Application Guide

How to Apply for Executive Director

at Oregon Farmer's Market Association

🏢 About Oregon Farmer's Market Association

The Oregon Farmers Market Association (OFMA) is unique as a 39-year-old nonprofit dedicated specifically to sustaining and growing Oregon's farmers market network, directly benefiting local economies, farmers, and communities. Working here offers the opportunity to impact food systems at a statewide level while supporting small-scale agriculture and community resilience.

About This Role

As Executive Director, you'll serve as chief administrator responsible for executing OFMA's services, managing finances, fundraising, staff, and board operations. This role is impactful because you'll initially stabilize internal operations then build external partnerships to expand OFMA's reach across Oregon's agricultural communities.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning financial review and staff check-ins, followed by grant writing or donor communications, then afternoon meetings with board members or Oregon agricultural partners. You'd balance administrative tasks with strategic planning for farmers market support programs across the state.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Oregon Farmer's Market Association Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years managing nonprofit finances including restricted funds and budget preparation for small organizations
  • Demonstrates 3+ years fundraising success with grants, government funding, and corporate partnerships in the agricultural or food systems sector
  • Has experience supervising staff/volunteers in value-based management, ideally in growing nonprofits
  • Can transition from internal administration to external coalition-building with Oregon's farming communities

📝 Tips for Applying to Oregon Farmer's Market Association

1

Quantify your nonprofit financial management experience specifically mentioning restricted funds and budget preparation for organizations under $1M budget

2

Highlight any Oregon-specific agricultural or farmers market experience in your resume, even if volunteer-based

3

Prepare examples of how you've managed the internal-to-external transition in previous roles, showing both administrative and partnership skills

4

Research OFMA's current programs like the Double Up Food Bucks program and reference how you'd sustain them

5

Demonstrate understanding of Oregon's agricultural regions and their specific farmers market challenges

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with small nonprofit financial management and restricted funds', 'Specific fundraising successes with grants and corporate partnerships relevant to agriculture', "How you've managed staff/volunteers using value-based leadership in mission-driven organizations", "Your vision for building coalitions among Oregon's diverse farming communities"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → OFMA's 39-year history and current programs like market certification and SNAP matching
  • → Oregon's agricultural regions and their specific farmers market challenges
  • → Recent OFMA annual reports to understand their financial structure and funding sources
  • → Key stakeholders like Oregon Department of Agriculture and local farmers market associations

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you manage OFMA's transition from internal focus to external partnership development?
2 Describe your experience with restricted fund management in nonprofits and how you'd apply it to OFMA's grant-funded programs
3 What strategies would you use to engage Oregon's diverse agricultural regions (Willamette Valley vs. Eastern Oregon)?
4 How have you previously balanced staff supervision with board management in a small nonprofit?
5 What specific corporate partnership opportunities do you see for OFMA in Oregon's food industry?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only corporate experience and no nonprofit background, especially in small organizations
  • Generic fundraising examples without specific mention of grant writing or government funding experience
  • Focusing only on external leadership without demonstrating ability to handle internal administration first

📅 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 Oregon Farmer's Market Association!

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