Application Guide
How to Apply for Managing Director, Advising Services
at Tides
🏢 About Tides
Tides Center is the leading fiscal sponsor for social change initiatives in the U.S., uniquely positioned at the intersection of finance and social justice. It offers a mission-driven environment where you can directly support movements advancing equity and shifting power to historically marginalized communities.
About This Role
This role leads the Senior Advisor team to ensure high performance and partner impact, while driving financial sustainability and growth of the advising function. As Managing Director, you will shape the strategic direction of advisory services and directly influence the success of social change projects nationwide.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with the Senior Advisor team to review partner progress and address any urgent issues. You could then meet with Business Development to discuss pipeline growth, followed by analyzing the advising function's financial performance and strategizing on budget adjustments. Afternoon might involve a one-on-one coaching session with a direct report or a partner meeting to ensure satisfaction and impact.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Tides Is Looking For
- Has 8+ years of progressive experience, including 4 years managing senior individual contributors or managers in a complex nonprofit, consulting, or philanthropic context.
- Possesses direct experience in fiscal sponsorship, intermediary organizations, or services to nonprofit/movement organizations, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in this space.
- Demonstrates strong financial acumen with P&L or business unit accountability, able to balance revenue and costs while stewarding financial sustainability.
- Excels in matrixed or cross-functional team structures, collaborating effectively across business development, finance, and operations.
📝 Tips for Applying to Tides
Highlight your specific experience with fiscal sponsorship or intermediary organizations in your resume and cover letter, using concrete examples of projects or initiatives you've managed.
Quantify your impact: e.g., 'Managed a portfolio of X partners with Y% retention rate' or 'Drove Z% revenue growth through advisory services.'
Emphasize your people management experience with senior individual contributors, detailing how you developed and held them accountable.
Showcase your financial stewardship by describing your experience with P&L management, budgeting, or revenue forecasting in a nonprofit or consulting context.
Tailor your application to reflect Tides' mission of social justice and power shifting; avoid generic language and connect your work to their values.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your direct experience with fiscal sponsorship or intermediary organizations and how it aligns with Tides' model.", 'Your track record of managing senior teams and driving partner satisfaction and retention.', 'Your financial acumen, especially in balancing mission and margin in a nonprofit context.', 'Your commitment to social justice and understanding of how advisory services can shift power to marginalized communities.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Familiarize yourself with Tides' fiscal sponsorship model and how it differs from other intermediaries; review case studies on their website.
- → Research Tides' recent initiatives or partnerships, especially those related to racial equity and power shifting.
- → Understand the landscape of fiscal sponsorship in the U.S., including key competitors and trends, to show strategic awareness.
- → Review Tides' annual report or impact metrics to understand their financial health and partner outcomes.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing too much on corporate consulting experience without connecting it to nonprofit or social justice contexts.
- Highlighting individual achievements without demonstrating team leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
- Using generic language about 'passion for mission' without specific examples of your work with marginalized communities or social change.
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!