How to apply for Director of Development

About Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA)

Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) is a rapidly growing nonprofit founded in 2024 that is already making waves in the fight against childhood screen addiction. With 551 chapters nationwide and landmark legislation passed in multiple states, MAMA offers a unique opportunity to be part of a movement that is changing the digital landscape for kids. Working here means joining a passionate, mission-driven team that values real-life experiences and healthy childhoods.

About the role

As the Director of Development, you will be the driving force behind MAMA's fundraising strategy, focusing on major gifts and institutional giving. You will build and nurture relationships with donors, foundations, and corporate partners to fuel MAMA's expansion and advocacy efforts. This role is critical to ensuring MAMA can continue to grow its impact and support its network of chapters.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with the Executive Director to align on fundraising priorities, reaching out to potential major donors, drafting grant proposals, and collaborating with the communications team to craft compelling donor materials. You might also spend time researching prospective institutional funders and preparing for upcoming donor meetings. As a remote role, you'll balance virtual meetings with independent work, all while keeping MAMA's mission at the forefront.

Who Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) is looking for

• Proven experience in fundraising leadership, with a track record of securing major gifts and institutional funding.
• Strategic thinker who can develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan aligned with organizational goals.
• Strong relationship builder with excellent communication skills, able to engage diverse stakeholders including parents, donors, and legislators.
• Passion for MAMA's mission to end childhood screen addiction and a commitment to centering multicultural communities in advocacy work.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience in scaling fundraising programs, especially in a startup or rapid-growth nonprofit environment, as MAMA has grown quickly since 2024.
• Demonstrate your ability to secure major gifts and institutional funding by providing specific examples of donations you've secured and their impact.
• Show your commitment to MAMA's mission by referencing their legislative wins and chapters in your cover letter or application.
• Emphasize any experience you have in working with multicultural communities, particularly Latine, Black, and Indigenous communities, as MAMA is deepening its commitment to these groups.
• Use keywords from the job description such as 'major gifts,' 'institutional giving,' and 'fundraising strategy' to pass any automated screening.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your specific achievements in major gifts fundraising, including dollar amounts and donor relationships built.', 'How you have developed and executed successful fundraising strategies in previous roles, particularly in mission-driven organizations.', "Your understanding of and alignment with MAMA's mission and their focus on multicultural community leadership.", 'Your ability to work remotely and collaborate effectively with a distributed team, as this is a remote position.']

Research before applying

• Research MAMA's legislative victories in California, New York, Nebraska, Illinois, and South Carolina to understand their impact and use in donor conversations.
• Learn about the key players in the media addiction and children's advocacy space to identify potential funding sources and partners.
• Understand MAMA's chapter structure and how chapters contribute to advocacy, as this may be relevant for donor engagement.
• Look into the backgrounds of MAMA's leadership, especially the Executive Director, to align your messaging with their vision.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach building a major gifts program from the ground up, given MAMA's rapid growth since 2024?
• Can you describe a time you secured a significant institutional gift? What was your strategy and what was the outcome?
• How would you ensure that fundraising efforts align with MAMA's commitment to centering multicultural communities?
• What experience do you have in fundraising for advocacy or legislative campaigns, and how would you leverage MAMA's legislative successes in donor conversations?
• How would you prioritize and manage relationships with existing donors while also cultivating new ones in a remote work environment?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Avoid generic fundraising language; instead, tailor your application to MAMA's specific mission and focus areas.
• Do not ignore MAMA's emphasis on multicultural communities; failing to address this in your application could be a significant oversight.
• Avoid focusing solely on past experience without connecting it to how you would drive MAMA's fundraising forward in a remote, startup-like environment.