How to apply for Director - Institutional Development

About Elevate

Elevate is a fully-remote small business that provides comprehensive grant writing support to nearly 100 nonprofits across a wide range of social change issues. Unlike large consulting firms, Elevate offers flexible scheduling, built-in mentorship, and a dedicated supervisor focused on your professional growth, with clear career development pathways. Working here means partnering long-term with clients and gaining exposure to diverse causes while being part of a supportive, mission-driven team.

About the role

As a Director of Institutional Development, you will coach clients on fundraising strategy, grant writing, and prospect research, while also managing a portfolio of nonprofit clients. You'll guide clients through every stage of the grant cycle, from goal development to funder stewardship, ensuring they build sustainable fundraising practices. This role is impactful because you directly help nonprofits secure the resources they need to advance their missions, while also shaping Elevate's client partnerships and service quality.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with a client to review their fundraising goals, drafting a grant proposal for another client, and researching potential funders for a third. You'll also collaborate with your team on strategy calls, provide feedback on colleagues' drafts, and participate in mentorship sessions. The role is varied and fast-paced, requiring strong time management and the ability to switch between different client contexts.

Who Elevate is looking for

• Proven experience in institutional fundraising, including grant writing, prospect research, and donor stewardship, ideally in a consulting or nonprofit setting.
• Strong coaching and client management skills, with the ability to advise nonprofit leaders on fundraising best practices and strategy.
• Flexibility and persistence to handle multiple client portfolios and adapt to evolving client needs in a fully remote environment.
• Legally authorized to work in the US and able to work remotely, with optional in-person meetings in DC or with clients as needed.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience managing the full grant cycle for multiple nonprofits simultaneously, emphasizing your ability to coach and build capacity in others.
• Demonstrate familiarity with remote work tools and practices, as Elevate is fully remote and values self-direction and virtual collaboration.
• Show your commitment to long-term client partnerships by sharing examples of how you've supported clients over time, not just one-off grants.
• Research Elevate's client portfolio and mention specific issue areas or clients you'd be excited to support, showing alignment with their mission.
• Use your cover letter to explain why you thrive in a small, team-based consulting environment where mentorship and peer support are key.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, emphasize your hands-on experience with institutional fundraising across the full grant cycle, your ability to coach and train others in fundraising best practices, and your success in managing multiple client relationships. Also highlight your adaptability to remote work and your interest in Elevate's model of long-term partnerships and professional development. Finally, convey your passion for supporting diverse social change issues and how you align with Elevate's culture of mentorship and collaboration.

Research before applying

• Explore Elevate's website to understand their client base, service model, and the range of issue areas they support.
• Read about Elevate's organizational culture, including their commitment to mentorship, flexible scheduling, and career development pathways.
• Look into recent grant trends and challenges in the nonprofit sector, especially for small to mid-sized organizations, to speak knowledgeably about current fundraising landscapes.
• Check out Elevate's team and leadership on LinkedIn to understand their backgrounds and areas of expertise, which can help you tailor your application.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How do you approach coaching a nonprofit client that is new to institutional fundraising or struggling with strategy?
• Describe your experience managing multiple grant calendars and deadlines for different clients simultaneously.
• What methods do you use for prospect research and how do you prioritize potential funders for a client?
• How do you handle a situation where a client's grant proposal is rejected? What steps do you take next?
• Why are you interested in working at a fully remote consulting firm like Elevate, and how do you stay connected with colleagues and clients?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on your grant writing skills without demonstrating your ability to coach and advise clients on strategy.
• Ignoring the remote nature of the role and not addressing how you successfully work independently and collaborate virtually.
• Applying with a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Elevate's unique model or your interest in their client portfolio and social issues.