Application Guide

How to Apply for Community Engagement Manager

at CureSearch for Children's Cancer

🏢 About CureSearch for Children's Cancer

CureSearch for Children's Cancer is unique as a fully remote, volunteer-led organization that accelerates high-impact pediatric cancer research while empowering local communities. Working here means joining a mission-driven team where every day you directly support the 42 families who receive a childhood cancer diagnosis daily, through a collaborative model that elevates community leadership to expand national reach.

About This Role

As Community Engagement Manager, you'll grow CureSearch's presence in assigned markets by empowering Leadership Volunteers (Community Leadership Boards) to increase regional fundraising, cultivate corporate relationships, and connect with local patient families. A key responsibility is coaching Ultimate Hike participants in your markets as their fundraising mentor and mission ambassador, making this role central to both community activation and signature event success.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve virtual meetings with Community Leadership Board members to strategize regional initiatives, coaching several Ultimate Hike participants on their fundraising plans, researching potential corporate partners in your market, and connecting with local patient families to understand community needs - all while collaborating remotely with program staff and your supervisor to align efforts.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for CureSearch for Children's Cancer

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who CureSearch for Children's Cancer Is Looking For

  • Resides in Maryland, DC, New York, New Jersey, or Philadelphia area and understands regional community dynamics
  • Has experience with volunteer-led fundraising models and can demonstrate success empowering volunteers rather than directing them
  • Possesses specific experience coaching peer-to-peer fundraising participants (like Ultimate Hike hikers) with measurable results
  • Can balance relationship-building with CLBs, corporate partners, patient families, and event participants simultaneously

📝 Tips for Applying to CureSearch for Children's Cancer

1

Explicitly state your current residence in one of the required regions (MD, DC, NY, NJ, or Philadelphia area) in your resume summary

2

Quantify volunteer empowerment results - e.g., 'Increased volunteer-led fundraising by X% through coaching CLB members'

3

Reference CureSearch's 'volunteer-led, staff-supported' model in your materials to show you understand their unique approach

4

If you have hiking/outdoor event fundraising experience, highlight it specifically for the Ultimate Hike component

5

Demonstrate remote collaboration skills since this is a fully remote position within a distributed team

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with community leadership boards or similar volunteer leadership structures', 'Specific examples of coaching fundraising participants to achieve goals (peer-to-peer fundraising experience)', 'Understanding of pediatric cancer community needs and how to sensitively engage patient families', 'Ability to manage multiple relationships (volunteers, corporations, families, hikers) in a remote setting']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → CureSearch's Ultimate Hike program - understand the event structure, participant journey, and fundraising expectations
  • → Current Community Leadership Boards and their activities in your region (check CureSearch's website and social media)
  • → CureSearch's specific research focus areas in pediatric cancer and their recent scientific partnerships
  • → The '42 families daily' statistic and how CureSearch communicates this mission message across platforms
Visit CureSearch for Children's Cancer's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your approach to empowering volunteers rather than directing them - give a specific example
2 How would you coach an Ultimate Hike participant who's struggling to meet their fundraising goal?
3 What strategies would you use to identify and cultivate corporate partnerships in your assigned market?
4 How would you balance supporting Community Leadership Boards while also managing direct participant relationships?
5 Describe how you've successfully worked remotely while building strong community relationships
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying without clearly meeting the geographic requirement or suggesting relocation
  • Focusing only on direct fundraising experience without volunteer empowerment examples
  • Treating this as a traditional events manager role rather than a relationship-centered fundraiser position
  • Using generic nonprofit language without connecting to CureSearch's specific mission and model

📅 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 CureSearch for Children's Cancer!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →