Application Guide
How to Apply for Director of Civic Partnerships
at CalMatters
🏢 About CalMatters
CalMatters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to explaining California's government and helping residents engage with it. Its unique value proposition is that all journalism is free to republish, and it leverages AI with tools like Digital Democracy to make legislative activity accessible. Working here means being at the intersection of journalism, technology, and civic engagement, with a mission-driven team that values transparency and impact.
About This Role
As the Director of Civic Partnerships, you'll be the bridge between CalMatters' journalism and the communities that need it most. You'll start by promoting Digital Democracy to civic organizations, training them on its use, and then expand to partnerships across the state. This role is impactful because it directly increases civic participation and ensures that vital information reaches underserved populations, fulfilling CalMatters' mission of an informed California.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve virtual meetings with leaders of community organizations to introduce Digital Democracy, followed by a webinar training session for a local library staff. You might spend time analyzing outreach metrics and planning a trip to a Central Valley community center to conduct a hands-on workshop, all while collaborating remotely with the Director of Partnerships to align strategies.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who CalMatters Is Looking For
- Proven experience in partnership building or community outreach, ideally with nonprofits, schools, or civic organizations in California.
- Strong understanding of California's political landscape and the diverse communities across the state, including ability to connect with groups like libraries, churches, and community centers.
- Excellent training and presentation skills, able to teach diverse audiences how to use digital tools like Digital Democracy effectively.
- Self-starter who can work remotely and independently, with strong organizational skills to manage multiple partnerships and priorities.
📝 Tips for Applying to CalMatters
Highlight any experience you have with Digital Democracy or similar civic tech tools in your application.
Show specific examples of successful partnerships you've built, especially with nontraditional organizations like faith-based or community groups.
Demonstrate your knowledge of California's geography and demographic diversity by mentioning specific regions or communities you've worked with.
Tailor your resume to emphasize skills in training, facilitation, and relationship management, not just corporate partnerships.
In your cover letter, mention CalMatters' mission and how you've engaged with journalism or civic issues in the past.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your passion for making complex information accessible to all Californians, with concrete examples of how you've done this.", 'Your experience with community outreach and building trust with diverse organizations.', 'Your ability to work independently in a remote setting and manage multiple projects.', "Your familiarity with CalMatters' work and Digital Democracy, and how you can leverage it to expand their reach."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore CalMatters' Digital Democracy tool in depth to understand its features and potential uses.
- → Read CalMatters' mission statement and recent articles to understand their editorial focus and tone.
- → Look into their current partnership initiatives and the Director of Partnerships' role to see where you'd fit.
- → Research the demographics and civic organizations in various California regions to identify potential partners.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't submit a generic cover letter that doesn't mention CalMatters or Digital Democracy specifically.
- Avoid focusing only on corporate partnerships; this role is about community and civic organizations.
- Don't underestimate the importance of training and education; highlight your ability to teach and support users.
📅 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!