Application Guide
How to Apply for Director, Individual Giving
at Cure Blindness Project
🏢 About Cure Blindness Project
Cure Blindness Project is a mission-driven nonprofit that has restored sight to over 2 million people through cost-effective eye care systems in underserved regions. Working here means directly contributing to eliminating avoidable blindness globally, with a proven track record of high impact per dollar spent. The remote-first culture offers flexibility while connecting you to a passionate team committed to measurable change.
About This Role
As Director of Individual Giving, you will architect and execute a multi-channel individual giving strategy encompassing major, mid-level, planned, and annual gifts. This role is pivotal in scaling revenue from individual donors to fund sight-restoring surgeries, directly impacting the organization's ability to expand into new regions. You'll manage a portfolio of 75–125 high-net-worth donors and build a planned giving program from the ground up.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your morning might start with a video call with a major donor in a different time zone, followed by reviewing portfolio analytics and preparing a stewardship report. Afternoon could involve a team meeting to plan a mid-level giving campaign, then drafting a proposal for a six-figure gift while collaborating with the CEO on board engagement strategy.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Cure Blindness Project Is Looking For
- A seasoned fundraiser with 10+ years in nonprofit individual giving, major gifts, or planned giving, and a verifiable track record of personally closing five- and six-figure gifts.
- A strategic leader who has managed a team for at least 5 years and can simultaneously build systems (like a planned giving program) while cultivating donor relationships.
- Comfortable working remotely and independently, with excellent communication skills to partner with senior leadership and board members across time zones.
- Passionate about global health and eye care, with the ability to translate the organization's impact into compelling donor conversations.
📝 Tips for Applying to Cure Blindness Project
Quantify your major gift success: Include exact dollar amounts raised, number of gifts closed, and portfolio size in your resume.
Highlight any experience launching a planned giving program or creating a mid-level giving pipeline from scratch.
Tailor your cover letter to show you've researched Cure Blindness Project's specific programs (e.g., their work in Nepal or Ethiopia).
Mention remote work experience explicitly, including how you manage donor relationships virtually.
Include examples of partnering with board members or executives to secure major gifts.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your personal connection to the mission of eliminating avoidable blindness and why it motivates you.', 'Specific examples of closing five- and six-figure gifts, including the strategies you used and the impact on the organization.', "Your leadership philosophy and how you've built and mentored high-performing fundraising teams.", 'Your vision for building a planned giving program and integrating it with existing individual giving efforts.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review the organization's annual reports and financials to understand their revenue mix and growth areas.
- → Read about their flagship programs in specific countries (e.g., Nepal, Ethiopia, Bangladesh) to speak knowledgeably about impact.
- → Check their website for donor recognition materials or planned giving pages to see current state.
- → Look up recent news or blog posts about their work to understand current priorities and challenges.
💬 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 reference the specific mission of eliminating blindness.
- Failing to provide concrete dollar figures or portfolio size in your resume—vague claims undermine credibility.
- Overlooking remote work logistics: not mentioning your home office setup or experience managing donor relationships virtually.
📅 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 Cure Blindness Project!