Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Director of Finance

at Savanna Institute

🏢 About Savanna Institute

Savanna Institute is a mission-driven nonprofit advancing agroforestry to build ecological resilience and climate stability in the Midwest. Their work integrates trees, crops, and livestock to create sustainable farming systems, making them a unique employer for those passionate about environmental impact and innovative land stewardship.

About This Role

As Senior Director of Finance, you will lead all financial operations for a growing nonprofit, ensuring fiscal health and compliance across grants, budgeting, and reporting. This role is impactful because your work directly supports the Institute's mission to scale agroforestry and combat climate change.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing cash flow projections and grant drawdown schedules, followed by a virtual meeting with the finance team to discuss month-end close. Afternoon could involve coordinating with the external accounting firm on audit prep and meeting with program directors to align budgets with grant requirements.

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🎯 Who Savanna Institute Is Looking For

  • A seasoned finance leader with 7+ years of progressive experience, including senior leadership in a nonprofit or private sector with strong nonprofit engagement.
  • Expert in fund accounting and nonprofit financial reporting, with hands-on experience managing grants financial management and compliance.
  • Proven supervisory experience (3+ years) and ability to lead a finance team while collaborating with an outsourced accounting firm.
  • Proficient in cloud-based financial systems like Sage Intacct, NetSuite, or Blackbaud Financial Edge, and comfortable with remote work technologies.

📝 Tips for Applying to Savanna Institute

1

Highlight your experience with federal grants and compliance (e.g., USDA, NSF) – Savanna Institute relies heavily on grant funding for agroforestry research.

2

Showcase your familiarity with fund accounting and how you've managed multiple restricted funds in a nonprofit context.

3

Mention any experience with cloud-based financial systems like Sage Intacct; if you haven't used them, emphasize your ability to quickly learn new platforms.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize results in cash flow management, audit readiness, and internal controls for a mission-driven organization.

5

Include a specific example of how you've improved financial processes or stewardship in a previous role, linking it to environmental or agricultural impact.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for Savanna Institute's mission of agroforestry and climate resilience – connect your financial expertise to their environmental goals.", 'Specific experience with grant financial management and compliance, especially for federal or foundation grants.', "Your leadership style and how you've built or mentored finance teams in a nonprofit setting.", 'Your proficiency with cloud-based financial systems and adaptability to remote work environments.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Savanna Institute's recent annual reports and financial statements to understand their funding sources and financial health.
  • → Explore their website and publications to grasp agroforestry practices and how finance supports their research and outreach.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key funders in agroforestry (e.g., USDA, McKnight Foundation) and any current grant opportunities.
  • → Look up their leadership team and board members to understand the organizational culture and strategic priorities.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience with fund accounting and how you ensure proper allocation of restricted funds across multiple grants.
2 How have you managed a remote finance team and coordinated with an external accounting firm?
3 Walk us through a time you identified a financial risk and implemented internal controls to mitigate it.
4 How would you approach budgeting for a nonprofit with diverse revenue streams (grants, donations, earned income)?
5 What cloud-based financial management systems have you used, and how do you leverage them for reporting and compliance?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid generic finance resumes – ensure your experience explicitly ties to nonprofit fund accounting and grant management.
  • Don't overlook the remote aspect; demonstrate your ability to work independently and manage a distributed team effectively.
  • Steer clear of jargon-heavy language without context – explain how your skills specifically apply to agroforestry and environmental nonprofits.

📅 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 Savanna Institute!

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