Application Guide
How to Apply for Community Organizer (NH + ME) - candidates can be based anywhere in NH or Southern Maine
at Slingshot -
🏢 About Slingshot -
Slingshot is a dynamic, growing organization building the go-to hub for environmental health and justice organizing in the Northeast. They uniquely combine grassroots community organizing with strategic network-building, focusing on environmental justice for frontline communities. Working here means being part of a collaborative team that values racial, economic, and environmental equity.
About This Role
As a Community Organizer for NH and ME, you'll be the on-the-ground presence building relationships with leaders in impacted communities, identifying environmental threats, and developing creative campaigns. You'll craft workshops, increase media presence, and cultivate donors—making a tangible impact on health and environment in the region.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a check-in call with a local community leader about a new environmental threat, followed by facilitating a virtual workshop on campaign planning. Afternoon could involve drafting a press release for an upcoming event and writing a grant application to a local foundation, ending with an online organizing push to mobilize supporters.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Slingshot - Is Looking For
- Has at least 3 years of community organizing or grassroots campaign coordination experience, preferably in environmental or social justice contexts.
- Demonstrates experience living in or working with frontline communities—especially people of color, Indigenous communities, immigrants, and low-income people—in NH or Southern Maine.
- Possesses strong facilitation, strategic thinking, and communication skills, with a track record of developing leaders and running campaigns.
- Shows passion for racial, economic, and environmental justice, and is comfortable with grant writing and donor cultivation.
📝 Tips for Applying to Slingshot -
Highlight specific examples of campaigns you've led or contributed to in NH or ME, emphasizing work with frontline communities.
Showcase your facilitation skills by mentioning workshops or trainings you've designed and delivered on organizing skills like campaign planning or messaging.
Demonstrate your understanding of environmental justice by referencing local environmental threats in NH/ME (e.g., PFAS contamination, biomass plants) and how you've addressed similar issues.
Include any experience with media outreach, such as press releases, social media campaigns, or local event planning, as Slingshot values increasing media presence.
Tailor your cover letter to explicitly connect your experience to Slingshot's mission of building a hub for environmental health and justice organizing in the Northeast.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your commitment to environmental justice and experience working with frontline communities in NH or ME.', "Specific examples of successful community organizing campaigns you've led, including measurable outcomes.", 'Your skills in facilitation, leadership development, and strategic campaign planning.', 'Your ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including grassroots donors and local foundations.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review Slingshot's website and recent campaigns to understand their current focus areas in NH and ME (e.g., clean water, toxic sites).
- → Look into their partner organizations and coalitions in the region to see how they collaborate.
- → Read about key environmental justice issues in NH and Southern Maine, such as PFAS contamination in Merrimack or biomass energy debates.
- → Familiarize yourself with Slingshot's funding model—they mention local foundations and grassroots donors, so understand their donor base.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't submit a generic cover letter that doesn't mention NH/ME or frontline communities—this role is hyper-local and justice-focused.
- Avoid exaggerating your experience with communities of color if you don't have genuine, sustained engagement; authenticity is key.
- Don't overlook the fundraising aspect—if you have no grant writing or donor cultivation experience, be honest and show willingness to learn.
📅 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!