Application Guide
How to Apply for Director of Growth & Giving
at Elemental Impact
🏢 About Elemental Impact
Elemental Impact is a unique climate tech funder that combines philanthropic capital with investment strategies to deploy tech solutions for climate change and community uplift. Working here means being at the intersection of impact investing and nonprofit grantmaking, with a focus on mobilizing significant charitable capital for high-leverage climate projects.
About This Role
As Director of Growth & Giving, you will lead the charge in securing $30M+ annually through creative fundraising strategies, including gifts, grants, recoverable grants, and PRIs. This role is impactful because you'll directly enable the deployment of climate tech solutions by crafting compelling narratives and financial models that attract mission-aligned donors and investors.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with reviewing HubSpot pipeline updates and prioritizing follow-ups with HNW donors or foundation program officers. You could spend the morning collaborating with the climate tech team to extract data and stories for a new proposal, then the afternoon building a financial model for a capital recycling program in Excel. Later, you might refine a Google Slides deck for a family office presentation, and end the day with a virtual meeting with a potential partner discussing a blended finance structure.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Elemental Impact Is Looking For
- Deep technical climate expertise (e.g., understanding of carbon removal, renewable energy, or climate adaptation) combined with familiarity with the nonprofit capital stack (grants, recoverable grants, PRIs, blended finance).
- Proven track record of writing and winning seven- and eight-figure grants or gifts, with a portfolio of successful proposals you can discuss.
- Highly proficient in HubSpot, Excel, and Google Slides; able to build detailed deal pipelines, budgets, and investor presentations.
- Experience cultivating high-net-worth individuals, foundations, family offices, or government funders in the climate or impact space.
📝 Tips for Applying to Elemental Impact
1. Tailor your resume to highlight measurable fundraising wins (e.g., 'Secured $5M recoverable grant from X foundation for Y climate tech project') rather than just listing responsibilities.
2. In your cover letter, explicitly connect your climate expertise to Elemental Impact's mission—mention specific climate tech areas they fund (e.g., direct air capture, sustainable agriculture) and how your background aligns.
3. Prepare a one-page sample concept note for a hypothetical climate project using a blended finance approach, demonstrating your ability to structure a deal and articulate value proposition.
4. Showcase your proficiency with HubSpot by mentioning how you've used it to track donor pipelines, segment audiences, or automate follow-ups in previous roles.
5. Research Elemental Impact's current portfolio and recent press releases; reference a specific project or investment in your application to show genuine interest.
6. Emphasize experience with recoverable grants or program-related investments (PRIs) specifically, as these are key to their capital recycling models.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Emphasize your deep climate expertise and understanding of the nonprofit capital stack, including PRIs and recoverable grants.', 'Highlight specific examples of raising $10M+ annually through diverse funding sources (gifts, grants, impact investments).', "Show how you've translated complex technical concepts into compelling pitches for high-net-worth donors or foundations.", "Demonstrate familiarity with blended finance and capital recycling, and how you've modeled such approaches to attract catalytic capital."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → 1. Study Elemental Impact's current portfolio: what climate tech companies or projects have they funded? Look for patterns in sectors (e.g., carbon removal, clean energy) and funding instruments (grants vs. recoverable grants).
- → 2. Read their blog or press releases to understand their narrative style and key messaging about 'capital recycling' and 'blended finance'.
- → 3. Research the backgrounds of their leadership team (especially the CEO and Director of Programs) to understand their expertise and priorities.
- → 4. Look into their recent announcements about new funding partnerships or initiatives—this will help you understand their growth trajectory and funding gaps.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1. Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention climate tech or their specific funding instruments (PRIs, recoverable grants).
- 2. Overemphasizing traditional grant writing without demonstrating experience with impact investing or blended finance.
- 3. Failing to quantify your past fundraising success—vague claims like 'raised millions' without specifics on instruments or donor types are weak.
- 4. Not showing proficiency with HubSpot or Excel; this role requires hands-on pipeline and budget management.
- 5. Ignoring the remote-first culture; if you're not comfortable with async communication and self-driven work, it may not be a fit.
📅 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!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Elemental Impact!