Development and Communications Manager

DEVELOPMENT and COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

The Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts (CLCM) seeks a Development and Communications Manager to drive fundraising/development initiatives and execute effective, value-driven communications in furtherance of CLCM’s mission. The role will oversee the development and distribution of communications and marketing efforts, including CLCM’s website, social media, newsletters and various campaigns and initiatives including CLCM’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 2027. This critical role will work collaboratively with a highly motivated mission-driven team to enhance and elevate CLCM’s positive reputation/brand among existing and new supporters, partners, and donors. The DevComm Manager will ensure that external communications reflect the mission and values of the organization, centering CLCM’s legal representation of our child and youth clients.

This role is ideal for someone who can thrive at the intersection of communications, marketing and development; who is detail-oriented; is a self-starter with a can-do outlook; has a strong sense of visual aesthetics; willing to push outside of comfort zones; and believes deeply in the need for zealous, client-directed legal representation and holistic advocacy with the goal of expanding children’s equitable access to achieve their own life goals.

The Organization: The CLCM is a not-for-profit legal services organization providing legal advocacy to indigent children and youth in matters pertaining to immigration, education, foster care, and juvenile justice. CLCM provides individual representation and engages in strategic and community advocacy to expand children’s equitable access to achieve their own life goals. Our work is driven by the principle that every child – regardless of where they were born - should have equitable access to a safe and stable home, to relationships with supportive adults, to an education and community support, and to other opportunities that will allow them to successfully transition to young adulthood.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications

• Lead digital communications efforts, including social media, email campaigns, website, including consistent content development across platforms.
• Design and produce materials such as newsletters, annual reports, brochures and fundraising appeals.
• Design and deliver social media content, email newsletters, e-blasts, and printed materials using Canva, Mailchimp, Squarespace and other tools.
• Write, proof, and publish content and copy across social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn).
• Maintain branding standards and consistency in all materials.
• Ensure that all communications align with CLCM’s mission, advocacy and strategic goals.

Donor/Funder Engagement

• Manage the logistics and execution of annual fund appeals and donor campaigns, including timelines, print and digital mailings and donor list segmentation.
• Create and distribute email communications in Mailchimp and other platforms, supporting donor engagement through list segmentation, timely messaging, and engaging storytelling.
• Track campaign performance and provide post-campaign analysis to inform future strategies; track key performance indicators, such as website visits, online fundraising, event attendance, email subscribers etc.
• Engage with donors to cultivate ongoing relationships and deepen donor engagement through multi-platform interactions including strategies for those who donate less than $500 annually as well as DAF giving.
• Oversee donor CRM: enter gifts, track interactions, run reports, and ensure data integrity.
• Prepare and send routine donor acknowledgments, thank-you cards, and campaign updates.

Development Strategy/operations

• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop a plan for strategic growth across multiple revenue streams, including individuals, corporations, and foundations
• Work with the CLCM Board of Directors Development Committee to coach Board members on fundraising and leveraging connections; collaborate to plan and execute 2027 50th Anniversary celebration.
• Identify donors, foundations, corporations, and other key stakeholders through effective research, outreach, meetings, and visits with prospective and current funders in collaboration with the Executive Director
• Identify grant opportunities and assist with grant proposals and report submissions, along with other related materials for new and existing funders in collaboration with the Executive Director

Qualifications: We value an approach to producing high-quality work that fosters accountability, teamwork, innovation and continuous learning. We require our team members to manage time effectively, meet deadlines and communicate challenges.

Required qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in fundraising, development operations, or communications in a nonprofit or analogous setting.
• Excellent communication skills including experience communicating an organization's mission and impact effectively and ensuring message consistency across multiple mediums
• Strong storytelling and content creation skills and ability to translate mission, impact and programs into compelling copy and visuals for a variety of channels (email, social, print and web)
• Belief in CLCM’s mission and ability to explain the mission and impact effectively;
• Commitment to social justice
• Excellent writing and editing capabilities for the creation of various communications including informational/marketing needs, donor/funder correspondence and electronic communications
• Strong digital skills: experience using Microsoft Office Suite and basic design experience (for example Canva or equivalent program) required. At ease with learning or already experienced with other platforms such as Constant Contact, Squarespace, and with any CRM software.
• Experience with social media platforms and familiarity with digital marketing strategies.
• Detail-oriented and well-organized. Able to handle multiple tasks and deadlines independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a culturally and racially diverse team; Strong understanding and practice of cultural humility and respect for others

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous experience working in a legal setting and comfort understanding, communicating, and translating legalese for external communications
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from donors, volunteers, public
• Graphic design skills or willingness to learn
• Proficiency with Google Ads, Google Analytics
• Prior experience with event planning
• Experience using AI tools to generate quality content and improve efficiency and effectiveness of communications

Salary/Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience and starting at $62,000. Generous benefits package: Individual medical and dental insurance with premium 100% covered; 403(b) program with employer match eligibility; numerous professional development opportunities; paid leave including sick, vacation, personal and holidays. Hybrid Workplace with the expectation that staff maintain a regular in-person presence at CLCM’s Lynn Office which is accessible via commuter rail, MBTA bus; parking available.

CLCM is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. We welcome and encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and lived experiences.

Salary/Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience and starting at $62,000. Generous benefits package: Individual medical and dental insurance with premium 100% covered; 403(b) program with employer match eligibility; numerous professional development opportunities; paid leave including sick, vacation, personal and holidays. Hybrid Workplace with the expectation that staff maintain a regular in-person presence at CLCM’s Lynn Office which is accessible via commuter rail, MBTA bus; parking available.