Application Guide
How to Apply for National Organizing Director, Party at the Polls
at Civic Nation
🏢 About Civic Nation
Civic Nation is an impact hub that strengthens civic culture, power, and participation through initiatives like When We All Vote, a nonpartisan effort to increase voter participation and close voting gaps. The organization is unique in its focus on building a more inclusive democracy through innovative programs like Party at the Polls, which transforms voting into a celebratory community event. Working here means being part of a collaborative, mission-driven team that values equity, creativity, and tangible impact.
About This Role
As National Organizing Director, you will lead the nationwide Party at the Polls grant program, managing a team of organizers to execute on-the-ground efforts that make voting festive and accessible. This role is impactful because you'll drive grant strategy, oversee fund disbursement, and forge partnerships that ensure voter protection in high-risk areas, directly contributing to closing voting gaps and strengthening democratic participation.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a check-in with your team of organizers to review progress on grant programs and troubleshoot any on-the-ground issues. You'll then meet with partner organizations to finalize MOUs or discuss joint efforts for voter protection, followed by reviewing grant reports and compliance documents. Afternoons could involve strategizing resource allocation for high-risk areas or preparing updates for leadership on program impact.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Civic Nation Is Looking For
- A seasoned organizer with 7+ years of experience, including 3+ years in a supervisory role, who has led national programs or managed large-scale partnerships.
- Someone with direct experience executing grant-funded programs, including tracking compliance, reporting, and managing budgets.
- A strategic thinker who can develop and implement partnership agreements, MOUs, and accountability frameworks to align diverse stakeholders.
- A leader passionate about voter protection and equity, with a track record of deploying resources to underserved or high-risk communities.
📝 Tips for Applying to Civic Nation
Highlight specific examples of leading national organizing programs, including the scale (e.g., number of partners, states, or voters reached) and outcomes achieved.
Detail your experience with grant-funded programs: mention any grants you've managed, compliance reporting you've overseen, and how you ensured funds were used effectively.
Showcase your partnership management skills: describe how you've developed MOUs or joint agreements and held partners accountable.
Emphasize any work you've done in voter protection or with high-risk communities, as this is a core focus of the role.
Tailor your resume to reflect the language of the job description, using terms like 'grant strategy,' 'organizing team management,' and 'voter protection.'
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your passion for nonpartisan voter participation and closing voting gaps, with specific examples of how your work has advanced equity in voting.', 'Your experience leading national programs and managing teams, emphasizing your ability to drive strategy and execution at scale.', 'Your familiarity with grant compliance and reporting, demonstrating your ability to manage funds responsibly and meet deadlines.', "Your collaborative approach to partnerships, including how you've navigated complex stakeholder relationships and ensured alignment."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read about Civic Nation's initiatives, especially When We All Vote and Party at the Polls, to understand their approach and impact.
- → Review recent news or reports on voter suppression and protection efforts in high-risk states to contextualize the role's importance.
- → Look into the organization's funding sources and how they measure success in grant programs, as this will be central to your work.
- → Familiarize yourself with Civic Nation's values and DEI commitments to align your application with their culture.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid being too generic about your organizing experience; instead, focus on national-scale programs and partnership management.
- Don't overlook the grant management aspect; failing to mention specific experience with compliance and reporting can hurt your application.
- Avoid a partisan tone; Civic Nation is nonpartisan, so emphasize your commitment to increasing voter participation across the political spectrum.
📅 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!