Application Guide

How to Apply for Vice President, Individual Giving

at Autism Speaks / AS

🏢 About Autism Speaks / AS

Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research, increasing awareness, and promoting solutions for individuals with autism and their families. Working here means contributing to a mission that directly improves lives, with a culture that values diversity, innovation, and collaboration.

About This Role

As the VP of Individual Giving, you will spearhead a strategic revenue expansion plan focused on major, intermediate, and planned giving, with a goal of raising $6-$8 million annually. This role is pivotal in driving the organization's growth and impact, as you will build and lead a team of fundraising professionals and work closely with an operations team to optimize donor engagement and stewardship.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve a morning video call with your team to review progress on major gift prospects, followed by virtual donor meetings or calls to cultivate relationships. Afternoons could be spent analyzing fundraising data with the operations team, developing strategies for planned giving, and perhaps presenting a progress update to the CEO or board.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Autism Speaks / AS Is Looking For

  • Proven track record in fundraising leadership, with at least 10 years of experience in major gifts, planned giving, or individual giving, ideally in a nonprofit or healthcare setting.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute a multi-year revenue growth plan, using data-driven insights to identify opportunities and optimize performance.
  • Entrepreneurial and self-motivated, comfortable working remotely and building relationships virtually, with a history of successfully hiring and managing fundraising teams.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of inspiring donors, staff, and volunteers, and passionate about the mission of Autism Speaks.

📝 Tips for Applying to Autism Speaks / AS

1

Tailor your resume to highlight quantifiable fundraising achievements, such as exceeding revenue targets or growing a major gifts program by a specific percentage.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly address how you would approach the $6-$8 million revenue goal and your experience with planned giving, as this is a key focus.

3

Demonstrate your familiarity with Autism Speaks' current initiatives, such as the Autism CARES Act or their community events, to show genuine interest.

4

Since the role is remote, emphasize your experience managing distributed teams and using virtual tools for donor engagement and team collaboration.

5

Research the organization's recent strategic plan and mention specific ideas you have for expanding major and planned giving, showing you've done your homework.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your strategic vision for growing individual giving, including specific tactics for major, intermediate, and planned gifts.', 'Your leadership experience in building and motivating fundraising teams, especially in a remote environment.', "Your alignment with Autism Speaks' mission and your personal connection or passion for autism advocacy, if applicable.", "Your data-driven approach to fundraising, highlighting how you've used analytics to drive revenue growth in past roles."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Autism Speaks' latest annual report and financial statements to understand their current fundraising revenue and donor base.
  • → Familiarize yourself with their strategic priorities, such as the 'Roadmap to a Better Future' or any recent initiatives for adult services and employment.
  • → Check their newsroom for recent announcements about fundraising campaigns or partnerships to reference in your application.
  • → Explore their website's 'Ways to Give' section to see how they currently position major and planned giving opportunities for donors.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a strategic plan to increase individual giving revenue by 20% year over year?
2 Describe a time you successfully launched a planned giving program. What were the key components and challenges?
3 How do you build and manage a high-performing fundraising team in a remote work environment?
4 What metrics do you use to evaluate the effectiveness of major gift fundraising efforts?
5 How would you collaborate with the operations team to ensure data accuracy and effective donor stewardship?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic cover letter; make sure to address the specific revenue goals and planned giving focus of this role.
  • Avoid emphasizing experience in event fundraising only; this role is centered on major and planned gifts, so highlight those skills.
  • Don't overlook the remote aspect; if you have no remote leadership experience, clearly explain how you've adapted to virtual work environments.

📅 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 Autism Speaks / AS!

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