How to apply for Associate Director / Director of Development

About Constructive Dialogue Institute

The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-partisan nonprofit co-founded by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, focused on equipping college students and faculty with skills to communicate across differences. Working there means directly contributing to a mission that counters polarization, with a team that values intellectual rigor and practical impact. The chance to learn from an experienced executive director who remains the primary fundraiser is a rare professional development opportunity.

About the role

As Associate Director or Director of Development, you will own the behind-the-scenes fundraising operations—from donor research and CRM management to scheduling and stewardship—while also leading grant writing and reporting. You will enable the Executive Director’s fundraising by ensuring flawless execution and compelling written materials. This role is ideal for a development generalist who thrives on both operational precision and exceptional communication.

A typical day

A typical day might involve updating the donor pipeline in the CRM, drafting a grant proposal for a foundation deadline, and coordinating with the Executive Director on upcoming meetings. You’ll also review financial reports for a grant, schedule stewardship touches, and collaborate with program staff to gather impact data. The work is a mix of independent deep-focus writing and proactive operational support to keep fundraising running smoothly.

Who Constructive Dialogue Institute is looking for

• 3–5+ years of development experience, with a proven track record in grant writing, reporting, and donor operations (e.g., managing a CRM, prospect research, gift processing).
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, able to craft clear, persuasive grant proposals and reports tailored to diverse funders (foundations, individuals, higher ed).
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to build and improve systems that keep a fundraising operation running smoothly and on deadline.
• Self-directed and comfortable working remotely, with strong communication skills to collaborate with a small, mission-driven team and report directly to a co-founder.
• Interest in CDI’s mission and a commitment to non-partisan, evidence-based approaches to bridging divides.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific grant writing wins in your cover letter—include the funder type, amount secured, and your role in the process (e.g., 'wrote a $250K proposal to a private foundation').
• Demonstrate operational excellence by describing a system or process you built or improved (e.g., 'overhauled our donor CRM, reducing reporting time by 30%').
• Mention any experience with remote work and asynchronous communication tools (e.g., Slack, Asana) to show you can thrive in CDI’s distributed team.
• Research CDI’s key funders and programs (e.g., their college partnerships, faculty training) and reference them in your materials to show genuine interest.
• If applying for the Director level, emphasize leadership and strategy; for Associate Director, focus on execution and readiness to grow into more responsibility.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your dual strengths: operational rigor (e.g., building donor pipelines, managing deadlines) and exceptional writing (e.g., persuasive grant narratives).', 'Specific examples of how you’ve enabled a senior fundraiser or executive to focus on relationship-building by handling behind-the-scenes details.', 'Your understanding of CDI’s mission and why cross-partisan dialogue matters to you, ideally with a personal or professional anecdote.', 'Your ability to work autonomously in a remote setting and collaborate closely with a founder-level leader.']

Research before applying

• Read CDI’s website, especially their 'About' and 'Programs' pages, to understand their offerings for colleges and universities.
• Listen to or read interviews with co-founder Jonathan Haidt about CDI and the importance of constructive dialogue.
• Look up CDI’s recent funders or partners (e.g., through press releases or annual reports) to understand their funding base.
• Explore the higher education landscape for dialogue and bridge-building initiatives to see where CDI fits and what challenges they face.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach managing a grant calendar and ensuring timely submissions when multiple deadlines overlap?
• Describe a time you improved a fundraising process or system. What was the impact?
• Walk us through your grant writing process, from researching a funder to submitting a final report.
• How would you support an executive director who is the primary fundraiser while also taking ownership of your own projects?
• Why are you interested in CDI’s mission, and how do you see development contributing to scaling impact in higher education?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn’t mention CDI’s mission or the unique dual focus on operations and grant writing.
• Failing to provide concrete examples of grant writing success or operational improvements—vague claims won’t stand out.
• Ignoring the remote nature of the role; not addressing how you stay organized and communicate effectively in a distributed team.