Application Guide

How to Apply for Grants & Business Development Coordinator

at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

🏢 About International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a unique humanitarian organization that responds to the world's worst crises, helping people survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at Albert Einstein's request, the IRC operates in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities, providing emergency relief and long-term assistance to refugees and displaced people. Working here offers the chance to directly impact vulnerable populations through innovative programs in health, education, economic wellbeing, and safety.

About This Role

As a Grants & Business Development Coordinator, you'll manage the full grant lifecycle for IRC's humanitarian programs, from proposal development to reporting and compliance. This role is critical for securing funding that enables life-saving interventions in conflict zones and refugee settings. You'll coordinate with program teams across multiple countries to develop compelling funding proposals that align with donor priorities and IRC's strategic goals.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves coordinating with program teams in different time zones to gather inputs for upcoming proposals, reviewing donor guidelines for new funding opportunities, and updating grant tracking systems. You might spend the morning reviewing a draft proposal for a health program in East Africa, then join an afternoon call with colleagues in Europe to align on donor reporting requirements. The role balances strategic planning for future opportunities with detailed management of current grants.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who International Rescue Committee (IRC) Is Looking For

  • Has 2-3 years of experience in grant management or business development within the humanitarian or international development sector
  • Demonstrates strong knowledge of major institutional donors like USAID, FCDO, EU, and UN agencies
  • Possesses excellent project coordination skills with experience working across time zones and cultures
  • Shows commitment to humanitarian principles and understanding of refugee/IDP contexts

📝 Tips for Applying to International Rescue Committee (IRC)

1

Highlight specific experience with institutional donors common in humanitarian work (USAID, ECHO, UNHCR, etc.) rather than just corporate or foundation grants

2

Quantify your impact in previous roles - e.g., 'managed $X million in grants across Y countries' or 'secured Z% increase in funding'

3

Demonstrate understanding of IRC's specific program areas by mentioning relevant sectors like health, protection, or economic recovery

4

Show remote work proficiency by mentioning experience with virtual collaboration tools and managing distributed teams

5

Reference IRC's 2022-2030 strategy and how your skills align with their goals of increasing impact and scale

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with the full grant lifecycle in humanitarian contexts, not just proposal writing', 'Specific examples of coordinating complex proposals across multiple stakeholders and locations', 'Understanding of compliance requirements for major humanitarian donors', "Passion for IRC's mission with concrete examples of how you've contributed to similar causes"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → IRC's 2022-2030 strategy and how business development supports their 'Scale' and 'Influence' goals
  • → Recent IRC annual reports and specific country programs you might support
  • → Major humanitarian donors' current priorities (especially USAID/BHA, ECHO, UN agencies)
  • → IRC's technical units and how they collaborate with business development

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience managing grants from identification through close-out in a humanitarian context
2 How would you coordinate a multi-country proposal with tight deadlines across different time zones?
3 What strategies would you use to ensure compliance with donor requirements while maintaining program flexibility?
4 How do you stay current with changing priorities of major humanitarian donors?
5 Describe a time you had to manage conflicting priorities between program teams and donor requirements
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with generic NGO experience without specific humanitarian/grant management examples
  • Focusing only on proposal writing without demonstrating knowledge of post-award management
  • Showing limited understanding of the unique challenges in humanitarian funding (emergency response, volatile contexts, etc.)

📅 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 International Rescue Committee (IRC)!

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