How to apply for Director of Foundation Relations

About Food & Water Watch

Food & Water Watch is a national nonprofit that fights for clean drinking water, safe food, and a livable climate through grassroots organizing and policy advocacy. Unlike many environmental groups, it prioritizes corporate and government accountability, waging campaigns against fracking, factory farms, and water privatization. Working here means joining a movement that values democratic participation and systemic change, not just incremental reform.

About the role

As Director of Foundation Relations, you'll lead the strategy for a $5M+ annual institutional fundraising program, managing a portfolio of foundation funders and prospects. You'll supervise the foundations team, collaborate with program staff to craft compelling proposals, and expand revenue to fuel campaigns on food, water, and climate justice. This is a remote leadership role with occasional travel, ideal for a fundraiser who thrives on both high-level strategy and hands-on execution.

A typical day

You might start your day with a virtual team check-in to review upcoming proposal deadlines, then spend time editing a major grant application for a climate campaign. Later, you'll hop on a call with a program director to gather updates for a funder report, and end the day strategizing with the Managing Director of Philanthropy on a cultivation plan for a new foundation prospect.

Who Food & Water Watch is looking for

• Proven track record of raising $5M+ annually from foundations, with experience managing a portfolio of 50+ funders and prospects.
• Strong supervisory skills—you've led a team of grant writers or development professionals, fostering collaboration and meeting ambitious targets.
• Deep alignment with Food & Water Watch's mission; you can articulate how foundation funding supports grassroots organizing and policy wins.
• Excellent writing and editing abilities, with a knack for translating complex advocacy work into persuasive proposals and reports.

Tips for this application

• Quantify your foundation fundraising results in your resume—e.g., 'Grew foundation revenue from $3M to $7M in three years'—to show you can expand a $5M+ program.
• Highlight any experience with environmental, food, or water issues, even if not in a fundraising capacity, to demonstrate mission alignment.
• Mention specific foundation names you've secured grants from, especially those that fund advocacy or grassroots organizing, to show relevant networks.
• Address the remote nature of the role: give examples of how you've successfully managed teams and funder relationships remotely.
• In your cover letter, connect your fundraising philosophy to Food & Water Watch's theory of change—emphasize how foundation support enables bold campaigns, not just programs.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your experience scaling foundation revenue to or beyond $5M annually, and your ability to lead a team in a remote environment. Show you understand Food & Water Watch's unique approach—merging grassroots organizing with policy advocacy—and can translate that into compelling cases for support. Highlight any past success in securing grants from foundations that fund movement-building or corporate accountability work. Finally, express genuine passion for the organization's mission and a commitment to its long-term growth.

Research before applying

• Review Food & Water Watch's recent campaign wins and policy victories (e.g., bans on fracking, public water systems) to understand their impact and funding needs.
• Identify their current foundation funders by looking at annual reports or 990 filings, and note which foundations prioritize environmental health and grassroots organizing.
• Read their strategic plan or theory of change to align your fundraising approach with their long-term goals.
• Follow their social media and newsletters to get a sense of their tone, key issues, and how they communicate with supporters.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach expanding our foundation portfolio from $5M to $8M over the next three years?
• Describe a time you had to manage a rejected proposal or a funder's shifted priorities. How did you adapt?
• How do you ensure program staff are engaged and cooperative in the grant-writing process, especially when they're busy with campaigns?
• What experience do you have with foundation funders that support advocacy and organizing, and how would you leverage those relationships here?
• How would you lead and motivate a remote foundations team to meet ambitious deadlines and revenue goals?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on dollar amounts without showing how you've built relationships with foundation program officers or aligned funding with organizational strategy.
• Neglecting to mention remote team management experience—this role requires leading a dispersed team, so not addressing it can raise doubts.
• Using generic language about 'passion for the environment' without specifically referencing Food & Water Watch's campaigns or approach to corporate accountability.