Application Guide

How to Apply for Development Manager, Southwest Chapter

at Parkinson's Foundation

🏢 About Parkinson's Foundation

The Parkinson's Foundation uniquely focuses on both improving care for people living with Parkinson's disease today while advancing research toward a cure for tomorrow. Working here means joining a passionate global community dedicated to making tangible differences in patients' lives through both direct support and scientific progress. The organization's dual mission of care and research creates meaningful work where you can see immediate impact while contributing to long-term solutions.

About This Role

As Development Manager for the Southwest Chapter, you'll lead peer-to-peer fundraising events across Arizona and surrounding regions, managing everything from participant recruitment to vendor logistics while driving revenue growth. This role directly fuels the Foundation's mission by securing funds that support both local Parkinson's care programs and critical research initiatives. You'll be the primary face of the Foundation's fundraising efforts in the Southwest, building relationships with participants, sponsors, and community partners to maximize engagement and financial support.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning virtual meetings with your Southwest Chapter team to coordinate upcoming events, followed by outreach calls to potential Arizona-based sponsors and participant recruitment. Afternoons could include database management of donor information, contract review with vendors for upcoming events, and planning travel logistics for site visits across the region. You'll balance strategic planning for revenue goals with hands-on management of permits, budgets, and community partner relationships.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Parkinson's Foundation Is Looking For

  • Has 4+ years of hands-on nonprofit fundraising experience, specifically with peer-to-peer events like walks, runs, or cycling fundraisers
  • Demonstrates proven ability to recruit and manage event participants while creating new sponsorship opportunities from scratch
  • Is a self-motivated, detail-oriented professional comfortable managing vendor contracts, permits, invoicing, and expense tracking
  • Can travel reliably throughout Arizona and the Southwest region to attend events and build local community partnerships

📝 Tips for Applying to Parkinson's Foundation

1

Quantify your peer-to-peer fundraising achievements: include specific event names, participant numbers, and revenue increases you've driven

2

Highlight any experience with Parkinson's or similar health-related nonprofits, showing understanding of the patient community

3

Demonstrate your database proficiency by mentioning specific CRM systems you've used for donor/participant management

4

Address your remote work capability while emphasizing your Arizona/Southwest regional knowledge and connections

5

Show how you balance big-picture revenue goals with logistical details like permits and vendor management

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with nonprofit peer-to-peer fundraising events and measurable results achieved', "Understanding of the Parkinson's community and why the Foundation's dual mission of care and research resonates with you", "How you've successfully recruited participants and developed new sponsorship opportunities in previous roles", 'Your ability to manage both strategic planning and logistical execution for events while working remotely']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → The Foundation's specific Southwest Chapter programs and recent events in Arizona
  • → Parkinson's Foundation's current research initiatives and how fundraising supports them
  • → The Parkinson's community in Arizona - key support groups, clinics, and community partners
  • → The Foundation's major fundraising events nationally (like Moving Day) and how chapters adapt them locally
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would plan and execute a Parkinson's Foundation fundraising event in Arizona from conception to completion
2 Describe your most successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaign and what specific strategies drove participation and revenue
3 How would you approach building new corporate sponsorship relationships in the Southwest region?
4 Tell us about a time you had to manage multiple event logistics simultaneously while staying within budget
5 How do you stay motivated and productive when working remotely on event planning and community outreach?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only corporate event experience without demonstrating nonprofit fundraising understanding
  • Failing to address the remote work requirement or Arizona/Southwest regional focus
  • Presenting generic fundraising experience without specific peer-to-peer event examples and metrics

📅 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 Parkinson's Foundation!

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