Application Guide

How to Apply for Chief Advancement Officer

at Gift of Adoption Fund

🏢 About Gift of Adoption Fund

Gift of Adoption Fund is a national nonprofit that provides critical grants to complete adoptions for children in need, ensuring they find permanent, loving families. Their mission is deeply personal and impactful, making every fundraising dollar directly change a child's life. Working here means being part of a lean, passionate team that values relationships and storytelling.

About This Role

As Chief Advancement Officer, you will lead major gift fundraising by managing a portfolio of ~200 high-capacity donors and prospects, focusing on gifts of $20,000+ annually or through multi-year, endowed, or planned gifts. Your work directly fuels the mission, turning donor passion into completed adoptions. This role is fully remote, requiring a self-starter who can build a robust pipeline and deepen donor connections.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start your day reviewing donor portfolios and prioritizing outreach, then have virtual meetings with prospects to discuss their passions and Gift of Adoption's impact. Afternoons could involve drafting personalized proposals, analyzing pipeline data, and collaborating with the team on stewardship events. The role offers flexibility but requires disciplined self-management to meet fundraising goals.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Gift of Adoption Fund Is Looking For

  • A seasoned fundraiser with 15+ years in major gifts, specifically securing gifts of $50,000+ and managing a relational portfolio of 150+ donors.
  • An exceptional storyteller who can connect donor interests to adoption stories, translating emotional impact into financial support.
  • A self-starter who thrives in a remote environment, with proven organizational skills to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
  • A networking powerhouse who proactively identifies and qualifies new prospects through outreach and relationship-building.

📝 Tips for Applying to Gift of Adoption Fund

1

Customize your resume to highlight quantifiable major gift results (e.g., 'secured $2M in gifts from 50 donors') and emphasize experience with gifts of $50,000+.

2

In your cover letter, share a specific example of how you tailored a cultivation strategy to a donor's passion for child welfare or family stability.

3

Research Gift of Adoption's recent impact stories (e.g., grants awarded, families helped) and weave them into your application to show genuine interest.

4

Since the role is remote, emphasize your experience working independently and your home office setup or remote work routine.

5

Mention any familiarity with donor databases (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge) and your process for tracking moves management.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your deep alignment with the mission of supporting children and families through adoption.', "Specific examples of major gifts you've secured ($50k+) and how you managed a portfolio of 150+ donors.", 'Your ability to build relationships with high-net-worth individuals and create tailored stewardship plans.', 'Your comfort with remote work and proactive pipeline development.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Gift of Adoption's website for their grant-making process, annual reports, and impact metrics (e.g., number of grants, average grant size).
  • → Read recent news or blog posts about adoption funding challenges and how Gift of Adoption addresses them.
  • → Look up the CEO or board members on LinkedIn to understand leadership priorities and potential connections.
  • → Explore their donor recognition programs (e.g., naming opportunities, legacy society) to understand how they steward major donors.
Visit Gift of Adoption Fund's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you turned a disengaged donor into a major gift donor. What strategies did you use?
2 How do you research and qualify new major donor prospects? Walk us through your process.
3 How would you tell a donor about Gift of Adoption's impact in a compelling, non-generic way?
4 This role requires managing 200 relationships. How do you prioritize and track your outreach?
5 What experience do you have with planned giving or multi-year pledges, and how do you approach those conversations?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic cover letter – it must reference the mission and specific donor strategies you'd use.
  • Avoid focusing on entry-level fundraising tactics; this role requires strategic major gift expertise.
  • Don't neglect to mention your experience with gifts of $50k+ and portfolio management – that's critical for 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 Gift of Adoption Fund!

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