Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Manager, Development

at DigDeep

🏢 About DigDeep

DigDeep is unique as the only WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) organization focused exclusively on closing the water access gap within the United States, serving over 2 million Americans without running water or sanitation. Unlike international water charities, DigDeep addresses domestic water poverty through community-led solutions, believing clean water access is a fundamental human right. Working here means directly impacting marginalized communities in your own country through innovative projects like the Navajo Water Project and Appalachia Water Project.

About This Role

As Senior Manager, Development, you'll lead fundraising efforts by managing a portfolio of major donors and foundation funders to secure resources for DigDeep's domestic water projects. This role involves researching prospective partners, crafting compelling proposals, and stewarding long-term relationships to fund initiatives that bring running water and sanitation to underserved U.S. communities. Your work directly enables the installation of water systems, hygiene education, and sustainable infrastructure for families currently living without basic water access.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve conducting prospect research on foundations aligned with rural water access, drafting a proposal for a six-figure grant in collaboration with program staff, and leading a virtual cultivation meeting with a major donor using Zoom. You'll likely update donor records in Salesforce, coordinate with team members via Slack about upcoming reporting deadlines, and strategize with the development director about expanding your portfolio of domestic water justice funders.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who DigDeep Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of development experience with demonstrated success in major gifts ($10K+ individual donations) and/or six-figure foundation partnerships, preferably in the nonprofit or social justice sector
  • Can articulate specific examples of researching donor capacity, aligning funder interests with organizational priorities, and cultivating long-term partnerships (not just transactional fundraising)
  • Is tech-savvy with proficiency in Salesforce for donor management, Asana for collaborative project tracking, and Zoom for remote donor meetings (given the remote position)
  • Demonstrates passion for domestic water justice and can speak knowledgeably about WASH issues in the U.S. context, not just international water crises

📝 Tips for Applying to DigDeep

1

Quantify your fundraising achievements specifically for major donors/foundations (e.g., 'secured $500K from 3 foundation partners' rather than general fundraising totals)

2

Highlight any experience with government funding partners or collaborative proposal writing, as mentioned in the job description

3

Demonstrate familiarity with DigDeep's specific projects by referencing the Navajo Water Project or Appalachia Water Project in your application materials

4

Emphasize remote work competencies including self-management, virtual donor cultivation, and proficiency with their preferred tech stack (Salesforce, Slack, Asana, Zoom)

5

Show how you've assessed donor alignment with organizational priorities in past roles, as this is a specific responsibility mentioned

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience managing donor portfolios and cultivating long-term partnerships (not just one-time grants)', "Understanding of domestic water access issues and why DigDeep's U.S.-focused approach resonates with you", 'Examples of collaborative proposal development with program staff (since the role requires working with other teams)', 'How your tech proficiency (especially Salesforce and remote collaboration tools) enables effective donor management in a remote setting']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → DigDeep's specific projects and impact metrics (particularly the Navajo Water Project completion rates and Appalachia Water Project reach)
  • → Their funding partners and annual reports to understand current donor landscape and gaps
  • → The U.S. water access gap statistics and regional disparities (2.2 million Americans without running water)
  • → Recent media coverage or awards (like the 2022 US Water Prize) to understand their public positioning
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your process for researching and qualifying a prospective major donor or foundation partner
2 Describe a time you successfully stewarded a donor relationship from initial contact to multi-year partnership
3 How would you approach pitching DigDeep to a foundation that typically funds international water projects?
4 Tell us about a complex proposal you developed collaboratively with program staff and how you ensured it aligned with donor interests
5 How do you manage a donor portfolio remotely using technology like Salesforce and virtual meeting platforms?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on international water charity experience without connecting it to domestic U.S. context
  • Presenting fundraising as transactional rather than relationship-based cultivation and stewardship
  • Generic application materials that don't reference DigDeep's specific mission, projects, or domestic focus

📅 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 DigDeep!

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