Application Guide

How to Apply for Development Director

at Strong Families

🏢 About Strong Families

Strong Families is a unique organization that centers the lived experiences of families to drive systemic change in healthcare access and reproductive justice. As a remote-first, people-powered nonprofit, it offers a collaborative culture focused on movement building and narrative change. Working here means contributing to a mission that directly impacts communities by transforming personal stories into collective power.

About This Role

As Development Director, you will lead fundraising strategies to sustain and grow the organization’s impact, focusing on foundation grants, individual donors, and events. You’ll be the architect of resource mobilization, crafting compelling proposals and maintaining donor relationships. This role is pivotal in ensuring Strong Families has the financial resources to continue its organizing and advocacy work.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing grant deadlines and updating the CRM with donor interactions. You could spend the morning drafting a foundation proposal, then hop on a video call with the communications team to align messaging for an upcoming campaign. Afternoon tasks might include analyzing donor data to segment a year-end giving appeal and preparing materials for a virtual fundraising event.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Strong Families Is Looking For

  • A seasoned fundraiser with 5+ years of experience in foundation grants, individual giving, and donor prospecting, ideally within social justice or reproductive health spaces.
  • An exceptional writer who can translate complex programmatic work into persuasive grant proposals and reports, with strong attention to detail in budgets and supplementary materials.
  • Tech-savvy and organized, comfortable managing CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and data tracking to optimize fundraising efforts.
  • A self-starter who thrives in a remote environment, able to work independently while collaborating with a distributed team to meet fundraising goals.

📝 Tips for Applying to Strong Families

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific fundraising metrics (e.g., dollars raised, grants secured) and experience with reproductive justice or healthcare access organizations.

2

In your cover letter, connect your personal values to Strong Families’ mission—mention how your lived experience or passion for centering marginalized communities aligns with their work.

3

Demonstrate proficiency with CRM systems by listing specific tools (e.g., Salesforce, EveryAction) and describing how you’ve used data to inform fundraising strategies.

4

Include a sample grant proposal or fundraising plan (anonymized if necessary) to showcase your writing and strategic thinking.

5

Research Strong Families’ recent campaigns or initiatives (e.g., their work on the Hyde Amendment) and reference them in your application to show genuine interest.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your experience with foundation and individual donor fundraising, providing specific examples of successful grants or campaigns.', 'Articulate your commitment to reproductive justice and understanding of how fundraising supports movement building and organizing.', 'Highlight your ability to work independently in a remote setting and manage multiple priorities, such as juggling grant deadlines and donor events.', 'Show how your communication skills can translate the organization’s impact into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Strong Families’ website, especially their blog and recent reports, to understand their narrative and key campaigns (e.g., #FreeThePill, Medicaid expansion).
  • → Look up their 990 tax forms to see their funding sources and major foundation partners.
  • → Follow their social media channels to get a sense of their voice and community engagement.
  • → Read about the reproductive justice framework and how it differs from reproductive rights, as this is core to their work.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach building a major donor program for an organization focused on reproductive justice?
2 Describe a time you managed a complex grant proposal with multiple stakeholders—how did you ensure accuracy and timeliness?
3 What CRM systems have you used, and how have you leveraged data to improve fundraising outcomes?
4 How do you stay motivated and productive while working remotely? Give an example of a self-directed project.
5 How does your personal or professional background connect to Strong Families’ mission of centering lived experiences?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don’t submit a generic fundraising resume—this role requires a demonstrated passion for social justice, so tailor your experience to show alignment.
  • Avoid overlooking the importance of data and CRM skills—failing to mention specific systems or data-driven strategies can hurt your candidacy.
  • Don’t neglect to research the organization’s specific focus on reproductive justice; using overly broad terms like 'women’s health' may signal a lack of understanding.

📅 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 Strong Families!

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