Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Digital Fundraising and Advocacy

at Amnesty International USA

🏢 About Amnesty International USA

Amnesty International USA is unique as the U.S. branch of the world's largest grassroots human rights organization, combining global reach with local impact. Working here means directly contributing to urgent human rights campaigns while being part of a movement that has secured prisoner releases, ended torture, and protected vulnerable communities worldwide. The organization's commitment to impartiality and evidence-based advocacy creates a powerful platform for meaningful change.

About This Role

This Director role is pivotal for driving AIUSA's digital transformation by integrating fundraising, advocacy, and supporter engagement across all digital channels. You'll lead campaigns that convert online activism into sustainable revenue while amplifying human rights voices through innovative digital strategies. Your work directly enables AIUSA's mission by building a powerful digital movement that can respond rapidly to global human rights crises.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might begin by analyzing overnight digital campaign performance across email, social media, and donation platforms, then meeting with Campaigns department to align digital strategy with emerging human rights issues. Afternoon could involve planning integrated supporter journeys that move activists from petition signatures to recurring donations, while collaborating with Communications on messaging consistency. The day often ends with reviewing A/B test results and preparing data-driven recommendations for senior leadership.

🎯 Who Amnesty International USA Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years leading digital fundraising strategies that generated measurable revenue growth for mission-driven organizations
  • Demonstrates experience designing integrated campaigns that successfully moved supporters through journeys from awareness to advocacy to donation
  • Possesses technical expertise with CRMs like EveryAction or Salesforce, email platforms, and digital analytics tools specific to nonprofit contexts
  • Shows proven ability to collaborate across Development, Campaigns, and Communications departments to create unified digital experiences

📝 Tips for Applying to Amnesty International USA

1

Quantify your digital fundraising impact with specific metrics (e.g., 'increased email revenue by 35% through segmentation strategy' or 'grew monthly donors by 200% via integrated social media campaigns')

2

Highlight experience with human rights or social justice digital campaigns, even if volunteer-based, to demonstrate mission alignment

3

Showcase cross-departmental leadership by describing specific instances where you coordinated digital initiatives across fundraising, advocacy, and communications teams

4

Include examples of using data to optimize both fundraising performance AND advocacy impact, not just one or the other

5

Demonstrate knowledge of Amnesty's current digital presence by referencing specific campaigns or channels in your application materials

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your strategic vision for integrating digital fundraising with human rights advocacy to create sustainable supporter journeys', 'Specific examples of leading cross-departmental digital initiatives that achieved both revenue and mission impact goals', "How your technical expertise with nonprofit digital platforms can advance AIUSA's specific campaign and fundraising objectives", "Your understanding of Amnesty's current digital landscape and concrete ideas for enhancing engagement across their channels"]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Analyze AIUSA's current digital campaigns across email, social media, and website to understand their tone, segmentation, and conversion strategies
  • Study Amnesty International's global priority campaigns (like Write for Rights or Stop Torture) to understand how U.S. digital efforts fit into worldwide movements
  • Review AIUSA's recent annual reports to understand their current fundraising mix and digital revenue performance
  • Explore how AIUSA uses digital channels during rapid response situations versus sustained advocacy campaigns
Visit Amnesty International USA's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design an integrated digital campaign responding to an urgent human rights crisis that drives both advocacy actions and donations?
2 Describe your approach to balancing immediate fundraising needs with long-term supporter relationship building in digital channels
3 What metrics would you prioritize to measure success in this role, and how would you report them to different departments?
4 How have you previously resolved conflicts between fundraising goals and advocacy messaging in digital campaigns?
5 What emerging digital platforms or technologies do you believe could most effectively advance Amnesty's mission in the next 2-3 years?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on fundraising metrics without demonstrating how digital engagement advances human rights advocacy goals
  • Presenting generic digital marketing experience without tailoring examples to nonprofit/human rights contexts
  • Failing to acknowledge the need for collaboration across departments in a complex organization like Amnesty International
  • Overemphasizing commercial marketing tactics that might conflict with Amnesty's principled, evidence-based approach

📅 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 Amnesty International USA!