Application Guide

How to Apply for Director of Development (candidates can be based anywhere in the US)

at Climate Defiance

🏢 About Climate Defiance

Climate Defiance is a bold, unapologetic organization that uses mass turnout, nonviolent direct action, and strategic communications to force climate change to the top of the US political agenda. Unlike incrementalist groups, we hold decision-makers accountable and have already gained traction with high-profile events featuring celebrities, climate leaders, and progressive VIPs. If you're fired up about the climate crisis and want to build a cutting-edge organization that challenges the status quo, this is the place.

About This Role

As Director of Development, you will own the fundraising strategy and build the major donor program from the ground up. You'll carry a portfolio of current donors, cultivate relationships with event attendees, and identify new prospects to fuel our direct action campaigns. This role is critical because every dollar you raise directly enables disruptive, high-impact protests that shift the national conversation on climate.

💡 A Day in the Life

Start your day reviewing donor engagement notes and updating the CRM, then have a virtual coffee with a potential major donor who attended a recent event. After lunch, you'll draft a personalized stewardship plan for a five-figure donor and research new prospects from a list of event attendees. The afternoon might include a strategy call with the executive director to align on upcoming fundraising events and a follow-up email to a foundation program officer.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Climate Defiance Is Looking For

  • A seasoned fundraiser with at least 5-7 years of development experience, ideally in progressive or climate-focused organizations, who is comfortable building a program from scratch.
  • Passionate about climate justice and unafraid of bold, confrontational tactics—you should genuinely believe in nonviolent direct action as a tool for change.
  • Skilled in relationship-building with high-net-worth individuals, with a track record of closing five- and six-figure gifts and managing a portfolio of 50+ donors.
  • Entrepreneurial and systems-oriented: you can design and implement donor pipelines, CRM workflows, and stewardship plans without a large support team.

📝 Tips for Applying to Climate Defiance

1

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your fundraising experience to climate direct action. Mention any past work with groups that use protest or civil disobedience.

2

Highlight any experience building a development program from scratch or scaling a small shop—this role is about building systems, not just maintaining them.

3

Show that you understand the target donor base: liberal donors frustrated with incremental change. Reference specific donor segments or networks you've tapped into.

4

Include metrics: e.g., 'Grew major donor revenue by 40% in two years' or 'Managed a portfolio of 75 donors with $1M+ annual revenue.'

5

Tailor your resume to emphasize relationship-building over event planning—though events are a tool, the core is one-on-one donor cultivation.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your genuine passion for climate defiance and willingness to support disruptive, nonviolent tactics.', "Concrete examples of major donor relationships you've built and how you've moved donors up the giving ladder.", 'Experience with donor prospecting and building a pipeline from events or grassroots networks.', 'Your ability to work independently in a remote, fast-paced startup environment.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about Climate Defiance's past actions (e.g., disruptions at political events) to understand the organization's tone and risk tolerance.
  • → Review the backgrounds of the current leadership team (founder, board) to understand their fundraising style and expectations.
  • → Look at the donor landscape: which foundations and major donors fund climate direct action groups (e.g., Sunrise Movement, 350.org)?
  • → Understand the budget size and growth trajectory—this will help you propose realistic fundraising goals.
Visit Climate Defiance's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach building a major donor program for an organization that relies on direct action and may be perceived as controversial?
2 Describe a time you had to ask a donor to increase their gift significantly. What was your strategy and outcome?
3 How would you leverage our existing event model (high-profile speakers) to cultivate and upgrade donors?
4 What metrics would you use to track success in the first 6 months? How would you report progress to the executive team?
5 How do you stay motivated when fundraising for a cause that can be emotionally draining or politically polarizing?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't downplay the confrontational nature of the work; if you seem uncomfortable with direct action, you won't be a fit.
  • Avoid generic fundraising language like 'passionate about the mission' without connecting it to Climate Defiance's specific tactics.
  • Don't propose grandiose plans without acknowledging the startup constraints; show you can be scrappy and strategic.

📅 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 Climate Defiance!

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