Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Director, Institutional Giving (Foundations)

at Americares

🏢 About Americares

Americares is a global health and disaster relief organization that delivers life-changing health programs, medicine, and emergency aid to 85+ countries annually. Its unique focus on both emergency response and long-term health access makes it a mission-driven workplace where your fundraising efforts directly save lives and strengthen communities worldwide.

About This Role

As Senior Director, Institutional Giving (Foundations), you will lead a team securing multi-million-dollar foundation partnerships to fund Americares' global health initiatives. This role is pivotal in shaping fundraising strategy and ensuring sustainable resources for disaster relief and health programs, with direct impact on millions of people in need.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start reviewing team proposals for a major foundation submission, followed by a strategy call with the VP on pipeline priorities. You'd then coach an Associate Director on a donor meeting, review stewardship reports, and later network with foundation program officers via virtual meetings or events. The role blends high-level strategy with hands-on team management and donor engagement.

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🎯 Who Americares Is Looking For

  • A seasoned foundation fundraising leader with a proven track record of securing multi-million-dollar, multi-year grants from top foundations (e.g., Gates, Rockefeller, Bloomberg) for INGOs, ideally in global health or development.
  • Deep professional network within the foundation community, with ability to open doors and cultivate relationships with high-value donors.
  • Experienced manager who has supervised and mentored fundraising teams, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and professional development.
  • Strategic thinker who can partner with VP-level leadership to set goals, develop donor pipelines, and drive organizational fundraising strategy.

📝 Tips for Applying to Americares

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific foundation relationships and dollar amounts secured, especially for health-focused INGOs.

2

In your cover letter, mention familiarity with Americares' programs (e.g., medicine supply chain, disaster response) and how your network aligns with their mission.

3

Quantify your past successes: e.g., 'Led team to secure $15M from X Foundation over 3 years for maternal health programs.'

4

Research Americares' recent foundation partners (listed on their website) and reference them in your application to show proactive interest.

5

Emphasize experience with multi-year, transformational grants, not just one-off gifts, as the role focuses on sustained partnerships.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your track record in securing major foundation grants for global health or disaster relief organizations.', 'Your leadership philosophy and experience developing fundraising teams, including specific examples of mentorship.', "Your strategic vision for expanding Americares' foundation donor pipeline and increasing multi-year commitments.", "Your alignment with Americares' mission and understanding of their dual focus on emergency response and long-term health access."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Americares' annual reports and impact metrics to understand their program areas and funding needs.
  • → Study their current foundation partners (e.g., Abbott, Johnson & Johnson) to identify potential gaps or expansion opportunities.
  • → Familiarize yourself with their disaster response methodology and health initiatives (e.g., medicine supply chain, NCD programs).
  • → Look into recent news or press releases about Americares to understand current priorities and challenges.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you cultivated a major foundation relationship from initial contact to a multi-million-dollar commitment. What was your approach?
2 How would you assess and prioritize the current foundation portfolio at Americares? What gaps do you see?
3 How do you balance short-term fundraising targets with long-term relationship building?
4 Tell us about a time you provided constructive feedback to a team member that led to improved performance. How did you handle it?
5 What is your understanding of Americares' global health programs, and how would you position them to different types of foundations (e.g., health-focused vs. disaster relief)?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference Americares' specific work or foundation partners.
  • Focusing only on your own achievements without demonstrating how you can lead and develop a team.
  • Underestimating the importance of health sector knowledge; be prepared to discuss global health trends and how they relate to fundraising.

📅 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 Americares!

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