Application Guide
How to Apply for Development Manager
at Project Slingshot
🏢 About Project Slingshot
Project Slingshot is a global nonprofit laser-focused on ending factory farming, one of the most urgent and neglected issues of our time. Unlike many animal welfare groups, they take a campaign-driven, movement-building approach that combines grassroots activism, corporate pressure, and policy advocacy. Working here means joining a lean, high-impact team where every dollar raised directly fuels campaigns that challenge the industrial animal agriculture system.
About This Role
As Development Manager, you will be the architect and operator of Project Slingshot's fundraising engine, owning everything from grant applications and donor pipelines to CRM management and donation platform optimization. This is a hands-on, end-to-end fundraising role where you'll translate campaign victories into compelling funder narratives and cultivate individual supporters from first gift to lasting partnership. Your work will directly determine the scale and speed of the organization's global campaigns to end factory farming.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve drafting a grant proposal for a new foundation, updating the donor pipeline in the CRM, and coordinating with leadership on quarterly revenue forecasts. You might also optimize a donation page for an upcoming campaign, send personalized thank-you notes to major donors, and research new funding prospects. Expect a mix of deep writing, data management, and strategic conversations—all in a remote, mission-driven environment.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Project Slingshot Is Looking For
- Has 3+ years of hands-on fundraising experience spanning both institutional grants and individual giving, with a track record of meeting or exceeding targets.
- Is an exceptional writer who can distill complex campaign strategies into persuasive grant proposals and donor communications that resonate with different funder audiences.
- Is highly organized and systems-oriented, comfortable managing CRM data, donor pipelines, compliance requirements, and reporting deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Is passionate about or deeply curious about animal advocacy and factory farming issues, and can authentically represent Project Slingshot's mission to funders and supporters.
📝 Tips for Applying to Project Slingshot
Lead your cover letter with a concrete example of a grant you wrote or a donor relationship you grew, and explicitly connect it to how it would translate to Project Slingshot's campaign funding needs.
Research Project Slingshot's recent campaigns and mention one or two specific ones in your application, explaining how you would frame them to a foundation or major donor.
Demonstrate familiarity with fundraising CRMs and donation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, EveryAction, Classy, Donorbox) by naming the tools you've used and how you've optimized them.
Show you understand the factory farming landscape by referencing key organizations, funders, or trends in the animal advocacy space—this signals you're not just a generic fundraiser.
If you have experience in a remote, mission-driven nonprofit, highlight how you stay organized and proactive without in-person oversight, since this role is fully remote and operates globally.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
Emphasize your end-to-end fundraising experience, specifically how you've managed both grant writing and individual donor cultivation in the same role. Highlight your ability to translate campaign work into funder-friendly narratives, using a concrete example. Show that you're systems-savvy by describing how you've improved a CRM or donation platform to increase efficiency or revenue. Finally, convey genuine alignment with Project Slingshot's mission to end factory farming, and explain why this particular cause motivates you.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Project Slingshot's website, annual reports, and recent campaign updates to understand their theory of change and current funding gaps.
- → Research major funders in the animal advocacy space (e.g., Open Philanthropy, Effective Altruism funds, animal welfare foundations) to understand what they look for in grantees.
- → Familiarize yourself with common fundraising metrics and benchmarks for nonprofits, such as donor retention rate, average gift size, and grant win rate, to speak fluently in interviews.
- → Investigate the broader factory farming issue—key players, recent wins, and controversies—so you can discuss the context in which Project Slingshot operates.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Project Slingshot, factory farming, or the specific responsibilities in the job description.
- Focusing only on grant writing or only on individual giving—this role requires both, so failing to demonstrate dual competency is a major red flag.
- Neglecting to mention concrete tools or systems you've used (e.g., CRM platforms, project management software) when the role explicitly requires managing them.
📅 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 Project Slingshot!