Application Guide

How to Apply for Development Officer, Major & Institutional Giving

at Our Children's Trust

🏢 About Our Children's Trust

Our Children's Trust is a pioneering nonprofit that empowers young people to enforce their constitutional rights in court against government climate inaction. It's a unique blend of youth advocacy, constitutional law, and climate justice, offering a chance to work on landmark litigation that could reshape environmental policy.

About This Role

As Development Officer, you'll manage a portfolio of individual and institutional donors to secure funding for youth-led climate lawsuits. Your work directly fuels groundbreaking legal efforts, translating complex climate science and constitutional arguments into compelling cases for support.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing donor portfolios and drafting personalized updates on a recent court victory. You'll then hop on a call with a foundation program officer to discuss a proposal, followed by a team meeting to align on grant reporting deadlines. Afternoon could involve writing a stewardship email to a major donor who attended a virtual case briefing with youth plaintiffs.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Our Children's Trust Is Looking For

  • 7+ years of fundraising experience with a proven track record in major gifts and institutional giving, ideally in a legal, environmental, or social justice context.
  • Strong ability to translate complex legal and climate issues into compelling narratives for diverse audiences, from individual donors to foundation boards.
  • Experience with moves management and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) to track donor engagement and reporting deadlines.
  • Passion for youth-led climate action and familiarity with constitutional law or climate litigation is a strong plus.

📝 Tips for Applying to Our Children's Trust

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific dollar amounts raised from major donors and foundations, especially in environmental or legal causes.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your fundraising philosophy to the mission of youth-led climate litigation—show you understand the unique selling point of empowering young plaintiffs.

3

Research the key cases Our Children's Trust has litigated (e.g., Juliana v. United States) and reference them to demonstrate knowledge.

4

If you lack direct climate experience, emphasize transferable skills in translating complex issues (e.g., medical research, legal advocacy) into donor communications.

5

Mention any experience working with board members or young volunteers to show you can navigate the organization's multi-stakeholder environment.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your genuine commitment to climate justice and youth empowerment, with specific examples of similar values-driven fundraising.', 'Ability to craft compelling narratives from technical legal and scientific content, citing a past proposal or report you wrote.', 'Experience managing a portfolio of 50+ donors and using moves management to upgrade gifts.', 'Your collaborative style and comfort working with legal teams, scientists, and young activists.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about the Juliana v. United States case and other youth-led climate lawsuits Our Children's Trust has supported.
  • → Review the organization's annual reports and donor materials to understand their current funding sources and messaging.
  • → Look into the board members and key staff to understand their backgrounds and potential collaborative dynamics.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the legal concept of 'public trust doctrine' and how it underpins their litigation strategy.
Visit Our Children's Trust's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach cultivating a major donor who is interested in climate but skeptical of litigation as a strategy?
2 Walk us through how you would develop a stewardship plan for a foundation grant of $100,000.
3 Describe a time you had to communicate a complex legal or scientific concept to a non-expert donor. How did you make it accessible?
4 Our donors include both high-net-worth individuals and family foundations. How would you prioritize and tailor your outreach?
5 How do you stay organized with multiple grant deadlines and reporting requirements? Give an example of a system you've used.
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Sending a generic cover letter that doesn't mention climate or youth plaintiffs—shows lack of research.
  • Overemphasizing fundraising for mainstream environmental groups without acknowledging the legal and youth-focused uniqueness.
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of moves management or CRM tracking for major gifts—this role expects data-driven donor strategies.

📅 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 Our Children's Trust!

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