Application Guide

How to Apply for Manager of Individual Giving

at Water For People

🏢 About Water For People

Water For People is unique for its 'Everyone Forever' strategy, which aims to provide sustainable water and sanitation services to entire districts without exception, ensuring long-term impact rather than temporary solutions. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven organization that values systemic change and measurable outcomes in global water access.

About This Role

As Manager of Individual Giving, you'll manage a portfolio of major donors giving $10K+ annually, with the goal of growing it to over $1 million per year. This role directly fuels Water For People's mission by securing critical funding through personalized donor strategies, prospect cultivation, and extensive travel for relationship-building across the U.S.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing donor data to identify prospects, crafting personalized outreach emails or call plans, and preparing for upcoming travel to meet with major donors. You could spend time strategizing gift asks, collaborating with team members on donor cultivation, and documenting interactions to track portfolio growth toward the $1 million annual goal.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Water For People Is Looking For

  • Has 4+ years of major gift fundraising experience with a proven track record of securing 5-to-6 figure gifts from high-capacity individuals
  • Demonstrates expertise in prospect research, face-to-face solicitations, and moving mid-level donors into major gift portfolios
  • Possesses exceptional communication skills with sensitivity to professionalism and donor relationships, tailored to Water For People's mission-driven culture
  • Is willing and able to travel up to 50% within the U.S. for donor meetings, conferences, and events

📝 Tips for Applying to Water For People

1

Quantify your fundraising achievements specifically—mention dollar amounts raised, portfolio growth percentages, and donor retention rates relevant to major gifts

2

Highlight experience with legacy gifts or planned giving, as this is mentioned in the job description alongside major donations

3

Demonstrate knowledge of Water For People's 'Everyone Forever' strategy by explaining how your fundraising approach aligns with sustainable impact

4

Emphasize your ability to analyze donor pools and identify high-potential prospects, as this is a key responsibility for growing the portfolio

5

Include examples of managing remote or distributed donor relationships, since this is a remote role with significant travel

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience raising 5-to-6 figure gifts and managing major donor portfolios, with concrete examples', "How your fundraising philosophy aligns with Water For People's mission of sustainable, district-wide water access", 'Your ability to travel extensively (up to 50%) for in-person donor cultivation and relationship-building', 'Your approach to customizing donor strategies and moving mid-level donors into major gift portfolios']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Water For People's 'Everyone Forever' strategy and its implementation in specific districts or countries
  • → The organization's annual reports or donor impact stories to understand current funding priorities and successes
  • → Recent news or campaigns from Water For People to discuss how major gifts could support ongoing initiatives
  • → The nonprofit's leadership team and board to identify potential connections or alignment with your experience
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you successfully secured a 5-to-6 figure gift from an individual donor—what was your strategy?
2 How would you identify and cultivate high-potential prospects from Water For People's mid-level donor pool?
3 What experience do you have with legacy or planned giving, and how would you incorporate it into this role?
4 How do you balance remote work with extensive travel for donor meetings, and what tools or methods do you use to maintain relationships?
5 How does your fundraising approach support Water For People's 'Everyone Forever' strategy and focus on sustainable impact?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on general fundraising experience without specifying major gift achievements (e.g., omitting dollar amounts or portfolio metrics)
  • Neglecting to address the travel requirement (up to 50%) or expressing reluctance about in-person donor cultivation
  • Using generic nonprofit language without tailoring your application to Water For People's mission and 'Everyone Forever' approach

📅 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 Water For People!

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