Application Guide

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

at CIMA Consulting

🏢 About CIMA Consulting

CIMA Consulting is a small, specialized firm focused exclusively on nonprofit fundraising support, offering a unique opportunity to work with diverse organizations nationwide from a remote position. Their Charlottesville, VA base provides a boutique, client-focused environment where consultants can deeply engage with multiple nonprofit missions rather than being tied to a single organization.

About This Role

This part-time Development Consultant role involves managing multiple client engagements simultaneously, requiring strong project management skills to track deadlines, revenue targets, and deliverables across different nonprofit sectors. You'll be responsible for the full grant lifecycle—from identifying funding opportunities through research to crafting compelling narratives and ensuring compliance with reporting requirements.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning check-ins with 2-3 different nonprofit clients to discuss funding priorities, followed by dedicated writing time for a foundation proposal due that week. The afternoon could include researching new institutional funders for a different client and updating Airtable trackers with deadlines and progress across all active engagements.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who CIMA Consulting Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years of hands-on institutional fundraising experience with proven success in securing grants from foundations, corporations, or government sources
  • Demonstrates exceptional persuasive writing skills with samples showing ability to adapt voice for different nonprofit clients and funding priorities
  • Possesses strong client-facing project management experience, ideally in a consulting or agency environment managing multiple stakeholders
  • Is proficient with tracking tools like Airtable or similar platforms and can manage deadlines across multiple concurrent client projects

📝 Tips for Applying to CIMA Consulting

1

Highlight specific grant amounts you've secured in previous roles, as CIMA works with revenue targets and needs quantifiable success metrics

2

Showcase experience with diverse nonprofit sectors since CIMA serves clients 'across the country' with varying missions and needs

3

Demonstrate your ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously—this is crucial for a part-time role with multiple client engagements

4

Include examples of how you've used Airtable, Excel, or similar tools for tracking applications, deadlines, and reporting requirements

5

Emphasize remote work discipline and communication skills, as this position requires managing client relationships without in-person interaction

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with the full grant lifecycle from research to reporting, specifically for institutional giving', 'Examples of managing multiple client projects or priorities simultaneously with successful outcomes', 'Ability to adapt writing style to different organizational voices and funding priorities', "How your background aligns with CIMA's focus on providing strategic insight rather than just transactional grant writing"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review CIMA's client portfolio or case studies to understand the types of nonprofits they serve
  • → Research Charlottesville, VA's nonprofit landscape since that's where the firm is based
  • → Look into current trends in institutional giving and foundation relations that might impact CIMA's consulting approach
  • → Understand the difference between working for a consulting firm versus an in-house development department
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would manage three different client deadlines falling in the same week
2 Describe your process for researching and identifying new funding opportunities for a client in an unfamiliar sector
3 How do you handle a situation where a client's expectations don't align with realistic fundraising outcomes?
4 Share an example of a grant narrative you wrote that successfully secured funding and what made it compelling
5 What tracking systems have you used to manage multiple applications, deadlines, and reporting requirements?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on individual giving experience without emphasizing institutional fundraising or grant writing
  • Presenting as a general nonprofit professional rather than a development specialist with specific grant expertise
  • Failing to demonstrate experience with the tracking and project management aspects crucial for managing multiple client engagements

📅 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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