Application Guide
How to Apply for Associate Director
at LARC
🏢 About LARC
Los Angeles Reporting Collective (LARC) is a unique nonprofit that focuses on hyperlocal storytelling and supporting emerging journalists in Los Angeles through fellowships, workshops, and community events. What makes LARC special is its grassroots approach to building journalism capacity at the local level while creating accessible programs for diverse media makers.
About This Role
As Associate Director, you'll play a crucial role in shaping LARC's strategic direction while handling day-to-day operations, from coordinating fellowship activities to managing donor relationships. This part-time remote position offers significant impact by directly supporting the growth of local journalism infrastructure in Los Angeles through hands-on program management and community partnership development.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve morning check-ins with the Executive Director about strategic priorities, followed by coordinating logistics for an upcoming workshop with community partners. Afternoon hours could be spent drafting donor communications and planning fellowship activities, all while maintaining momentum on long-term organizational goals from your remote workspace.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who LARC Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years in journalism/nonprofits with specific experience building programs from the ground up, not just maintaining existing ones
- Demonstrates proven success in development strategy and donor stewardship for small-to-mid-sized nonprofits
- Possesses strong project management skills with experience coordinating multiple stakeholders (community partners, newsrooms, advisory boards)
- Has deep familiarity with Los Angeles' media landscape and civic organizations, with existing local connections being a major plus
📝 Tips for Applying to LARC
Highlight specific examples of building or growing comparable programs in journalism/nonprofits, not just general experience
Demonstrate your understanding of hyperlocal journalism by mentioning specific LA neighborhoods or communities you're familiar with
Show how you've worked effectively in remote or hybrid environments, since this is a remote position
Include concrete examples of donor stewardship and development planning for small organizations
Tailor your application to show how you'd help LARC scale while maintaining its community-focused mission
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience with program building and scaling in journalism/nonprofits', 'Specific examples of successful donor stewardship and development strategy implementation', "Your understanding of LA's media landscape and how you'd leverage local connections", 'How your remote work experience prepares you for this part-time leadership role']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → LARC's current fellowship programs and recent events/workshops
- → Los Angeles' hyperlocal journalism landscape and potential community partners
- → Small nonprofit funding challenges in the journalism sector
- → LARC's advisory board members and their backgrounds
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying with generic nonprofit experience without specific journalism/media background
- Failing to demonstrate understanding of Los Angeles' specific media ecosystem
- Not showing how you'd work effectively in a part-time remote leadership position
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!