How to apply for Copywriter

About Effectief Geven

Effectief Geven is a Belgian nonprofit dedicated to promoting effective giving—a movement that uses evidence and reason to determine how to do the most good with charitable donations. Working here means joining a small, mission-driven team where your writing directly influences how people think about and practice philanthropy. It's an ideal fit for someone who wants to combine professional copywriting with a passion for making a measurable social impact.

About the role

As a part-time Copywriter, you'll be the voice of Effectief Geven across the website, social media, and newsletter, crafting content that educates and inspires action. You'll also manage the content calendar, source or create visuals, and ensure all communications are clear, engaging, and aligned with effective altruism principles. This role is perfect for a creative storyteller who can translate complex ideas about effective giving into accessible, compelling content that drives real-world change.

A typical day

A typical day might involve drafting a blog post about a cost-effective charity, designing a simple infographic for social media, and scheduling posts for the week. You'd also review analytics to see what content resonates, brainstorm new ideas with the team, and contribute to the upcoming newsletter—all while working remotely and managing your own schedule.

Who Effectief Geven is looking for

• Native-level fluency in Dutch, with exceptional writing and editing skills—able to write for diverse audiences without jargon.
• Experience managing content across multiple platforms (website, social media, newsletters), ideally in a nonprofit or mission-driven context.
• Basic graphic design or video editing skills to create simple visuals, infographics, and short videos; able to source royalty-free assets when needed.
• Self-directed and organized, capable of owning a content calendar and meeting deadlines in a remote, part-time setting.

Tips for this application

• Write your cover letter and resume in Dutch to demonstrate fluency—this is a hard requirement and a chance to showcase your writing style.
• Include a portfolio of 2–3 writing samples (in Dutch) that show your ability to explain complex topics simply, ideally related to charity, altruism, or social impact.
• Mention specific effective giving concepts (e.g., cost-effectiveness, GiveWell, effective altruism) to show you understand the organization's core mission.
• Propose one concrete content idea for their social media or newsletter in your application—this shows initiative and creativity beyond just filling the role.
• Highlight any experience with content management systems (e.g., WordPress) and social media scheduling tools, as you'll be managing the calendar independently.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your fluency in Dutch and ability to write engaging, accessible content for a Belgian audience.', 'Your understanding of and passion for effective giving—why you believe in using evidence to maximize charitable impact.', 'Your experience managing a content calendar and creating visuals, showing you can handle the full content cycle from planning to publishing.', 'A specific example of how your writing or content helped drive engagement or action in a previous role.']

Research before applying

• Explore Effectief Geven's website and social media to understand their tone, key messages, and current content gaps you could fill.
• Read about effective altruism and effective giving (e.g., GiveWell, 80,000 Hours) to grasp the core principles and terminology.
• Look into other Belgian nonprofits or effective giving organizations to see how they communicate and what makes Effectief Geven unique.
• Check if Effectief Geven has published any annual reports or impact summaries to understand their achievements and future goals.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you explain 'effective giving' to someone who has never heard of it, in a short blog post or social media thread?
• Walk us through your process for developing a content calendar: how do you decide what to publish and when?
• Can you share an example of a time you created a visual (infographic, video, etc.) to accompany a written piece? What tools did you use?
• How would you measure the success of a newsletter or social media campaign for a nonprofit like Effectief Geven?
• What attracts you to the effective altruism movement, and how do you see your writing contributing to it?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention effective giving or the nonprofit sector—this role requires genuine interest in the mission.
• Writing in English or providing only English writing samples, which would immediately disqualify you due to the Dutch fluency requirement.
• Focusing solely on your writing skills without addressing visual content creation or content management experience, which are key parts of the job.