How to apply for Development, Fundraising and Grants Manager

About Woman, Cradle of Abundance

Woman, Cradle of Abundance (CRADLE) is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that partners directly with Congolese communities to combat female and child poverty and gender violence through education and economic empowerment. Working with CRADLE means contributing to grassroots, locally-led change in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where your fundraising efforts will directly fuel programs that transform lives. The organization’s small, remote team offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of development strategy and see the immediate impact of your work.

About the role

As the Development, Fundraising and Grants Manager, you will design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to diversify revenue from foundations, corporations, government, faith-based groups, and individuals. You will be the primary writer of grant proposals and reports, manage donor stewardship, and maintain development systems—all while collaborating closely with Congolese partners to translate their program outcomes into compelling funding cases. This part-time, remote contract role is ideal for a self-driven fundraising professional who thrives in an entrepreneurial, mission-focused environment.

A typical day

A typical day might involve researching prospective foundation grants, drafting a proposal for a women’s empowerment program, and updating the donor database with recent contributions. You might also schedule a call with the Executive Director to align on strategy, then meet virtually with Congolese partners to gather data for an upcoming report. Later, you’d send personalized thank-you notes to donors and plan the next email appeal for Giving Tuesday.

Who Woman, Cradle of Abundance is looking for

• Proven experience in grant writing and fundraising for international development or women’s empowerment nonprofits, with a track record of securing five-figure+ grants.
• Strong donor cultivation and stewardship skills, including experience with major gifts, annual appeals, and faith-based or community fundraising.
• Familiarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo or similar contexts, and ability to articulate program impact to diverse funders.
• Highly organized and tech-savvy, with proficiency in grant calendars, prospect pipelines, and donor databases (e.g., Salesforce, Bloomerang, or similar).

Tips for this application

• Tailor your cover letter to explicitly mention CRADLE’s mission in the DRC and how your fundraising experience aligns with empowering Congolese women and children.
• Include a brief portfolio or list of successful grants you’ve written and secured, highlighting amounts and funders relevant to international development or gender issues.
• Demonstrate familiarity with CRADLE’s programs by referencing specific initiatives from their website (e.g., education scholarships, economic empowerment projects) in your application.
• Address the part-time, contract nature of the role by showing how you manage multiple priorities and work independently in a remote setting.
• If you have experience with faith-based fundraising or church partnerships, emphasize it—CRADLE likely values these networks given its focus on community and potential faith-based supporters.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your specific experience in grant writing and fundraising for international NGOs, with quantifiable results (e.g., funds raised, grants secured).', 'Your ability to develop and implement a diversified fundraising strategy, including individual giving, major gifts, and institutional funding.', 'Your understanding of and commitment to CRADLE’s mission in the DRC, and how you would translate program stories into compelling donor communications.', 'Your proficiency with donor databases and grant management systems, and how you would maintain organized development operations remotely.']

Research before applying

• Explore CRADLE’s website to understand their specific programs in the DRC, such as education, economic empowerment, and anti-gender-violence initiatives.
• Research the Democratic Republic of Congo’s socio-economic context, particularly issues affecting women and children, to better articulate the need in grant proposals.
• Identify potential funders that support women’s empowerment, international development, or DRC-focused work (e.g., Global Fund for Women, Mama Cash, USAID, faith-based foundations).
• Look up CRADLE’s EIN (90-0945617) on nonprofit databases like GuideStar or ProPublica to review their financials and past funding sources.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach building a fundraising strategy for a small nonprofit with a focus on the DRC?
• Can you describe a successful grant proposal you wrote, from prospect research to submission and reporting?
• How do you steward major donors and maintain long-term relationships, especially in a remote setting?
• What experience do you have with faith-based or church fundraising, and how would you engage those networks for CRADLE?
• How would you collaborate with Congolese program partners to gather impact stories and data for grant reports?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn’t mention CRADLE’s mission or the DRC context—shows lack of genuine interest.
• Failing to provide concrete examples of past fundraising successes, such as specific grants won or dollars raised.
• Ignoring the part-time, contract nature of the role and implying you’re seeking full-time employment or benefits.