Executive director cover letter

Executive Director Cover Letter (With Examples)

Most job-hunting hopefuls may view cover letters as an optional piece of their application. And there are certainly many who may get away with not attaching one. The same can not be said for those looking to enter executive-level positions.

While CEO, or Chief Executive Officer, is a more recognized term, it doesn’t take away from the role an executive director serves within their organization or corporation. It is a high-ranking executive-level position...

...which means there is no excuse for not including a well-written and properly formatted cover letter with your application.

A cover letter, also sometimes referred to as a letter of introduction, is a formal introduction to the hiring manager. It is your chance to elaborate on your experience, provide context for your achievements, and discuss your motivations and goals.

Your cover letter should complement your resume, not mirror it.

Parts of an Executive Director Cover Letter

An executive director’s resume without a cover letter will probably be skipped. But including one is only the first step. If you don’t use the standard cover letter formatting or include the key elements of a cover letter, the hiring manager will not read it — or the resume attached.

You don’t want to take the fast track to the “no” pile. You want the interview.

Hiring managers know what they’re looking for in a cover letter. They’ve seen enough of them to name the six parts of a cover letter in their sleep. Before you start submitting applications, you need to learn them too.

1. Header. Like any formal business letter, you will need to begin with your header. Your header should include the following:

   • Your name. You will want to use your first and last name and include any titles you carry.

   • Your phone number. This should be a personal phone number that you answer and check regularly.

   • Your email address. As a candidate for an executive director position, it shouldn’t need to be said that your email address should be professional.

   • The date of submission. The month should be fully written out and the date should be in MDY format. For example, “November 15, 2019”.

   • The hiring manager’s name and professional title. At this level of employment, there is no excuse for not knowing the name of the person handling the hiring process. None. You should also include their title within the company on a separate line.

   • The company name. It is standard to include the name of the company you are applying to in the header.

   Optionally, you can also choose to include:

   • Your professional title. If you think it will help add to your appeal as a candidate for the position, include it below your name in the header.

   • Your current address. Since the majority of applications are submitted online, including your address is no longer considered standard. If you are uncomfortable including your entire address, you may opt to include your city of residence.

   • Your LinkedIn. With your resume limited to a single page, including your LinkedIn adds another layer to your application. Do not include your profile if it is not up-to-date and professional.

   • Your personal website. If you have professional websites that you feel will add to your application, you can include them.

   • Your online portfolio. This may not be as relevant for an executive director as it may be for a Graphic Designer. But an online portfolio would be a simple way for you to display your previous work in marketing, public relations, fundraisers, galas, etc.

   It goes without saying at this level, but keep it professional. Your contact information should be your personal information and not attached to a current job. Your email address, your email signature, and your voicemail greeting should be polished and professional.

2. Greeting (Salutation). Your cover letter should be addressed to the person handling the hiring process. As mentioned above, there is no excuse for using a generic greeting when applying for a high-level executive position such as this.

   Do not assume marital status if you do not know it. If the hiring manager is female and you are not sure of marital status, you should always address with “Ms.”.

3. Opening paragraph. Those first few lines should hook the reader and convince them to read further — not just to the end of your cover letter, but through your resume as well.

   Be very clear and concise in your opening paragraph. Tell them what position you are applying for then highlight one of your most relevant attention-grabbing achievements or convey your (genuine) excitement.

4. Body paragraph(s). This section should be no more than two paragraphs. Alternatively, it can be two paragraphs and a bulleted list of achievements.

   Your initial body paragraph (the second paragraph of your cover letter) should show your potential employer that you are the perfect fit for their organization. If you are including a bulleted list, it should be attached to this paragraph.

   Your second body paragraph (the third paragraph of your cover letter) should show your potential employers that their organization is the perfect fit for you. While this is often considered optional, it should be included in an executive director cover letter.

5. Closing lines. Your closing is just as important as your opening. You want to close strong.

   Be confident in your ability to perform the job duties associated with this role. Convey your value to the company; they want to know that you can help the company thrive.

   Thank them for their time. Some believe this is cliched and optional, but it is considered polite to thank the reader for taking the time to look over your application.

   You want to include a clear CTA (call-to-action) here as well. Give them a reason to reach out to you.

6. Sign-Off. A formal business letter should include a formal closing. Adding space for a handwritten signature is optional, but can add a more professional touch.

   “Sincerely” is the standard sign-off, but there are other professional options you can choose from:

   • Best regards,

   • Thank you,

   • Respectfully,

   • Regards,

   Additionally, you also have the option of including your contact information below your name. While it is already included in your header, including it again at the bottom of your letter is a growing standard.

7. (Optional) Postscript. Including a P.S. at the bottom of your cover letter garners a little extra attention. It will draw the hiring manager’s eye and might be the first thing they read. So if you are including one, it should be strong — stronger even than your opening or closing.

   This should not include information that you have already mentioned in your cover letter. Your postscript should be attention-grabbing and action-inducing.

Executive Director Cover Letter Opening

These first few lines are critical. They can make or break your first impression.

Hiring managers are reading through application after application. They may start to blend after a while, so you need to stand out.

If you can grab the reader’s attention and hold on to it, you are one step closer to the interview. If your opening is weak, on the other hand, the hiring manager will likely not read past those first few lines.

Your goal here is to find a way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Give them a reason to choose you. Give them a reason to keep reading.

Executive Director Cover Letter Body

An executive director’s cover letter should include two body paragraphs. While many do consider the second body optional, that is not the case for someone who is heading the organization.

That first body paragraph will tell the hiring manager why you’re the right fit for the role. The second body paragraph will tell them why you’re the right fit for the company. As an executive director, the way you fit into the company culture and how well you align with their mission and core values is critical.

You need to include the correct keywords in this section of your cover letter. Not only will they stand out to the hiring manager, but they will also stand out to the AI many companies use to screen applications.

Use the job listing to speak to specific qualifications they are looking for. Use your experience and achievements to quantify these qualifications and round you out as an ideal candidate.

Be sure to speak to the soft skills an executive director will be expected to have as well. These may not be listed clearly in the job description, but standard soft skills for someone in this position are:

• Leadership skills

• Communication skills

• Management skills

• Organization skills

• Marketing Public Relations skills

• Integrity

• Fundraising skills

• Financial knowledge

• Problem-solving skills

• Decision-making skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Public speaking presentation skills

Executive Director Cover Letter Closing Lines

Don’t use the closing lines to repeat the qualifications and experience you’ve already touched on. Instead, it is your chance to reiterate your value as a potential employee and end with a clear CTA to reach out and schedule an interview.

Be sure to focus your attention on what you can do for them. They want to see the value you can provide the organization, so frame your closing lines to highlight this.

Example of an Executive Director Cover Letter

Executive Director Cover Letter Tips

An executive director holds a position of power. This is a very high-level position and the cover letter (and resume) you include with your application should reflect the professionalism, organization, and communication skills that you will bring to the role.

Your cover letter should focus on three main points:

1. Your leadership abilities. Above all else, an executive director is the leader of an organization or corporation. Your cover letter should demonstrate leadership.

2. Your vision. As the leader of the organization, your vision for its future matters. That vision should align with the company mission and its core values.

3. Your passion. Your cover letter should not only convey your passion for this position but the organization as well. You are going to be their leader; it should be very clear that you want this job at this organization and why.