Application Guide

How to Apply for Development Consultant (Foundation Relations, Development Strategy, Fundraising Generalist, Institutional Giving) - Part Time

at CIMA Consulting

🏢 About CIMA Consulting

CIMA Consulting is a boutique firm based in Charlottesville, VA, that partners with nonprofits nationwide to strengthen their institutional fundraising. Working here means joining a small, mission-driven team where your contributions directly impact clients' ability to secure funding and advance their causes.

About This Role

This part-time role involves managing 1-2 client engagements end-to-end, from writing grant proposals and identifying funding opportunities to tracking deadlines and revenue targets. You'll serve as a trusted strategic partner to senior nonprofit staff, helping them achieve their fundraising goals through expert project management and compelling narratives.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start your day by checking in with a client on a pending proposal deadline, then spend the morning drafting a letter of inquiry for another client. After lunch, you could research new foundation prospects, update internal tracking sheets, and end the day reviewing a report draft before sending it to the team for feedback.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who CIMA Consulting Is Looking For

  • A fundraising generalist with at least 3 years of experience in institutional giving, grant writing, or development, who thrives in a client-facing, project management capacity.
  • An exceptional persuasive writer who can craft clear, compelling proposals, LOIs, and reports that resonate with funders.
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented, with proven ability to manage multiple deadlines, track progress, and meet revenue targets without oversight.
  • Passionate about the nonprofit sector and committed to understanding clients' missions deeply to represent them authentically.

📝 Tips for Applying to CIMA Consulting

1

In your resume, highlight specific examples of managing multiple client or grant projects simultaneously, including revenue targets achieved.

2

Tailor your cover letter to show you understand CIMA's consultative approach—emphasize your ability to be a strategic partner, not just a writer.

3

Mention any experience with a range of fundraising deliverables (LOIs, proposals, reports) and research methods (online, phone, email).

4

If possible, include a brief writing sample (e.g., a successful grant proposal excerpt) that demonstrates persuasive narrative and alignment with nonprofit missions.

5

Address the part-time nature directly: explain how you'll manage your schedule to meet client needs and deadlines effectively.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your ability to build trust and act as a strategic partner to senior staff, not just a task executor.', "Specific examples of successful grant writing and fundraising outcomes you've driven.", 'Your familiarity with the full grant lifecycle—from research to reporting—and how you keep projects on track.', 'Your genuine commitment to the nonprofit sector and understanding of its unique challenges.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review CIMA's website and client testimonials to understand their consulting philosophy and typical client sectors.
  • → Look up recent clients or projects mentioned on their site or in news to get a sense of the work they do.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the specific types of fundraising deliverables they mention (LOIs, proposals, reports) and best practices for each.
  • → Understand the competitive landscape of fundraising consulting firms to articulate why you're drawn to CIMA's boutique approach.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you manage competing deadlines across multiple projects or clients.
2 Describe a time you built a strong relationship with a client or stakeholder; how did you earn their trust?
3 How do you approach researching and identifying new funding opportunities?
4 Tell us about a grant proposal you wrote that was particularly successful—what made it compelling?
5 This is a part-time role with remote work. How do you stay organized and communicate effectively with a distributed team?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference CIMA's consultative model or the part-time nature of the role.
  • Overemphasizing individual giving experience without connecting it to institutional fundraising or grant writing.
  • Failing to demonstrate project management skills—this role is as much about tracking progress and deadlines as it is about writing.

📅 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 CIMA Consulting!

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