Application Guide

How to Apply for Assistant Director, Foundation Partnerships

at Atlantic Council

🏢 About Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council is a premier nonpartisan think tank focused on international affairs and global leadership, known for its influential research and convening power across government, business, and civil society. Working here offers the opportunity to shape global policy while building strategic partnerships with major foundations that fund critical initiatives in areas like geopolitics, technology, and climate.

About This Role

This Assistant Director role is central to securing and managing foundation grants that fund the Atlantic Council's programs, requiring you to identify funding opportunities, craft compelling proposals, and steward donor relationships. Your work directly enables the organization's research and impact by translating complex programmatic work into fundable initiatives that align with foundation priorities.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching new foundation RFPs aligned with Atlantic Council's programs, drafting a proposal section with input from a program director, and joining a virtual meeting with finance to refine a grant budget. You could also be preparing stewardship updates for current funders or analyzing philanthropic trends to identify emerging opportunities.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Atlantic Council Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years in foundation relations with a proven track record of securing six-figure grants from institutional funders like Ford, Carnegie, or MacArthur
  • Excels at analyzing foundation strategies and RFPs to identify alignment with Atlantic Council programs like the Scowcroft Center or Digital Forensic Research Lab
  • Can distill technical program details (e.g., geopolitical analysis, hybrid warfare research) into clear, persuasive proposals for non-expert funders
  • Thrives in a collaborative, matrixed environment, coordinating with program experts, finance, and development teams to manage grants end-to-end

📝 Tips for Applying to Atlantic Council

1

Quantify your foundation fundraising results: specify grant sizes secured, renewal rates achieved, and portfolio growth in your resume

2

Tailor your materials to Atlantic Council's program areas—mention specific centers or initiatives (e.g., Europe Center, Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center) where you see funding synergies

3

Highlight experience with remote collaboration tools (Slack, Asana, Salesforce) given the remote work setup and cross-team coordination required

4

Demonstrate knowledge of current philanthropic trends in international affairs, such as funding for democracy resilience or climate security

5

If you lack direct think tank experience, emphasize transferable skills like translating academic or policy research into grant proposals

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Open with a specific example of a foundation grant you secured or stewarded that relates to international policy, geopolitics, or a similar field', "Explain how your research skills help you identify funding trends and align them with Atlantic Council's programmatic work (cite 1-2 of their programs)", 'Describe your collaborative approach to working with program teams and finance to develop proposals and manage grants', 'Note your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly—critical for explaining technical research to foundation program officers']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Atlantic Council's 10+ programs and centers to understand their focus areas (e.g., Eurasia Center, Cyber Statecraft Initiative)
  • → Review their recent foundation-funded projects or reports to identify current funders and thematic priorities
  • → Study their leadership and board members to understand network connections that might inform foundation outreach
  • → Look into their recent strategic plan or annual report to grasp organizational goals and funding needs

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would research and prioritize foundation prospects for a program like the Global China Hub
2 Describe a time you managed a complex grant renewal process, including challenges with reporting or budgeting
3 How do you stay updated on philanthropic trends in international affairs, and what opportunities do you see for Atlantic Council?
4 Tell us about a proposal you wrote that successfully translated technical program details for a non-expert audience
5 How would you collaborate with a program team remotely to develop a proposal under a tight deadline?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Atlantic Council's programs or foundation fundraising in international affairs
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of grant sizes secured or foundation portfolios managed in your resume
  • Overemphasizing individual fundraising over collaboration—this role requires tight coordination with program and finance teams

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Atlantic Council!

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