Application Guide

How to Apply for Major Gifts Officer

at Seva Foundation

🏢 About Seva Foundation

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian organization responding to the world's worst crises, with over 20,000 staff across 40+ countries. What makes IRC unique is its dual commitment to immediate emergency response and long-term recovery programs, guided by core values of integrity, service, accountability, and equality. Someone would want to work here to be part of a purpose-driven team that innovates scalable solutions to help people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives worldwide.

About This Role

As a Major Gifts Officer at IRC, you'll be responsible for cultivating and securing significant donations from individual donors to support humanitarian programs, likely focusing on Syria or other crisis regions. This role is impactful because major gifts directly fund life-saving interventions and recovery efforts, enabling IRC to respond rapidly to emergencies and sustain long-term programming for vulnerable populations.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching and qualifying potential major donors, preparing personalized proposals for Syria crisis funding, collaborating with program officers to gather latest impact data from the field, and conducting virtual donor meetings to share updates on emergency responses. You'd also spend time documenting donor interactions in the CRM system and strategizing cultivation plans for high-potential prospects.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Seva Foundation Is Looking For

  • Has 3-5 years of proven experience in major gifts fundraising, preferably in humanitarian or international development sectors
  • Demonstrates ability to build authentic relationships with high-net-worth individuals and communicate complex humanitarian needs compellingly
  • Shows deep alignment with IRC's values—particularly integrity and accountability in donor stewardship
  • Possesses knowledge of fundraising regulations and ethical standards for international NGOs operating in the USA

📝 Tips for Applying to Seva Foundation

1

Quantify your past fundraising achievements with specific dollar amounts raised and donor retention rates, as IRC values accountability and results

2

Highlight any experience with crisis response or humanitarian fundraising, as this role likely supports emergency programs in Syria or similar contexts

3

Demonstrate your understanding of IRC's dual focus on emergency response and long-term recovery by referencing specific programs in your application

4

Tailor your resume to show how you've upheld values like integrity and service in previous donor relationships

5

If you have experience with diaspora or multicultural donor communities, emphasize this given IRC's global reach and diverse donor base

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your personal connection to IRC's mission and how it aligns with your professional values", "Specific examples of how you've successfully cultivated major donors in past roles, particularly for humanitarian causes", "Your understanding of IRC's program areas (especially Syria crisis response) and how major gifts support these initiatives", "How you would approach building donor relationships that reflect IRC's values of integrity and accountability"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → IRC's current emergency responses, particularly in Syria, including specific programs and funding gaps mentioned in their annual reports
  • → IRC's donor stewardship philosophy and how they communicate impact to major donors (review their donor reports and impact statements)
  • → The organizational structure of IRC's fundraising department and how major gifts officers collaborate with other teams
  • → Recent news about IRC's work to understand current challenges and successes in their humanitarian responses

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach cultivating a major donor interested in supporting IRC's work in Syria specifically?
2 Describe a time you had to maintain donor trust and transparency during a complex humanitarian crisis
3 How do you balance the urgency of emergency fundraising with the need for sustainable, long-term donor relationships?
4 What strategies would you use to communicate the impact of major gifts to donors in a way that reflects IRC's values?
5 How would you collaborate with program teams to understand and articulate funding needs for crisis response?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic fundraising language without connecting it to IRC's specific humanitarian context and values
  • Focusing only on fundraising metrics without demonstrating understanding of humanitarian program needs
  • Showing lack of awareness about IRC's current crisis responses or geographic priorities

📅 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 Seva Foundation!

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