How to apply for Director, Revenue Operations

About GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly is a nonprofit that delivers unconditional cash transfers directly to people living in extreme poverty, pioneering a model that has been proven effective through rigorous research. It is one of the most innovative and transparent organizations in global development, with a bold goal to scale to $10 billion in transfers by 2035. Working here means combining operational excellence with a deep commitment to evidence-based philanthropy and direct impact.

About the role

As Director of Revenue Operations, you will own the systems, data, and processes that power GiveDirectly's unified fundraising function. You'll build the infrastructure—from Salesforce to KPI dashboards—that enables the fundraising team to scale dramatically. You'll also act as a strategic partner to the VP of Fundraising, driving operational efficiency and cross-functional alignment to support GiveDirectly's ambitious growth trajectory.

A typical day

Your day might start with a pipeline review meeting with the fundraising team, followed by a deep-dive into Salesforce data to refine forecasting models. Later, you'll partner with the VP on a strategy memo for an upcoming board meeting, then meet with Finance to align on revenue projections. In between, you'll coach your team on building a new KPI dashboard and troubleshoot a data integration issue.

Who GiveDirectly is looking for

• 8+ years in revenue operations, business operations, or chief-of-staff roles, with demonstrated ownership of CRM systems (especially Salesforce) and KPI frameworks.
• Experience designing and scaling revenue operations in a high-growth environment, ideally within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to partner with senior leadership on organizational change and high-stakes communications.
• Proven track record of building and leading teams, with the ability to manage cross-functional relationships across Finance, Compliance, Grants Management, and People.
• Deep commitment to GiveDirectly's mission and a data-driven approach to philanthropy.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience with Salesforce and revenue operations in a fundraising context—GiveDirectly needs someone who can own the entire pipeline and forecasting infrastructure.
• Quantify your impact: show how you've scaled operations, improved forecasting accuracy, or built KPI systems that drove revenue growth.
• Demonstrate your ability to partner with senior leaders, especially in high-stakes or change-management situations, as this role is a key strategic partner to the VP.
• Show your understanding of GiveDirectly's unique model—unconditional cash transfers—and why operational excellence in fundraising is critical to scaling impact.
• Emphasize any experience in nonprofit or international development settings, as navigating compliance and donor expectations in this space requires specific expertise.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, focus on: (1) your hands-on experience building and owning revenue operations systems, particularly Salesforce and KPI frameworks; (2) a specific example of how you scaled a fundraising or revenue function to support significant growth; (3) your ability to work as a strategic partner to senior leadership and manage cross-functional relationships; and (4) your personal motivation for supporting GiveDirectly's mission and its bold $10B goal.

Research before applying

• Study GiveDirectly's model, impact evaluations, and their $10B by 2035 goal to understand the scale and urgency of the fundraising challenge.
• Research GiveDirectly's current fundraising structure and any public information about their revenue sources (individual donors, foundations, institutional funders).
• Learn about the nonprofit revenue operations landscape, including common CRM systems and KPI benchmarks for fundraising teams.
• Explore GiveDirectly's culture and values, especially their commitment to transparency, evidence, and direct impact, to align your application with their ethos.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you design and implement a KPI framework for a unified fundraising function that spans multiple verticals?
• Describe your experience with Salesforce and how you've used it to improve pipeline tracking and forecasting accuracy.
• Give an example of a time you partnered with a senior leader to drive organizational change—how did you handle resistance and ensure adoption?
• How would you approach building and leading a team of 3–5 covering fundraising tech, data, donor experience, and knowledge management?
• What metrics would you prioritize to track the health of GiveDirectly's fundraising pipeline, and how would you report them to leadership?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on for-profit revenue operations without translating your skills to a nonprofit fundraising context—GiveDirectly needs someone who understands the nuances of donor cycles and grant management.
• Underestimating the strategic partnership aspect: this role is not just about systems but also about influencing leadership and driving organizational change.
• Neglecting to mention Salesforce or specific CRM experience—this is a hard requirement, and generic 'CRM experience' won't suffice.