Application Guide

How to Apply for Executive Director — Wisconsin Appleseed Center for Law & Justice

at WIsconsin Appleseed

🏢 About WIsconsin Appleseed

Wisconsin Appleseed is unique as a member of the national Appleseed Network, allowing it to leverage resources and strategies from 20 justice centers while maintaining a hyper-local focus on Wisconsin communities. The organization prioritizes grassroots solutions and centers the voices of those most impacted by systemic inequities, offering a chance to work at the intersection of policy advocacy and community-driven change. This is an opportunity to join an organization with strong initial foundations (website, funding, partnerships) and drive transformational growth from the ground up.

About This Role

As Executive Director, you'll build on the momentum created by the founding team to expand Wisconsin Appleseed's impact across the state, with significant support from the Appleseed Foundation and Nebraska Appleseed as fiscal sponsor. This role involves remote leadership with regular travel to Madison and Milwaukee for meetings with board members, legislators, donors, and coalition partners. You'll be responsible for driving ambitious systemic policy change while ensuring the organization remains rooted in community wisdom and grassroots solutions.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve virtual team coordination and strategy sessions in the morning, followed by research on Wisconsin-specific policy developments and preparation for legislative meetings. Afternoons could include donor outreach calls, collaboration with Appleseed Network partners on shared initiatives, and travel planning for upcoming in-person meetings in Madison or Milwaukee with coalition partners and community leaders.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who WIsconsin Appleseed Is Looking For

  • Has experience in nonprofit leadership with a track record of driving systemic policy change, particularly in justice, poverty reduction, or discrimination work
  • Demonstrates deep commitment to centering the voices of those most impacted by systemic inequities and has experience with community-led advocacy approaches
  • Possesses strong relationship-building skills for working with diverse stakeholders including board members, legislators, donors, and coalition partners across Wisconsin
  • Has experience with or understanding of network organizations and can leverage the Appleseed Network's resources while maintaining local autonomy and focus

📝 Tips for Applying to WIsconsin Appleseed

1

Explicitly connect your experience to Wisconsin Appleseed's specific policy priorities (research their current initiatives) rather than just general nonprofit work

2

Demonstrate your understanding of the Appleseed Network model by mentioning how you would leverage network resources while maintaining Wisconsin-specific focus

3

Include specific examples of how you've centered community voices in previous advocacy work, not just your own leadership achievements

4

Address how you would build on the existing foundation (website, initial funding, partnerships) to drive transformational growth

5

Show familiarity with Wisconsin's political and social landscape, even if applying from outside the state

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your philosophy on centering community wisdom in policy advocacy and specific examples of doing this in previous roles', "How you would leverage the Appleseed Network resources while maintaining Wisconsin Appleseed's local identity and priorities", 'Your strategy for building on the existing foundation to achieve transformational growth across Wisconsin', 'Your approach to balancing remote leadership with in-person relationship building in Madison and Milwaukee']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Current policy priorities and campaigns on Wisconsin Appleseed's website (www.WisconsinAppleseed.org)
  • → The Appleseed Network structure and how other state centers operate within the network
  • → Wisconsin's specific justice, poverty, and discrimination landscape and key legislative opportunities
  • → Wisconsin Appleseed's existing partnerships and coalition work mentioned in their materials
Visit WIsconsin Appleseed's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you balance the priorities of the national Appleseed Network with Wisconsin-specific community needs?
2 Describe a time you successfully centered the voices of marginalized communities in policy advocacy work
3 What strategies would you use to expand Wisconsin Appleseed's impact given the existing foundation of partnerships and funding?
4 How would you approach building relationships with Wisconsin legislators while maintaining advocacy independence?
5 What experience do you have with fiscal sponsorship models like the relationship with Nebraska Appleseed?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on national policy experience without demonstrating understanding of Wisconsin's specific context and communities
  • Presenting a top-down leadership approach that doesn't prioritize community wisdom and grassroots solutions
  • Treating this as a generic executive director role without acknowledging the unique network structure and fiscal sponsorship model

📅 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 WIsconsin Appleseed!

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