Application Guide

How to Apply for Development Director

at Fair Food Standards Council

🏢 About Fair Food Standards Council

The Fair Food Standards Council (FFSC) is a unique organization that implements the Fair Food Program, a groundbreaking partnership among farmworkers, growers, and retailers. This program has set a new standard for ethical labor practices in agriculture, ensuring humane wages and working conditions for thousands of farmworkers. Working at FFSC means contributing to a proven model of social justice that has real, measurable impact on some of the most vulnerable workers in the US food system.

About This Role

As Development Director, you will lead the fundraising strategy for the Fair Food Program, including a $125M Comprehensive 5-Year Capital Campaign. This role is critical to expanding the program's reach and deepening its impact. You will build relationships with foundations and major donors, identify new funding opportunities, and coordinate a team to achieve ambitious revenue goals.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing grant deadlines and donor communications, followed by a team meeting to coordinate on capital campaign activities. You might spend the afternoon meeting with a foundation program officer via Zoom, then draft a major donor proposal. Later, you'd review fundraising data in EveryAction and update Asana tasks for your team.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Fair Food Standards Council Is Looking For

  • A seasoned fundraiser with at least 8 years of experience, specifically in foundation and major donor development, and a proven track record of growing philanthropic revenue.
  • Someone who has led or played a key role in a capital campaign, ideally of a similar scale ($100M+), and can demonstrate strategic planning and execution.
  • A strong leader who can supervise and coordinate a fundraising team, with experience using CRMs like EveryAction and project management tools like Asana.
  • A compelling communicator with excellent writing and interpersonal skills, able to articulate the mission of the Fair Food Program to diverse audiences, from farmworkers to Fortune 500 retailers.

📝 Tips for Applying to Fair Food Standards Council

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific achievements in foundation and major donor fundraising, including dollar amounts and growth percentages.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your fundraising experience to social justice or labor rights to demonstrate alignment with FFSC's mission.

3

Mention any experience with capital campaigns, especially if you have worked on campaigns of similar size or complexity.

4

Showcase your familiarity with CRMs (EveryAction) and project management software (Asana) in your resume or cover letter.

5

Research the Fair Food Program's current donors and funding partners, and reference them in your application to show you've done your homework.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for the Fair Food Program's mission and your understanding of how ethical labor practices in agriculture intersect with philanthropy.", 'Specific examples of how you have successfully grown philanthropic revenue, particularly from foundations and major donors, with quantifiable results.', 'Your experience with capital campaigns, including your role in planning, executing, and closing a campaign of significant size.', 'Your leadership style and how you have built and managed fundraising teams, including your use of CRM and project management tools.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read the Fair Food Program's annual reports and news updates to understand recent achievements and expansion plans.
  • → Study the list of current funders and partners (e.g., major foundations like the Ford Foundation or Walmart) to understand the donor landscape.
  • → Review the FFSC's website and any public materials about the $125M capital campaign to understand its goals and timeline.
  • → Look into the broader Fair Food Program model, including its history and the role of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) as a partner.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a fundraising strategy for a $125M capital campaign, and what key milestones would you set?
2 Describe a time you cultivated a major donor relationship from initial contact to a significant gift. What was your approach?
3 How do you prioritize foundation prospects and manage a portfolio of grants? Give an example of a successful foundation ask.
4 The Fair Food Program involves multiple stakeholders (farmworkers, growers, retailers). How would you leverage these relationships in fundraising?
5 What experience do you have with EveryAction or similar CRMs? How do you use data to drive fundraising decisions?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic fundraising resume without tailoring it to social justice or labor rights; FFSC seeks mission-aligned candidates.
  • Avoid focusing only on individual giving; this role requires a strong emphasis on foundation and major donor development.
  • Don't underestimate the importance of CRM and project management experience; if you lack it, highlight transferable skills or 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:

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 Fair Food Standards Council!

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