How to apply for Director of Strategic Partnerships

About The Max Foundation

The Max Foundation is a pioneering global health nonprofit that has spent over 28 years accelerating health equity by delivering life-extending treatments to more than 100,000 people in low- and middle-income countries. What sets Max apart is its entrepreneurial, solutions-driven approach—blending access to medicine with patient-centered care—and its belief that geography should never determine destiny. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that is deeply committed to dignity, hope, and measurable impact in global health.

About the role

As the Director of Strategic Partnerships, you will own the strategy and execution of The Max Foundation’s Major Gifts program, building and managing a pipeline of high-value individual donors to fuel the organization’s global health mission. This is a frontline fundraising leadership role that requires both strategic vision and hands-on relationship building, working closely with the VP of Strategic Partnerships. Your success will directly enable Max to expand access to treatment for people living with cancer and critical illness in underserved regions.

A typical day

A typical day might involve researching and qualifying new major gift prospects, drafting personalized outreach, and conducting virtual meetings with donors or internal stakeholders. You could also spend time updating the donor pipeline in the CRM, strategizing with the VP on upcoming solicitations, and collaborating with program teams to gather impact stories for donor communications. The role blends independent work with regular check-ins and strategy sessions, all aimed at growing philanthropic support for Max’s global health mission.

Who The Max Foundation is looking for

• Proven track record of at least 5–7 years in frontline major gifts fundraising, with direct experience identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding six- and seven-figure individual donors.
• Strong strategic planning skills, including the ability to build and manage a robust donor pipeline, develop solicitation strategies, and create systems to scale a major gifts program.
• Passion for global health equity and comfort working in a remote, mission-driven nonprofit environment; experience with international development or health-focused organizations is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities, with the poise to engage high-net-worth individuals and the collaborative spirit to partner with the VP and cross-functional teams.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific major gift wins in your resume and cover letter—include dollar amounts, donor types (individuals, family foundations, etc.), and your role in the solicitation process.
• Demonstrate familiarity with The Max Foundation’s global health model by referencing their work in low- and middle-income countries and how major gifts can accelerate health equity.
• Address your ability to work remotely and independently while staying tightly coordinated with a VP and a small advancement team; mention any experience with remote donor cultivation.
• Use the cover letter to articulate a clear philosophy of major gifts fundraising that aligns with Max’s values of dignity, hope, and patient-centered care.
• If you have experience in global health, oncology, or access-to-medicine causes, explicitly connect it to Max’s mission—this will set you apart from generalist fundraisers.

What to cover in your cover letter

Your cover letter should emphasize: (1) your hands-on success in securing major gifts, with concrete examples of donor strategies you’ve led; (2) your strategic approach to building and managing a donor pipeline, including systems and metrics you’ve used; (3) your commitment to global health equity and why The Max Foundation’s mission resonates with you personally; and (4) your ability to thrive in a remote, collaborative environment while working closely with a VP and other stakeholders.

Research before applying

• Explore The Max Foundation’s website, especially their programs, impact reports, and financials, to understand their model and funding needs.
• Research the global health landscape for cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries, including key challenges and how nonprofits address them.
• Look up the VP of Strategic Partnerships and other leadership on LinkedIn to understand their backgrounds and potential synergies.
• Review recent news or press releases about The Max Foundation to identify current initiatives or campaigns that major gifts could support.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk us through a major gift you personally solicited from identification to stewardship—what was your strategy and what was the outcome?
• How would you build a major gifts pipeline for The Max Foundation from scratch or from an early stage, given our global health focus?
• Describe how you would collaborate with the VP of Strategic Partnerships to set and achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• What experience do you have with remote donor cultivation and stewardship, and how do you maintain strong relationships without in-person meetings?
• Why are you passionate about global health equity, and how do you see major gifts contributing to The Max Foundation’s mission?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Avoid generic cover letters that don’t mention The Max Foundation’s specific mission or the major gifts aspect of the role—this signals a lack of genuine interest.
• Don’t focus only on your fundraising numbers without explaining your strategic process and how you build lasting donor relationships.
• Avoid implying that remote work means less collaboration; emphasize your ability to stay connected and proactive in a virtual team.