What are the responsibilities and job description for the Development and Communications Program Assistant position at Crisis Support Services of Alameda County?
Description
Core Responsibilities
Grants and Foundation Support
Individual Giving and Donor Relations
Social Media and Communications
Overall Expectations
Required Qualifications
Schedule
Job Summary
The Development and Communications Program Assistant plays a key role in Crisis Support Services’ fundraising and communications strategy. Working closely with the Development and Communications Manager and Operations Officer, the Program Assistant will be responsible for supporting the organization’s fund development efforts, which include securing grants, managing individual donor relations, and executing events. Additionally, this position will also support the development of compelling communication strategies across multiple channels, including social media, to engage and grow CSS's donor base.
May 17th, 2025 is our Healing Hearts: Walk/Run/Move! for Suicide Prevention Event at Lake Merritt Oakland. It is a special time to raise awareness for our mission, build connections with our community, and raise funds to support our programs.
The Development and Communications Program Assistant has the authority to:
- Recommend grants and funding opportunities to pursue based on organizational priorities
- Support the development and execution of communication plans related to fundraising and events
- Recommend budgetary, policy, and procedural needs as they relate to development activities
Core Responsibilities
Fundraising Events
- Assist in the planning and execution of CSS’s major fundraising events, including the Healing Hearts: Walk/Run/Move for Suicide Prevention and donor recognition events.
- Collaborate on creative strategies to engage staff, volunteers, and the community in events to maximize participation and revenue.
- Work closely with the Development and Communications Manager, Operations Officer, Executive Director and Board to ensure successful event outcomes, including identifying new revenue streams and sponsorship opportunities.
Grants and Foundation Support
- Research and identify diverse funding sources (foundations, government agencies, corporations, etc.) to support the organization’s mission and goals.
- Draft grant proposals and reports that align with CSS’s mission, goals, and strategic objectives. Tailor content to meet each funder's unique guidelines and priorities.
- Coordinate with the Development and Communications Manager and program staff to collect data, reports, and impact metrics required for grant submissions and follow-up reports.
- Track deadlines for applications, progress reports, and other required communications.
- Maintain a database of current and prospective funders, and track ongoing grant opportunities.
- Assist with reporting on grant progress to stakeholders and ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
Individual Giving and Donor Relations
- Assist with cultivating relationships with current and potential donors, fostering long-term engagement and retention. This includes creating personalized stewardship plans and ensuring timely acknowledgments.
- Collaborate with the Development and Communications Manager and Marketing Program Assistant to design and execute fundraising campaigns (annual appeals, online giving, special projects) to meet specific revenue targets.
- Assist in the development and dissemination of compelling materials such as newsletters, donor communications, impact reports, one-pagers, FAQs, and presentations.
- Support implementing a strategy for donor acquisition and retention, targeting both new and lapsed donors.
Social Media and Communications
- Utilize social media strategies to promote fundraising campaigns, increase awareness, and engage potential donors. This includes creating and scheduling development-focused posts across platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, etc.).
- Assist in managing social media communications (including content creation, scheduling, and engagement) to strengthen the agency’s position within the community and attract individual donors.
- Collaborate with internal teams to ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels, including website, social media, email, and event promotions.
- Use social media best practices to increase engagement and maximize reach, focusing on both online giving campaigns and long-term donor development.
- Support the analysis of social media analytics and donor feedback to adjust strategies, improve engagement, and measure success.
Overall Expectations
- Work with the Development and Communications Manager to ensure all fundraising activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines for nonprofit fundraising.
- Maintain a strong commitment to best practices in donor relations and fundraising principles, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Regularly update and maintain the donor database to ensure effective fundraising, accurate reporting, and data-driven decision-making.
- Support the creation of monthly reports for the Executive Director and Board of Directors to track progress against fundraising goals and provide updates on key donor and grant activity.
- Actively contribute to the agency’s administrative and team meetings as needed.
- Actively contribute to the agency’s positive culture of support, inclusion and belonging
Required Qualifications
- Strong alignment with CSS’s mission and values, including a commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).
- At least 1 year of experience in fundraising and grant writing, ideally within the nonprofit sector.
- Proven ability to research and identify funding opportunities and successfully write grant proposals.
- Expertise in social media strategy and content creation, with a strong understanding of how to leverage these platforms for nonprofit fundraising and communications.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages for diverse audiences.
- Ability to create and manage donor communications materials, including email appeals, newsletters, and digital content.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Ability to work independently and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, including donors, Board members, and internal staff.
- Analytical and interpretive skills to assess fundraising progress, donor engagement, and social media performance.
- Experience using donor management databases and analytics tools to track engagement, giving, and outcomes.
- Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising databases (e.g., Network For Good, DonorPerfect, Salesforce, or similar platforms).
- Strong interest in working with diverse communities and engaging in social justice work.
Additional Requirements
- Proof of vaccination against Covid-19 required
- Must complete Background Check (DoJ) and LiveScan
Schedule
This is a part-time, non-exempt (25 hours per week) position and qualifies for up to 3 days of remote work per week. Our office is located in North Oakland. Up to 7 evening/weekend day availability (annually) is required to attend agency events.
