Application Guide
How to Apply for Lead Creative, Public Pod
at One Acre Fund
🏢 About One Acre Fund
One Acre Fund is a mission-driven nonprofit that empowers 5.5 million smallholder farmers across Africa with supplies, training, and financing. Its unique scale (9,000+ staff) and measurable impact (35%+ income increase) make it a standout organization for those seeking to drive systemic change in agriculture.
About This Role
As Lead Creative on the Public Pod, you'll craft compelling grant proposals targeting government and bilateral donors (e.g., USAID, EU) to fuel One Acre Fund's growth to 10 million farmers by 2030. This role blends creative writing with project management, directly influencing fundraising success for a high-impact organization.
💡 A Day in the Life
You'll start by reviewing donor guidelines for an upcoming proposal, then draft a narrative outline. Midday, you'll lead a brainstorming session with the public pod to refine key messages. Afternoon is dedicated to coordinating with country teams for data and reviewing a colleague's draft before a deadline.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who One Acre Fund Is Looking For
- Experienced grant writer with a proven track record securing funds from bilateral/multilateral agencies (e.g., USAID, DFID, EU).
- Strong project manager who can coordinate complex proposals across teams and deadlines.
- Creative storyteller able to translate technical agricultural data into persuasive narratives.
- Comfortable working remotely across time zones, with excellent communication and self-discipline.
📝 Tips for Applying to One Acre Fund
Highlight specific bilateral/multilateral grants you've won, including agency names, funding amounts, and your role.
Showcase your project management skills by describing a complex proposal timeline you managed from concept to submission.
Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize 'creative' aspects—use storytelling metrics (e.g., 'increased proposal win rate by X%').
Mention familiarity with One Acre Fund's programs (e.g., tree seedlings, credit) and how they align with donor priorities like food security.
Include a writing sample of a successful grant narrative, preferably for a government donor, with annotations explaining your strategy.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your specific experience with government/bilateral donors and measurable outcomes (e.g., 'secured $5M from USAID').", "Passion for agricultural development and alignment with One Acre Fund's mission of serving smallholder farmers.", 'Ability to manage end-to-end proposal development under tight deadlines.', 'Creative approach to grant writing—how you turn data into compelling stories that resonate with donor priorities.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read One Acre Fund's annual reports and recent press releases to understand their impact metrics and language.
- → Study their current donor portfolio (e.g., USAID, EU) and recent grant awards to identify patterns.
- → Review the 'Why Work Here' blog post to internalize company culture and values.
- → Familiarize yourself with key bilateral funding mechanisms (e.g., Feed the Future, Global Agriculture and Food Security Program).
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference One Acre Fund's specific programs or public pod focus.
- Overlooking the 'creative' aspect—this isn't just technical writing; demonstrate storytelling ability.
- Failing to quantify your impact (e.g., 'wrote grants' vs. 'secured $2M in bilateral funding').
📅 Application Timeline
⏰ Deadline: June 22, 2026
We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!