Application Guide

How to Apply for Program Coordinator

at CDC Foundation

🏢 About CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation is a unique nonprofit that mobilizes philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's critical health protection work. Unlike typical nonprofits, it operates as the sole authorized fundraising entity for CDC, allowing professionals to work at the intersection of public health and innovative partnerships. This offers the opportunity to contribute to high-impact public health initiatives while leveraging both government expertise and private-sector flexibility.

About This Role

As a Program Coordinator at the CDC Foundation, you'll manage day-to-day operations of substance use disorder programs, ensuring compliance with funder requirements while building sustainable initiatives. This role directly impacts overdose prevention efforts by coordinating activities, monitoring budgets, and providing technical assistance to stakeholders. You'll be instrumental in translating public health strategies into actionable programs that save lives.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing program documentation for funder compliance, coordinating with community partners on harm reduction training schedules, analyzing budget expenditures against program objectives, and preparing technical assistance materials for stakeholders implementing overdose prevention strategies. You'd likely balance operational coordination with strategic planning to ensure programs meet both immediate needs and long-term sustainability goals.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for CDC Foundation

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who CDC Foundation Is Looking For

  • Has 2+ years of hands-on experience in public health program coordination, specifically with documentation for federal or foundation funders
  • Demonstrates concrete knowledge of overdose prevention strategies, harm reduction approaches, and substance use disorder treatment modalities
  • Possesses strong project management skills with experience in budget monitoring and data collection for health programs
  • Holds a Bachelor's degree in public health or social sciences (Master's preferred) with coursework or experience in drug policy or recovery services

📝 Tips for Applying to CDC Foundation

1

Quantify your experience with funder documentation - specify which grantors you've worked with (e.g., SAMHSA, state health departments) and types of reports you've completed

2

Highlight any direct experience with CDC-funded programs or public-private partnerships in your resume

3

Demonstrate your substance use disorder knowledge by mentioning specific frameworks you've worked with (e.g., Medication-Assisted Treatment, naloxone distribution programs)

4

Show how you've built program sustainability - describe specific strategies you've implemented to ensure program continuity beyond initial funding

5

Tailor your application to show understanding of the CDC Foundation's unique model - mention how you'd bridge public health objectives with philanthropic implementation

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience managing compliance documentation for health program funders and ensuring regulatory adherence', "Specific examples of how you've coordinated overdose prevention or harm reduction programs, including stakeholder training you've provided", 'Your approach to building program sustainability and measuring long-term impact in public health initiatives', "Why the CDC Foundation's public-private partnership model appeals to you and how your skills align with this unique structure"]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review the CDC Foundation's current programs related to substance use (particularly their Overdose Response Strategy and other opioid initiatives)
  • → Study how the Foundation partners with CDC divisions like the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
  • → Understand the Foundation's response to recent public health emergencies and how they mobilize private resources
  • → Research the specific funders mentioned in current CDC Foundation programs (e.g., Bloomberg Philanthropies, private donors)

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would ensure compliance with CDC guidelines while implementing a community-based overdose prevention program
2 Describe your experience developing monitoring systems for program budgets with multiple funding sources
3 How would you provide technical assistance to community organizations with varying levels of harm reduction experience?
4 Share an example of how you've coordinated program activities across different stakeholders (health departments, community groups, healthcare providers)
5 What strategies would you use to build sustainability for a substance use disorder program facing potential funding changes?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic applications that don't address substance use disorder expertise or CDC Foundation's unique model
  • Failing to demonstrate specific experience with funder documentation and compliance requirements for health programs
  • Overlooking the importance of both technical public health knowledge AND partnership coordination skills in your application

📅 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 CDC Foundation!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →