Application Guide
How to Apply for Donor Stewardship and Engagement Manager
at Organic Farming Research Foundation
🏢 About Organic Farming Research Foundation
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is unique as a research-focused nonprofit dedicated exclusively to advancing organic farming through science-based solutions. Unlike broader environmental organizations, OFRF specifically bridges research with practical applications to support sustainable agriculture. Someone passionate about evidence-based environmental work would find this appealing, as the organization directly influences farming practices and policy through rigorous research.
About This Role
This Donor Stewardship and Engagement Manager role involves designing and implementing donor journeys to deepen connections and increase retention for OFRF's fundraising ecosystem. It's impactful because it directly supports the organization's research and education initiatives by building a community-centered approach to fundraising, ensuring sustainable funding for organic farming advancements. The role requires collaborating across teams to elevate authentic stories that demonstrate OFRF's real-world impact on agriculture and sustainability.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve analyzing donor data to refine engagement strategies, collaborating with the Partnerships and Development Director on upcoming campaigns, and crafting personalized communications to share OFRF's research impact with donors. You could also spend time coordinating with research teams to gather authentic stories for donor updates, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and community-focused approach.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Organic Farming Research Foundation Is Looking For
- Has proven experience in relationship-building with donors, ideally in nonprofit or environmental sectors, and can demonstrate past success in donor retention strategies.
- Possesses strong project management skills, with the ability to design and implement donor journeys and annual giving programs from conception to execution.
- Is passionate about equitable, community-centric fundraising and can articulate how trust and transparency drive effective stewardship in a mission-driven organization.
- Understands organic farming or sustainable agriculture contexts, allowing them to authentically engage donors with OFRF's specific research and impact stories.
📝 Tips for Applying to Organic Farming Research Foundation
Tailor your resume to highlight specific donor stewardship or engagement projects, quantifying results like increased retention rates or funds raised in previous roles.
Research OFRF's recent research projects or initiatives (e.g., from their website or annual reports) and reference them in your application to show genuine interest in their work.
Emphasize remote work experience, as this role is based in Germany but the organization is U.S.-focused; demonstrate your ability to manage cross-cultural or remote collaborations effectively.
Address the part-time aspect in your cover letter by explaining how you'll manage key responsibilities efficiently within a reduced schedule, given the job type discrepancy in the details.
Avoid generic statements; instead, provide concrete examples of how you've built donor communities or implemented stewardship strategies in past roles, aligning with OFRF's focus on transparency and engagement.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Highlight your experience with donor stewardship and engagement, specifically mentioning past work in nonprofit or environmental sectors to show relevance.', "Demonstrate your passion for equitable, community-centric fundraising by sharing a brief story or example of how you've fostered trust and transparency with donors.", "Explain your understanding of organic farming or sustainability issues, connecting it to why you're motivated to support OFRF's mission and research efforts.", 'Address the remote and part-time nature of the role, outlining your strategies for effective communication and project management in such a setting.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review OFRF's website, especially their research publications and current projects, to understand their specific focus areas and impact in organic farming.
- → Look into OFRF's donor communications or annual reports to gauge their current stewardship practices and identify potential gaps or opportunities for improvement.
- → Explore the broader context of organic farming in the U.S. and Germany, including key challenges and trends, to better align with the organization's mission and donor interests.
- → Investigate OFRF's team structure and partnerships to understand how this role might collaborate with other departments, such as research or development teams.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without tailoring it to OFRF's specific focus on organic farming research and community-centric fundraising.
- Overlooking the remote and part-time aspects, failing to address how you'll manage responsibilities effectively across time zones or with limited hours.
- Focusing solely on fundraising metrics without emphasizing relationship-building, trust, and transparency, which are core to the role's requirements.
📅 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 Organic Farming Research Foundation!