Manager Communications, Events, & Donor Engagement

Reports to: President

Full time: 37-40 hours a week

$70,000 - $80,000 per year

This is a staff member who is a strategic thinker, leader and “doer”. As part of JMA’s management, and the development and communications teams, this role helps us raise funds (for clients) from individuals, corporations/companies, small businesses, faith communities and small family foundations.

The Manager will provide guidance and engagement needed to keep our clients’ stakeholders informed and involved in addition to sourcing new donors and increasing, when possible, current/historical levels of support for the organization. Communications strategy will support fundraising work and advance the mission of clients served.

Key Responsibilities: Communications

• Oversee conception, writing and production of compelling, donor-centric direct mail and email appeals; stewardship materials including newsletter, invitations and brochures; and social media content as related to fundraising and donor stewardship
• Provide brand and social media strategy to increase awareness 
• Create communications plans and calendars
• Oversee writing and edits of clients’ ENewsletters, Eblasts, websites, annual reports, brochure campaign materials
• Create communications messaging and narrative for various channels and sectors
• Provide creative direction and time management on design and layout of publications
• Work with staff to create sponsorship packages with benefits
• Provide creative insight for client event and fundraising materials
• Create, plan and execute annual campaigns and appeals – electronic and print 
• Identify clients’ unique audience(s)
• Work with staff and clients to secure revenue through corporate sponsorship or engagement
• Strategize and execute corporate community engagement plans and activities 
• Business identification in alignment with nonprofit’s mission/vision/values

Key Responsibilities: Events

• Provide strategy, planning, and support for Event work
• Develop themes
• Write event scripts and develop effective PPT presentations
• Compose, edit, and proof event collateral materials, including: sponsorship and silent auction solicitation packets and letters, press releases, invitations, signage, programs, PPT, and agendas
• Solicit sponsorship through phone, email, and in-person outreach
• Maintain sponsorship tracking
• Manage onsite events
• Registration
• List management
• AV and food and beverage management

Key Responsibilities: Individual Giving/Major Donors

• Write and compile fundraising reports
• Ability to advise client on fundraising strategies and activities that will be most effective for their organization
• Plan and execute: individual giving plans, Capital Campaigns, Top Donors strategy and plan, Planned Giving/Tributes
• Develop a thorough understanding of client programs, projects, and needs for the purpose of effective donor stewardship, using available resources and opportunities
• Prospective donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship – individuals and corporations/businesses
• Review and rate wealth screens 
• Write and perform outreach 
• Prepare and implement meaningful personal solicitations that align with donor interests and the organization’s needs and strategic plan
• Secure one-on-one donor meetings and solicitations (in-person or zoom) to establish or strengthen donor relationships for long term support
• Work with Clients to define, plan and prioritize annual fund and/or campaign goals
• Write fundraising and development plans
• Create giving tables
• Review and advise/recommend on all fundraising strategies, including events 
• Create annual campaign calendars, timelines, budgets

Internal Qualities

Key Responsibilities: Leadership

• Utilize project management techniques to ensure internal and external transparency regarding project planning, development, and completion schedules
• Manage client accounts
• Manage staff
• Assist with creating work plans and performance plans
• Promote high quality standards of work product
• Provide outreach (sales) resources to support the growth of JMA – including cross sales to current clients and creation of proposals
• Teach, coach and train development staff and communications writers in JMA writing techniques and expectations
• Monitors monthly spend on all assigned accounts

Key Responsibilities: Clients

• Maintain relationships with clients through email, phone and in-person meetings
• Provide high quality, expert planning and strategy for clients
• Work with other staff at JMA to ensure they are aware of grant opportunities; provide clients with the best fit for grants/individual giving introductions
• Work with the JMA team during assignments and editing process to ensure written content and proposals fit client needs and funders’ guidelines
• Assist JMA to produce a development product that is exceptional

Experience/Qualifications:

• 5-7 years relevant experience
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• Prefer development experience working with nonprofit organization(s); private and public sector
• Self-starter with strong attention to detail, problem solving skills, and demonstrated ability to be flexible in work assignments 
• Proven organizational skills including the ability to multi-task, prioritize assignments, maintain data maintenance systems, and meet multiple deadlines
• Excellent writing/editing/drafting skills, research and information compilation skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, demonstrated ability to work independently as well as with teams
• Excellent computer skills: Microsoft Office Suite