Application Guide

How to Apply for Managing Director of Partnerships and Growth (candidates can be based anywhere in the U.S.)

at Tradeoffs

🏢 About Tradeoffs

Tradeoffs is an award-winning nonprofit news organization uniquely positioned at the intersection of journalism and health policy, using data-driven reporting and personal stories to foster smarter conversations about healthcare. Working here offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful societal impact while being part of a mission-driven team that connects policy to practice in a critical sector.

About This Role

As Managing Director of Partnerships and Growth, you'll lead Tradeoffs' revenue strategy across foundation support, major gifts, sponsorships, membership, and earned income while increasing brand visibility in journalism, health policy, and philanthropic circles. This role is impactful because you'll directly enable the organization's award-winning reporting by diversifying funding streams and expanding its reach to influence healthcare conversations nationally.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning strategy sessions with the leadership team to align revenue goals with editorial priorities, followed by outreach to potential foundation partners or major donors, and afternoon work on sponsorship proposals or membership program development. You'd likely spend time analyzing revenue metrics, preparing for board meetings, and collaborating with the editorial team to identify partnership opportunities that align with their reporting.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Tradeoffs Is Looking For

  • Has 10+ years of nonprofit revenue development experience with proven success in both philanthropic fundraising (foundation/major gifts) AND earned revenue strategies (sponsorships/membership)
  • Demonstrates experience building revenue strategies from scratch and translating strategic plans into measurable goals and metrics
  • Possesses strong existing networks within journalism, health policy, or philanthropic communities that can be leveraged for partnerships
  • Has leadership team experience with cross-functional collaboration and board development in mission-driven organizations

📝 Tips for Applying to Tradeoffs

1

Quantify your revenue achievements specifically in both philanthropic AND earned income categories (e.g., 'Increased foundation support by X% while growing sponsorship revenue by Y%')

2

Highlight any experience with health policy, journalism, or media organizations - even if tangential - as Tradeoffs operates at this unique intersection

3

Demonstrate understanding of their mission by referencing specific Tradeoffs reporting or episodes in your materials

4

Show remote leadership experience since this is a fully remote position managing a distributed team

5

Emphasize both strategic planning AND implementation capabilities, as the role requires translating strategy into actionable revenue goals

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with revenue diversification across the five mentioned streams (foundation, major gifts, sponsorships, membership, earned income)', "How you've increased organizational visibility and brand recognition in previous roles", 'Your approach to collaborative leadership and cross-functional work in mission-driven environments', "Why Tradeoffs' specific mission resonates with you and how your background aligns with their health policy journalism focus"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Listen to several Tradeoffs podcast episodes and understand their reporting style and recurring themes
  • → Research their current funding sources and partnerships through their annual reports or 990 forms
  • → Understand the competitive landscape of nonprofit health journalism and policy organizations
  • → Review their leadership team and board members to understand organizational structure
Visit Tradeoffs's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop a revenue diversification strategy for Tradeoffs given their current funding mix?
2 What specific tactics would you use to increase Tradeoffs' visibility within health policy and philanthropic communities?
3 Describe your experience working with boards and how you would support board development at Tradeoffs
4 How would you measure success in this role, and what metrics would you track for revenue growth?
5 What challenges do you foresee in growing earned revenue for a nonprofit news organization focused on health policy?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on philanthropic fundraising without addressing earned revenue strategies
  • Generic application materials that don't reference Tradeoffs' specific mission or content
  • Lack of specific metrics or quantifiable achievements in revenue development
  • No demonstrated experience working collaboratively in leadership teams or cross-functionally

📅 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 Tradeoffs!

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