Application Guide

How to Apply for Philanthropic Advisor (Los Angeles region)

at Movement Voter Project

🏢 About Movement Voter Project

Movement Voter Project operates as a 'mutual fund' for progressive political giving, channeling donor funds to impactful local organizing groups nationwide. What makes MVP unique is its focus on grassroots power-building rather than traditional political campaigns, allowing donors to support systemic change through community-led movements. Working here means directly fueling social justice organizations that shift culture, win power, and shape policy.

About This Role

As a Philanthropic Advisor for the Los Angeles region, you'll manage approximately 150 major donors giving $10,000+ annually, creating personalized engagement plans and conducting face-to-face meetings to cultivate relationships. This role is impactful because you'll be directly responsible for securing resources that fund local organizing groups working on progressive issues in Southern California, essentially serving as the bridge between donors and grassroots movements.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves conducting 2-3 virtual or in-person meetings with Southern California donors to cultivate relationships, update them on MVP-funded organizations, and discuss giving opportunities. Between meetings, you'd be updating donor records in the database, developing personalized engagement strategies for your portfolio, and coordinating with the donor organizing team on upcoming events or mobilization efforts.

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Movement Voter Project Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of proven success soliciting major gifts of $10,000+ and prospecting new donors in the progressive/social justice space
  • Demonstrates meticulous attention to detail with donor databases and can manage confidential information while tracking 150+ donor relationships
  • Possesses deep knowledge of and passion for social justice movements, progressive politics, and grassroots organizing in Southern California
  • Has strong project management skills to create individualized engagement plans for each donor while partnering with the donor organizing team

📝 Tips for Applying to Movement Voter Project

1

Quantify your major gift fundraising achievements specifically for $10,000+ donations - include number of donors managed, total funds raised, and portfolio growth metrics

2

Highlight your experience with Southern California progressive donors or organizations, as this role focuses specifically on the LA region

3

Demonstrate your understanding of MVP's 'mutual fund' model by explaining how you'd approach donor cultivation differently than traditional political fundraising

4

Showcase your database proficiency by mentioning specific CRM systems you've used for donor tracking and relationship management

5

Include examples of how you've partnered with organizing teams or mobilized donors beyond just soliciting funds

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience managing portfolios of 100+ major donors and your track record with $10,000+ gifts', "How your understanding of Southern California's progressive landscape aligns with MVP's focus on funding local organizing groups", "Examples of how you've created individualized engagement plans that go beyond transactional fundraising to build lasting donor relationships", "Your passion for grassroots movement-building and how it connects to MVP's mission of shifting power to communities"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study MVP's recent grant recipients in Southern California to understand which local organizations they fund
  • → Review MVP's annual reports and donor materials to understand their specific 'mutual fund' approach versus traditional PACs
  • → Research progressive donor networks in Los Angeles and identify potential connections or overlaps
  • → Understand the current social justice movements in Southern California that MVP might be supporting
Visit Movement Voter Project's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would prospect for new $10,000+ donors in the Southern California progressive community
2 Describe your approach to creating individualized stewardship plans for 150 donors while maintaining consistent communication
3 How would you explain MVP's 'mutual fund' model to a potential donor who typically gives to individual candidates or campaigns?
4 Share an example of how you've successfully partnered with organizing teams to mobilize donors beyond financial contributions
5 What strategies would you use to re-engage lapsed major donors in the LA region?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on political campaign fundraising experience without demonstrating understanding of movement-building or grassroots organizing support
  • Being vague about major gift amounts - if you mention major gifts but don't specify $10,000+ level experience
  • Showing more interest in traditional philanthropy than in MVP's specific model of channeling funds to local organizing groups

📅 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 Movement Voter Project!

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