Application Guide
How to Apply for Development Director
at Swipe Out Hunger
🏢 About Swipe Out Hunger
Swipe Out Hunger is the only national nonprofit solely focused on ending college student hunger, operating through a unique model that partners with over 130 campuses to turn unused meal swipes into meals for students in need. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that has already distributed millions of meals and is shaping policy at state and federal levels to address food insecurity in higher education.
About This Role
As Development Director, you will lead all fundraising efforts—foundation, corporate, and individual—to fuel Swipe Out Hunger’s growth and impact. This is a high-leverage role where your work directly translates into more meals for students and stronger advocacy for systemic change.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a team check-in to review donor outreach progress, followed by a virtual meeting with a foundation program officer to discuss a grant proposal. After lunch, you’d review a major donor’s stewardship plan and then spend time coaching a development associate on their portfolio strategy. The afternoon could involve analyzing CRM reports to identify lapsed donors or new prospects, ending with a call to a board member about an upcoming campaign.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Swipe Out Hunger Is Looking For
- A seasoned fundraiser with 5+ years of experience and a proven track record of closing five- and six-figure gifts, ideally in the nonprofit or higher education space.
- An expert in major gift fundraising who can build authentic relationships with donors and steward them through the full giving cycle.
- Technically savvy with CRM proficiency (HubSpot, Salesforce, or Raiser’s Edge) to track donor pipelines and report on progress.
- A collaborative leader who can mentor a development team and work cross-functionally with program and communications staff to align fundraising priorities with organizational goals.
📝 Tips for Applying to Swipe Out Hunger
Highlight specific dollar amounts and types of gifts you’ve closed (e.g., 'secured a $100,000 foundation grant' or 'managed a portfolio of 50+ major donors').
Demonstrate familiarity with the college hunger landscape—mention Swipe Out Hunger’s model or cite statistics about student food insecurity in your cover letter.
If you have experience with remote or distributed teams, emphasize your ability to manage and motivate a remote development department.
Tailor your resume to show not just fundraising totals but also how you’ve cultivated donor relationships over time (e.g., stewardship events, personalized communications).
Include examples of how you’ve used CRM data to inform strategy or improve donor retention.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your passion for the mission: explain why ending college student hunger matters to you personally.', 'Your success with major gifts: provide a concrete example of a five- or six-figure gift you secured and the strategy behind it.', 'Your leadership style: describe how you’ve supervised or mentored a development team to achieve results.', 'Your understanding of Swipe Out Hunger’s unique approach: mention their meal swipe donation model or policy advocacy work.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Swipe Out Hunger’s annual report and recent blog posts to understand their current funding priorities and impact metrics.
- → Review their list of partner campuses and any recent legislative wins to speak knowledgeably about their reach.
- → Check their LinkedIn and Glassdoor to learn about team culture and values.
- → Look up their current donors and funders (e.g., foundations, corporate partners) to see if you have connections or insights.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sending a generic cover letter that doesn’t mention Swipe Out Hunger’s specific mission or the college hunger issue.
- Focusing too much on your own fundraising numbers without connecting them to the organization’s goals.
- Neglecting to show how you’ve managed or mentored a team—this role supervises the development department.
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Swipe Out Hunger!