Application Guide

How to Apply for Vice President of Advancement

at Episcopal Relief & Development

🏢 About Episcopal Relief & Development

Episcopal Relief & Development is a unique faith-based humanitarian organization that integrates Christian values with global development work, focusing on long-term community transformation rather than just emergency relief. Working here means contributing to sustainable programs in health, agriculture, and disaster response while being part of an organization that values both spiritual and practical approaches to alleviating poverty worldwide.

About This Role

As Vice President of Advancement, you'll lead all fundraising efforts for a global humanitarian organization, developing multi-year strategies to secure major gifts while managing a high-performing team. This role is impactful because you'll directly enable life-changing programs in vulnerable communities by cultivating relationships with donors who share the organization's faith-based mission and commitment to sustainable development.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning strategy sessions with your remote Advancement team, analyzing donor data in Salesforce to identify cultivation opportunities, followed by virtual meetings with high-net-worth donors to discuss how their gifts align with specific Episcopal Relief & Development programs. You'd spend afternoon hours developing fundraising materials that connect financial goals with the organization's faith-based mission while planning stewardship strategies for major donors.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Episcopal Relief & Development

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Episcopal Relief & Development Is Looking For

  • Has 10+ years of fundraising leadership specifically in faith-based or religious non-profits, not just general non-profit experience
  • Can demonstrate a personal track record of closing five, six, and seven-figure gifts while managing a donor portfolio, not just team achievements
  • Possesses hands-on experience with donor databases like Salesforce or Raiser's Edge and can use data analytics to drive fundraising strategy
  • Has 7+ years of direct supervisory experience managing fundraising professionals in a remote or distributed team environment

📝 Tips for Applying to Episcopal Relief & Development

1

Quantify your fundraising achievements with specific dollar amounts and gift sizes (e.g., 'secured three seven-figure gifts totaling $4.2M in 2023') rather than vague statements about 'increasing revenue'

2

Highlight any experience with faith-based donor cultivation, mentioning how you've connected fundraising to spiritual mission in previous roles

3

Demonstrate your remote leadership capabilities by describing how you've managed and motivated distributed fundraising teams

4

Show familiarity with Episcopal Relief & Development's specific programs by referencing their current initiatives in your materials

5

Include specific examples of using donor databases for analytics and strategy, naming the systems you've used (Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, etc.)

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your personal philosophy on integrating faith-based values with fundraising strategy and donor relationships', 'Specific examples of developing and implementing multi-year comprehensive fundraising strategies in previous roles', 'Experience cultivating high-net-worth donors in a religious or values-based context', 'Your approach to mentoring and developing fundraising professionals in a remote work environment']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study the organization's current strategic plan and recent annual reports to understand their program priorities and financial needs
  • → Research their major donors and foundation partners through their website and public filings to understand their funding landscape
  • → Learn about the Episcopal Church's structure and values to understand the religious context of the organization
  • → Review their specific programs like the NetsforLife® initiative or women's empowerment programs to speak knowledgeably about their work
Visit Episcopal Relief & Development's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with both our strategic plan and our faith-based mission?
2 Describe your most successful seven-figure gift cultivation process from identification to stewardship
3 How do you use data analytics from donor databases to inform fundraising strategy and team management?
4 What's your approach to leading and motivating a remote Advancement team while maintaining a collaborative culture?
5 How would you integrate our Christian values into donor communications and cultivation strategies?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on secular fundraising experience without demonstrating understanding of faith-based donor cultivation
  • Presenting generic fundraising strategies that don't account for the unique aspects of religious philanthropy
  • Failing to provide specific, quantifiable examples of major gift success and personal portfolio management

📅 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 Episcopal Relief & Development!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →