How to apply for Director of Strategic Advancement

About Appalachian Voices

Appalachian Voices is a nonprofit advocacy organization with over 45 staff across five offices in Central and Southern Appalachia. It works to protect the region's land, air, and water while advancing a just transition to a clean energy economy. The Director of Strategic Advancement will be based remotely and work with leadership across the region.

About the role

The Director of Strategic Advancement leads fundraising from institutional donors, including foundations and other philanthropic partners. The role involves stewarding existing funder relationships, identifying and soliciting new partners, and producing high-caliber written materials that communicate complex work to expert foundation audiences. This position directly supports the organization's ability to fund its programs and mission.

A typical day

A typical day might involve drafting a grant proposal, meeting with senior leaders to discuss funding priorities, and corresponding with foundation program officers. You could also spend time researching new potential funders and reviewing financial reports to track progress toward revenue goals.

Who Appalachian Voices is looking for

• Has a track record of securing and growing institutional funding from foundations or similar donors.
• Can write clear, compelling proposals and reports for expert foundation audiences.
• Is results-oriented and committed to Appalachian Voices' mission of protecting ecosystems and advancing a just clean energy transition.
• Works well with senior leaders to connect funding opportunities to organizational programs.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your cover letter and resume to show experience with institutional donors, not individual giving or events.
• Include specific examples of written work products you developed for foundation audiences, such as proposals or reports.
• Research Appalachian Voices' current programs and funders to understand their work and funding needs.
• Highlight any experience working remotely or with a regionally dispersed team.
• Address your familiarity with Central and Southern Appalachia or similar regions in your application.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your success in stewarding and growing institutional funding partnerships. Describe your ability to write for expert foundation audiences. Explain how you have worked with senior leaders to align funding with programs. Show your commitment to environmental protection and clean energy transition in Appalachia.

Research before applying

• Review Appalachian Voices' website, especially their programs and recent annual reports.
• Look up their current institutional funders and any public grant announcements.
• Read about the clean energy transition and environmental issues in Central and Southern Appalachia.
• Check LinkedIn profiles of current staff, especially leadership, to understand their backgrounds.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach stewarding Appalachian Voices' existing institutional funders?
• Describe a time you identified and solicited a new philanthropic partner. What was the outcome?
• How do you ensure written proposals and reports meet the expectations of expert foundation audiences?
• How would you work with senior leaders to connect funding opportunities to programs?
• What experience do you have with remote work and collaborating across multiple offices?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing on individual giving or event fundraising instead of institutional donor experience.
• Submitting generic writing samples that are not tailored to foundation audiences.
• Ignoring the regional context of Appalachia or the organization's mission in the cover letter.