Pre-interview questions

I was recently asked via a pre-interview discussion, what network I would be able to bring to the table. I was taken aback as I always understood that in development, you do not take donors with you from one organization to another. Perhaps I misunderstood the question and he was simply asking about the people I worked with rather than the organizations/individual donors that gave to my current organization. Thoughts?

Think it meant your connections inside and outside companies.

Charitable/philanthropic causes have the same competition for dollars as for-profit companies. All individuals take their previous contacts to new companies. That is what make them more valuable than one arriving from an other type of industry(sales potential or not. Therefore, it is acceptable to use past contacts to raise money/

People give based on the reputation of the institution therefore these past contacts and networks may or may not be of any real use. It is a red-flag to me when I am asked about previous donors and networks. It is a violation of professional ethics to solicit donors from a previous position.
Donors belong to the institution not the development professional.

A better question would to ask what is your knowledge of the giving community. Although non-profits are in competition for dollars, development professionals are NOT sales people. We don't work on commission.

I would suggest that the non-profit expecting a new employee to bring in his/her own contacts does not fully understand how to develop and expand their donor base and my be in need of
education on the subject.