Application Guide

How to Apply for Head of Partnerships

at Accelerate Change

🏢 About Accelerate Change

Accelerate Change is a mission-driven digital media lab that builds and scales civic engagement models, particularly for BIPOC and low-income communities. As the largest mission-driven media network in the US, it reaches 135 million people monthly through partners like NowThis and PushBlack, making it a unique place to drive social impact at scale.

About This Role

As Head of Partnerships, you'll lead the strategy and execution of partnerships to expand the network's reach and deepen engagement. This role is critical to scaling the organization's impact by forging alliances with media, advocacy, and corporate partners that align with the mission of empowering underrepresented communities.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with your team to review partnership pipeline progress. You'll spend time meeting with potential partners (e.g., advocacy groups or media companies), negotiating terms, and collaborating with internal teams to ensure alignment with campaign goals. Afternoons could involve analyzing partnership performance data and strategizing on new opportunities to expand reach in key communities.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Accelerate Change Is Looking For

  • Has 7+ years of experience in partnerships or business development within media, nonprofit, or social impact sectors, with a track record of closing multi-million dollar deals.
  • Deeply understands digital media ecosystems and can identify synergies between Accelerate Change's network and potential partners to drive civic engagement.
  • Possesses strong relationship-building skills and a network of contacts in progressive media, advocacy, or corporate social responsibility spaces.
  • Is data-driven and can articulate partnership ROI using metrics like reach, engagement, and conversion to civic actions.

📝 Tips for Applying to Accelerate Change

1

Highlight specific partnerships you've built that resulted in measurable civic engagement outcomes, such as voter registration or petition signatures.

2

Tailor your resume to show experience with BIPOC and low-income communities, as this is central to Accelerate Change's mission.

3

Demonstrate familiarity with Accelerate Change's network partners (e.g., NowThis, PushBlack) by referencing their work in your cover letter.

4

Quantify your achievements: e.g., 'Grew partnership revenue by 40% year-over-year' or 'Secured partnerships reaching 50M+ monthly users.'

5

Mention any experience with c3/c4 structures or working across nonprofit and for-profit partnerships.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Emphasize your passion for civic engagement and digital media as tools for social change, aligning with Accelerate Change's theory of 'functional organizing.'", 'Showcase your ability to build partnerships that serve underrepresented communities, providing concrete examples.', "Explain how your partnership strategy can scale the organization's reach and impact, referencing their 135M monthly audience.", 'Demonstrate understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities of remote-first, mission-driven organizations.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Accelerate Change's network partners (NowThis, PushBlack, ParentsTogether, etc.) and their recent campaigns.
  • → Understand the organization's c3/c4 structure and how it affects partnership opportunities (e.g., advocacy vs. education).
  • → Read about 'functional organizing' theory to align your partnership ideas with their core strategy.
  • → Explore their annual reports or impact metrics to understand current partnership performance and gaps.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach building partnerships with traditional media vs. digital-native creators?
2 Describe a time you had to negotiate a partnership with conflicting priorities between mission and revenue.
3 How do you measure success in partnerships beyond financial metrics (e.g., civic engagement impact)?
4 What partnerships would you prioritize to expand reach among BIPOC and low-income communities?
5 How do you manage a remote team and maintain alignment across different time zones and partners?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing solely on revenue generation without tying it to civic engagement or mission impact.
  • Overlooking the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in partnership strategy.
  • Proposing generic partnership ideas that don't leverage Accelerate Change's unique media network or audience demographics.

📅 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 Accelerate Change!

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