Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Director of Major Gifts

at Upwardly Global Inc.

🏢 About Upwardly Global Inc.

Upwardly Global uniquely focuses on helping skilled immigrants overcome systemic barriers to employment in the U.S., moving them from poverty or exclusion to thriving-wage careers. Unlike general workforce development nonprofits, it combines customized coaching, credential navigation, and employer partnerships specifically for foreign-born professionals. Working here means directly advancing economic inclusion and tapping the potential of overlooked talent pools.

About This Role

As Senior Director of Major Gifts, you'll lead the strategy to secure transformative gifts ($10K+) that fuel Upwardly Global's mission, managing a personal portfolio of high-net-worth donors while building a sustainable pipeline. This role is impactful because major gifts directly enable program expansion, allowing more immigrants to achieve career success and economic stability. You'll shape the organization's long-term growth by cultivating deep donor relationships aligned with its holistic approach.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves virtual meetings with high-net-worth donors to discuss gift opportunities, strategizing with your team on pipeline growth, and analyzing donor data to identify prospecting targets. You might collaborate with the CDO on long-term planning, review stewardship reports, and mentor gift officers via video calls, all while aligning efforts with Upwardly Global's mission of immigrant economic inclusion.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Upwardly Global Inc. Is Looking For

  • Has 10+ years in nonprofit fundraising with 5+ years specifically closing six- and seven-figure major gifts, preferably in workforce development, immigration, or economic mobility sectors
  • Demonstrates a proven ability to reactivate lapsed donors and upgrade existing ones through personalized cultivation strategies, not just acquiring new donors
  • Possesses experience building major gift pipelines from prospecting to stewardship, with metrics showing sustained portfolio growth
  • Has managed and mentored gift officers or development teams, fostering collaboration in a remote or hybrid environment

📝 Tips for Applying to Upwardly Global Inc.

1

Quantify your major gifts achievements: specify the number and size of six- and seven-figure gifts closed, portfolio growth rates, and donor retention metrics in your resume

2

Highlight experience with donor prospecting strategies relevant to Upwardly Global's mission, such as engaging donors passionate about immigration, economic justice, or workforce diversity

3

Tailor your application to show understanding of the unique challenges skilled immigrants face (e.g., credential recognition, bias) and how major gifts address these

4

If you have remote fundraising experience, emphasize how you've built donor relationships virtually, as this role is fully remote

5

Reference Upwardly Global's specific programs or impact metrics (e.g., job placement rates, immigrant stories) to show you've researched their work deeply

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your track record in securing six- and seven-figure gifts, with specific examples of strategies used to cultivate high-net-worth donors', "How your major gifts experience aligns with Upwardly Global's mission, showing understanding of skilled immigrant integration challenges", 'Your approach to building and managing a major gifts pipeline, including reactivating lapsed donors and upgrading existing ones', 'Leadership experience mentoring fundraising teams and collaborating with senior leadership (like the CDO and CEO) on growth plans']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Upwardly Global's specific programs (e.g., job coaching, credential navigation) and recent impact metrics (e.g., job placement rates, client stories)
  • → The organization's donor base and public supporters—review annual reports, news mentions, or donor listings to understand current funding streams
  • → Challenges skilled immigrants face in the U.S. job market (e.g., bias, licensing barriers) and how Upwardly Global addresses them uniquely
  • → The leadership team (CEO, CDO) and their backgrounds to tailor your approach to partnership
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you secured a six- or seven-figure gift from a high-net-worth donor: your cultivation strategy, challenges, and how you stewarded the relationship
2 How would you develop a multi-year major gifts growth plan for Upwardly Global, considering its remote structure and focus on skilled immigrants?
3 What prospecting methods would you use to identify new major donors passionate about immigrant economic inclusion?
4 How have you managed a portfolio to simultaneously engage lapsed donors, upgrade current donors, and acquire new ones?
5 Share an example of mentoring a gift officer or team to improve performance in a remote setting
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without mentioning Upwardly Global's mission, programs, or the skilled immigrant focus
  • Failing to quantify major gifts achievements (e.g., vague claims about 'raising funds' without specific gift sizes or portfolio metrics)
  • Overlooking the remote aspect—not demonstrating experience with virtual donor cultivation or team management in a distributed setting

📅 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 Upwardly Global Inc.!

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