Application Guide

How to Apply for Director of Global Philanthropy (Major Gifts)

at The Humane League

🏢 About The Humane League

The Humane League is a global nonprofit that leverages research, advocacy, and corporate outreach to end the abuse of farmed animals. Its innovative, data-driven approach and high-impact programs have earned it top charity ratings from organizations like Animal Charity Evaluators. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that is transforming the food system and saving millions of animals from suffering.

About This Role

As Director of Global Philanthropy (Major Gifts), you will lead a $6M+ major gifts program, personally managing a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and mentoring a team of three Philanthropy Officers. This role is critical to scaling The Humane League’s impact by securing transformative gifts and building a culture of philanthropy across the organization.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a check-in with your team to review donor pipeline progress and provide coaching. You’ll then spend time on high-priority donor calls or virtual meetings, often with the CEO, to cultivate and solicit major gifts. Afternoons might involve analyzing CRM dashboards to refine strategies, collaborating with program staff on impact reports, and preparing for upcoming stewardship events or board presentations.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who The Humane League Is Looking For

  • A seasoned major gifts fundraiser with 9+ years of experience, including 5+ years in a program raising $5M+ annually, with a proven track record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
  • A skilled people manager with 3+ years of direct staff management, experienced in developing high-performing teams through coaching, goal-setting, and fostering an inclusive culture.
  • An exceptional communicator who can translate complex programmatic work into compelling donor narratives, and who thrives on collaboration with senior leadership and program staff.
  • Data-savvy and CRM-proficient (e.g., Salesforce), with the ability to use analytics to optimize donor strategies and drive revenue growth.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Humane League

1

Quantify your fundraising achievements: For each role, include the size of your portfolio, number of donors managed, and total dollars raised annually, especially six- and seven-figure gifts.

2

Highlight your management philosophy: Describe how you have mentored and developed team members, including specific examples of how you improved their performance or advanced their careers.

3

Demonstrate alignment with the mission: In your cover letter, explicitly connect your personal values to The Humane League’s work on farmed animal welfare—mention any volunteer work or donations if applicable.

4

Showcase your CRM expertise: Mention your experience with Salesforce or similar CRMs, and any work you’ve done to optimize reporting or dashboards for major gifts tracking.

5

Tailor your resume to emphasize global or remote work experience: Since the role is remote and global, highlight any experience working with donors across different regions or managing teams remotely.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for animal welfare and alignment with The Humane League’s mission and evidence-based approach.', 'Specific examples of major gifts you have secured ($100K+), including the strategies you used to cultivate and steward those donors.', 'Your experience managing and developing a team, with concrete results (e.g., increased team revenue, improved retention, or professional growth of team members).', 'Your ability to collaborate cross-functionally with program, finance, and operations teams to drive fundraising success.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review The Humane League’s latest annual report and strategic plan to understand their current priorities and impact metrics.
  • → Read about their corporate outreach campaigns (e.g., commitments from major food companies) to see how they achieve systemic change.
  • → Explore their blog and news section to understand their communication style and recent successes.
  • → Look up their leadership team on LinkedIn to understand the organizational culture and potential reporting structure.
Visit The Humane League's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop a major gifts strategy to grow the program from $6M to $10M annually?
2 Describe a time you managed a difficult donor relationship. How did you handle it?
3 How do you motivate and hold your team accountable while fostering an inclusive culture?
4 How do you use data and CRM analytics to identify and prioritize major donor prospects?
5 What is your understanding of The Humane League’s programs and how would you communicate their impact to a high-net-worth donor?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Failing to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission—generic nonprofit experience without connecting to animal welfare will stand out negatively.
  • Overlooking the management aspect: This role requires 3+ years of direct staff management; if you lack this, emphasize any relevant leadership or mentorship experience clearly.
  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn’t reference The Humane League’s specific programs, achievements, or values—personalization is key.

📅 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 The Humane League!

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