Application Guide

How to Apply for VP, Affiliate Services

at Camp Fire National Headquarters

🏢 About Camp Fire National Headquarters

Camp Fire is a historic, inclusive youth development organization founded in 1910 that uniquely focuses on connecting young people to the outdoors, relationships, and themselves through safe spaces and life skills programs. Unlike many youth organizations, Camp Fire emphasizes holistic development through nature-based experiences and has maintained its mission for over a century while evolving to serve diverse communities nationwide.

About This Role

As VP of Affiliate Services, you'll serve as the primary national liaison to Camp Fire's local affiliates, building trust-based relationships with affiliate CEOs and boards while implementing systems for consistent communication and support. This role is impactful because you'll directly strengthen the network of organizations that deliver Camp Fire's mission, enabling them to better serve youth through organizational development, strategic planning, and peer learning opportunities.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve a morning video call with an affiliate CEO discussing strategic planning needs, followed by developing resources for an upcoming cohort learning session on board development. The afternoon could include analyzing organizational assessment data from multiple affiliates to identify common challenges, then joining a peer networking session you facilitated for affiliate program directors.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Camp Fire National Headquarters Is Looking For

  • A nonprofit veteran with 10+ years of progressive experience who has navigated organizational challenges like executive transitions, strategic planning, or mergers in youth development or outdoor education settings
  • A relationship-builder who can adapt communication styles to connect authentically with diverse affiliate leaders—from rural community organizers to urban program directors
  • A systems-thinker who can create structured support (like monthly touchpoints and cohort learning) while remaining flexible enough to handle the ambiguity inherent in nonprofit affiliate relationships
  • A resource developer who can translate affiliate needs into practical toolkits and training programs that build organizational capacity

📝 Tips for Applying to Camp Fire National Headquarters

1

Highlight specific experience with affiliate/chapter models in youth development organizations, not just general nonprofit management

2

Demonstrate your ability to work remotely while building deep relationships—mention tools or approaches you've used to maintain connection across distances

3

Show how you've balanced structure (systems for communication) with flexibility (handling ambiguous situations) in past roles

4

Reference Camp Fire's unique outdoors focus by connecting your experience to nature-based or experiential education programs if applicable

5

Quantify your impact on organizational capacity building—e.g., 'developed training that improved board effectiveness for 15 affiliates'

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience building trust-based relationships with diverse stakeholders in decentralized nonprofit structures', "Specific examples of how you've supported organizational development (assessments, transitions, planning) in youth-serving organizations", 'Your approach to balancing structured support systems with the flexibility needed for affiliate relationships', "Why Camp Fire's century-old mission focused on outdoors and life skills resonates with your professional values"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Camp Fire's affiliate map and program models to understand their geographic and programmatic diversity
  • → Review their recent strategic initiatives or annual reports to identify current organizational priorities
  • → Understand their history since 1910 and how they've evolved while maintaining core values
  • → Research challenges facing youth development organizations post-pandemic, particularly around outdoor programming
Visit Camp Fire National Headquarters's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience managing affiliate or chapter relationships in a national nonprofit—how did you build trust remotely?
2 How would you approach supporting an affiliate through an executive transition while maintaining program continuity?
3 What systems would you implement to foster peer learning among Camp Fire affiliates with varying sizes and resources?
4 How would you adapt your communication style when working with a rural affiliate board versus an urban affiliate leadership team?
5 Camp Fire emphasizes inclusivity and outdoors—how would you ensure affiliate services support these core values?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on national-level experience without demonstrating understanding of local affiliate challenges
  • Presenting as overly rigid or process-driven without showing adaptability for ambiguous situations
  • Generic nonprofit management talk without specific examples related to affiliate support or youth development

📅 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 Camp Fire National Headquarters!

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