Application Guide

How to Apply for Executive Director

at Literacy Works

🏢 About Literacy Works

Literacy Works uniquely bridges adult literacy education and communication equity through its dual Community Literacy and Clear Language Lab programs. Unlike many nonprofits, it operates both as a direct service provider to adult learners and as a consulting resource for nonprofits and government agencies seeking to improve their communication clarity. Someone might want to work here to lead an organization at the intersection of education, social justice, and practical skill-building, with a mission that tackles both individual empowerment and systemic change.

About This Role

This Executive Director role involves leading all strategic, fundraising, and operational aspects of Literacy Works, with a heavy emphasis on personally driving fundraising to meet and exceed the $500K+ annual goal and diversify revenue streams. The role is impactful because you'll directly shape how the organization scales its unique dual-program model, expands its member and client base, and advances equity through literacy and clear communication across multiple sectors.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with program directors to review progress on Community Literacy trainings or Clear Language Lab consulting projects, followed by donor outreach calls to cultivate relationships for the $500K+ fundraising goal. In the afternoon, you could work on strategy documents for diversifying revenue, then join a board committee meeting to align on long-term goals, ending with reviewing partnership proposals for new member organizations.

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🎯 Who Literacy Works Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of strategic team management with direct supervisory experience, ideally in a nonprofit or mission-driven setting, and a track record of using equity-based frameworks in leadership.
  • Demonstrates proven success in comprehensive fundraising, specifically highlighting experience with authentic, long-term donor cultivation (not just grant writing) and a history of attracting new foundation funding, possibly from outside traditional education sectors.
  • Possesses experience or strong aptitude in business development, such as identifying and securing fee-for-service clients or building organizational partnerships, reflecting the role's external relations focus.
  • Shows openness to collaborative leadership models and has experience balancing program oversight (like the Community Literacy and Clear Language Lab programs) with high-level strategy and revenue generation.

📝 Tips for Applying to Literacy Works

1

Quantify your fundraising achievements in your resume—specifically mention amounts raised, donor retention rates, or new foundation sources secured, tying them to the $500K+ goal and growth emphasis.

2

Tailor your application to highlight experience with both adult education/ literacy and communication equity, as Literacy Works operates in these two distinct but linked areas; mention any relevant background in clear language, plain language, or accessibility.

3

Explicitly address your approach to equity-based leadership and collaborative decision-making in your cover letter, as this is a stated requirement and core to the organization's mission.

4

Research and reference Literacy Works' specific programs (Community Literacy and Clear Language Lab) in your materials, suggesting how you'd expand their member organizations or fee-for-service clients.

5

If you have experience with remote team management, emphasize it, as the role is remote and involves overseeing distributed staff and programs.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your philosophy and proven success in fundraising that centers authentic relationship-building and long-term donor partnerships, with examples of how you've diversified revenue streams.", "Specific ideas for growing Literacy Works' dual-program model, such as strategies to attract new member organizations for Community Literacy or fee-for-service clients for Clear Language Lab.", "Your experience leading with equity-based frameworks and collaborative approaches, linking it to Literacy Works' mission of advancing equity through literacy and clear language.", 'How your background aligns with both the adult literacy education and communication equity aspects of the organization, showing you understand its unique value proposition.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Literacy Works' website to understand the specifics of their Community Literacy and Clear Language Lab programs, including recent projects or client testimonials.
  • → Look into their current funders or partners (if publicly available) to identify potential gaps or opportunities for new foundation funding, as mentioned in the job description.
  • → Research the broader landscape of adult literacy education and communication equity nonprofits to understand Literacy Works' competitive position and unique offerings.
  • → Review any recent news, reports, or social media from Literacy Works to gauge their current priorities, challenges, or community impact.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you successfully cultivated a long-term donor partnership from initial contact to sustained giving, and how you'd apply that to Literacy Works' $500K+ goal.
2 How would you approach developing a strategy to attract funding from foundations that haven't previously funded adult education or communication equity work?
3 Discuss your experience using equity-based frameworks in team management and decision-making, and how you'd foster a collaborative culture in a remote setting.
4 What ideas do you have for identifying and developing new partnerships for the Community Literacy program or fee-for-service clients for the Clear Language Lab?
5 How would you balance the dual focus on programmatic excellence (e.g., training, consulting) with the need for aggressive fundraising and business development in this role?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't address Literacy Works' specific dual-program model or mission of advancing equity through literacy and clear language.
  • Focusing solely on grant-writing experience without emphasizing authentic donor cultivation and long-term partnership building, which is central to the fundraising requirements.
  • Overlooking the business development aspect—failing to show how you'd identify new fee-for-service clients or member organizations, as this is key to external relations.

📅 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 Literacy Works!

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