Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Manager, Development

at The Aspen Institute

🏢 About The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a unique global nonprofit focused on driving climate solutions through dialogue, leadership, and action, rather than just advocacy. Working here means contributing to their 'Weave' initiative, which connects diverse leaders to tackle climate challenges collaboratively. This offers a chance to be part of a respected organization that blends thought leadership with practical impact on a critical global issue.

About This Role

This Senior Manager, Development role is central to funding the Aspen Institute's climate work, managing the entire fundraising cycle from pipeline development to grant compliance. You'll directly support Weave's mission by securing resources from diverse donors (leadership, foundations, corporations) and ensuring smooth coordination with the Office of Institutional Advancement. Your work will enable impactful climate dialogue and action by building sustainable funding streams.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing CRM data to update donor pipelines, followed by coordinating a grant kickoff meeting with program staff. You could spend the afternoon drafting a proposal narrative aligned with Weave's climate impact, then lead an internal fundraising meeting to align on deadlines and stakeholder actions.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who The Aspen Institute Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years in nonprofit development with proven success in managing full-cycle fundraising (proposals, pipelines, reporting) for climate or environmental initiatives.
  • Is a detail-oriented project manager who can juggle CRM data, proposal calendars, and grant deadlines while coordinating across program, finance, and operations teams.
  • Possesses exceptional writing skills for crafting compelling narratives that align with Weave's mission and can advise leadership on funding prospects.
  • Thrives in cross-functional collaboration, serving as a liaison between Weave and institutional advancement, with a solutions-oriented approach to challenges.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Aspen Institute

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific experience with climate-related fundraising, CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce), and managing donor pipelines for leadership/major gifts.

2

Quantify your impact in previous roles (e.g., 'secured $X in grants from foundations focused on climate solutions' or 'managed a pipeline of Y donors').

3

Research Weave's specific initiatives and mention how your skills align with their focus on dialogue and leadership in climate action.

4

Demonstrate your cross-functional coordination skills by describing a complex proposal workflow you managed involving program and finance teams.

5

Show familiarity with the Aspen Institute's approach by referencing their emphasis on dialogue and global solutions in your materials.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain your passion for climate solutions and how your development experience aligns with Weave's mission of driving action through dialogue and leadership.", 'Highlight a specific achievement in managing a full fundraising cycle, including pipeline development, proposal writing, and grant compliance.', 'Describe your experience with CRM systems and internal processes for tracking deadlines and coordinating with institutional advancement teams.', 'Emphasize your ability to collaborate across functions (program, finance, operations) and manage multiple stakeholders in a nonprofit setting.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Weave's specific programs and initiatives on the Aspen Institute website to understand their climate action focus.
  • → Review the Aspen Institute's recent publications or events related to climate solutions to grasp their approach to dialogue and leadership.
  • → Look into the Office of Institutional Advancement's structure and public-facing materials to understand how development is integrated.
  • → Investigate the institute's key foundation and corporate partners in the climate space to identify potential alignment with your experience.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your approach to developing an annual fundraising plan that includes leadership, major, and small-dollar donors for a climate-focused initiative.
2 How would you research and advise on funding prospects for Weave, given the Aspen Institute's focus on dialogue and global solutions?
3 Walk us through your experience with CRM data management and coordinating proposal workflows across different departments.
4 Tell us about a time you led grant compliance and reporting, including how you tracked deliverables and partnered with program staff.
5 How would you serve as a liaison between Weave and the Office of Institutional Advancement to ensure smooth fundraising execution?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic materials that don't mention climate, Weave, or the Aspen Institute's unique mission of dialogue-driven solutions.
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of managing fundraising pipelines, CRM use, or cross-functional collaboration in previous roles.
  • Overlooking the liaison aspect of the role—not demonstrating how you'd coordinate with institutional advancement or manage internal processes.

📅 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 The Aspen Institute!

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