time, and medium for the interview (e.g., Zoom link or physical location).

4. Prepare for the Interview

• Review any available background information about the nonprofit and the stakeholder’s role.
• Organize your questions in a logical order, but be flexible if the conversation takes an interesting turn.
• Prepare to take notes or record the conversation (with permission) for later reference.

5. Conduct the Interview

• Start with introductions: Begin by briefly introducing yourself and explaining the purpose of the interview.
• Create a comfortable environment: Set a tone of openness and active listening.
• Ask the questions: Let the interviewee speak freely and provide in-depth answers. Ask follow-up questions based on their responses to dig deeper.
• Stay neutral: Avoid leading questions and maintain a neutral stance, allowing the interviewee to share their honest views.
• End with a thank you: Conclude by expressing gratitude for their time and insights. You can also ask if they would like to share anything further or suggest others who should be interviewed.

6. Analyze the Data

• After conducting the interviews, analyze the responses to identify common themes and key insights.
• Organize the findings into categories, such as community impact, challenges, and suggestions for improvement.
• Use the insights to generate a report or guide the next steps for improving the nonprofit’s work.

7. Follow-up with Stakeholders

• Send a thank-you note or email after the interview.
• Share any outcomes or next steps that result from the interview process, keeping stakeholders informed about how their input is being used.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that you conduct well-structured and productive interviews that can lead to actionable insights for the nonprofit’s improvement and greater community impact.