Application Guide

How to Apply for Director of Institutional Giving

at Treehouse Foundation

🏢 About Treehouse Foundation

Treehouse Foundation is unique for its nationally recognized intergenerational community model that simultaneously addresses child welfare, aging loneliness, and affordable housing. Working here means contributing to an innovative nonprofit that transforms foster care systems while creating supportive communities where elders and youth thrive together.

About This Role

As Director of Institutional Giving, you'll drive revenue through foundation and government grants while building a five-year strategic fundraising plan. This role directly impacts Treehouse's ability to scale its intergenerational communities and create better lives for foster youth through sustainable funding.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve prospecting new foundation opportunities aligned with Treehouse's intergenerational model, drafting a federal grant narrative for a child welfare program, and conducting virtual check-ins with existing institutional funders to provide updates on community outcomes. You'd likely collaborate with program staff to gather impact data while managing multiple grant deadlines through project management tools.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Treehouse Foundation Is Looking For

  • Has 5-7 years of nonprofit development experience with documented success securing six-figure+ grants from foundations and government sources
  • Demonstrates specific knowledge of federal grant processes (like HUD or Administration for Children and Families funding) and can navigate complex government funding mechanisms
  • Possesses exceptional project management skills to juggle multiple grant deadlines while maintaining relationships with existing funders
  • Can translate Treehouse's innovative intergenerational model into compelling proposals that resonate with institutional funders

📝 Tips for Applying to Treehouse Foundation

1

Quantify your grant success: Instead of saying 'secured grants,' specify amounts like 'secured $2.5M in foundation grants over three years' or 'increased government funding by 40%'

2

Reference Treehouse's specific model: Mention how your experience aligns with their intergenerational approach or child welfare focus, not just general nonprofit fundraising

3

Demonstrate federal grant expertise: Include specific government agencies you've worked with (HHS, HUD, etc.) and describe your process for navigating complex applications

4

Show strategic planning experience: Highlight any multi-year fundraising plans you've developed or executed, particularly for mission-driven organizations

5

Address remote work readiness: Since this is remote, mention your experience with virtual relationship-building and managing distributed teams or stakeholders

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your proven track record securing institutional funding for mission-driven nonprofits, with specific examples of grants secured', 'Experience with federal grant processes and government funding mechanisms relevant to child welfare or housing', "Understanding of Treehouse's intergenerational model and how you'd communicate its impact to institutional funders", 'Your approach to developing and executing multi-year strategic fundraising plans']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Treehouse's specific intergenerational communities (like Easthampton or planned expansions) and their outcomes for foster youth and elders
  • → Current funders listed in their annual report or website to understand their institutional funding landscape
  • → Federal funding streams relevant to their work (Child Welfare Services, Supportive Housing for the Elderly, etc.)
  • → Their leadership team and recent initiatives to understand organizational priorities and culture

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your process for identifying and securing a significant government grant from prospecting to reporting
2 How would you develop a five-year institutional giving strategy for Treehouse's specific intergenerational model?
3 Describe a time you managed multiple complex grant deadlines simultaneously. What systems did you use?
4 How would you communicate Treehouse's unique value proposition to foundation program officers unfamiliar with intergenerational approaches?
5 What experience do you have building funder relationships remotely, and how would you maintain engagement with Treehouse's existing institutional partners?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic fundraising language without connecting it to Treehouse's specific model of intergenerational community living
  • Failing to demonstrate specific government grant experience when the requirements emphasize federal processes
  • Presenting as a generalist fundraiser rather than someone with deep institutional giving expertise for mission-driven nonprofits

📅 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 Treehouse Foundation!

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