Application Guide

How to Apply for Associate, Strategy & Growth, What Works Cities

at Results for America

🏢 About Results for America

Results for America is a national nonprofit that has pioneered the movement to use evidence and data to drive government decision-making. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that has influenced billions in government spending toward effective programs, making it a unique opportunity to create systemic change in how public dollars are invested.

About This Role

As an Associate on the Strategy & Growth team for What Works Cities, you'll be the engine behind recruiting cities to join a high-impact initiative that helps local governments use data to improve lives. Your work directly shapes which cities get access to resources and expertise, making your role pivotal in expanding the initiative's reach and impact.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing your Salesforce pipeline to track city engagement stages and updating records after recent outreach calls. You could spend the morning researching a new cohort of cities to prioritize, then join a team meeting to discuss outreach campaign performance using Tableau dashboards. Afternoons might involve drafting email sequences for city recruitment or coordinating with partners on regional events, all while managing tasks in Asana.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Results for America Is Looking For

  • Has 2-4 years of experience in marketing, consulting, or public sector work, with a strong track record of executing outreach campaigns and managing pipelines.
  • Is deeply familiar with local government operations and passionate about driving innovation in government effectiveness, possibly from prior work or volunteer experience with municipalities.
  • Is highly organized and thrives on managing multiple workstreams, with proficiency in Salesforce and data analysis tools like Tableau.
  • Possesses excellent research skills to analyze city ecosystems and trends, and can translate insights into actionable outreach strategies.

📝 Tips for Applying to Results for America

1

Highlight any experience with CRM management, especially Salesforce, and provide specific examples of how you used it to track and advance leads or partnerships.

2

Show your familiarity with local government challenges by referencing specific cities or initiatives you've worked with or researched, and how data or evidence could improve outcomes.

3

Quantify your impact in previous outreach or pipeline roles—e.g., 'Increased city engagement by 20% through targeted email campaigns.'

4

Demonstrate your ability to analyze data for insights: include a brief example of how you used data to refine a strategy or prioritize targets.

5

Tailor your cover letter to mention Results for America's mission and the What Works Cities initiative specifically, showing you understand their focus on evidence-based policy.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Emphasize your commitment to using evidence and data to improve government effectiveness, aligning with Results for America's core mission.", 'Highlight your experience with outreach and pipeline management, especially in a context similar to recruiting cities or partners.', "Show your research skills by mentioning a specific trend or city you've analyzed and how it could inform outreach.", 'Demonstrate your ability to work remotely and manage multiple priorities, referencing tools like Asana or Slack.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Results for America's website, especially the What Works Cities page, to understand the initiative's goals, current cities, and success stories.
  • → Read recent reports or blog posts from Results for America on evidence-based policymaking and city innovation.
  • → Look into the broader 'What Works' movement and how Results for America fits into the landscape of nonprofits like the Pew Charitable Trusts or the Government Performance Lab.
  • → Check out any news articles or case studies about cities that have participated in What Works Cities to understand the impact.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you prioritize which cities to target for outreach, given limited resources?
2 Describe a time you used data to improve an outreach campaign or engagement strategy.
3 What do you see as the biggest challenges in getting local governments to adopt evidence-based practices?
4 How do you ensure data accuracy in a CRM and handle pipeline management across multiple workstreams?
5 Why are you interested in working at Results for America specifically, and what do you know about the What Works Cities initiative?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Sending a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Results for America or the What Works Cities initiative by name.
  • Overlooking the importance of CRM and data analysis skills—failing to showcase specific experience with Salesforce or Tableau can be a missed opportunity.
  • Focusing too much on policy interest without demonstrating practical outreach or project management skills, which are central to this role.

📅 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 Results for America!

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