Development & Communications Associate

Make a positive impact in the lives of youth and families while putting your skills to use as YES’s Development & Communications Associate. The Development & Communications Associate is an instrumental part of YES’s four-person development team, which includes the Executive Director, Development Director, and Grants Manager. The Development & Communications Associate ensures excellent donor relations and stewardship by managing and maintaining YES’s Salesforce database, including keeping accurate records and managing donor engagement processes. The Development & Communications Associate implements YES’s social media, digital communications, and media outreach strategy; supports 3-4 fundraising and cultivation events annually; engages in shared leadership within the organization; and supports day-to-day administrative tasks within the department.

The Development & Communications Associate reports to the Development Director and works both independently and in collaboration with development, administrative, and program staff. The ideal candidate possesses a unique combination of being detail-oriented, organized, and with an affinity for databases, as well as a compelling and creative storyteller. This is a full-time position working 40 hours/week.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Communications (45%)

●     Support development and implementation of annual Communications Plan and calendar; set and track benchmarks and progress toward goals, and work with staff to achieve goals.

●     Manage YES’s social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube):

o  Create and manage regular posts with compelling content using YES’s Communications Plan and core messaging to amplify our work and mission, connect with a variety of audiences, and increase followers.

o  Implement strategies to increase engagement with donors, businesses, and partner organizations across social media platforms.

o  Maintain and manage a consistent visual brand on all social media platforms.

o  Design and manage Giving Tuesday and other social media campaigns.

●     Prepare and manage compelling photo- and story-based content as well as occasional videos for events, social media, print and e-communications, and the “assets bank” utilized by YES staff and board.

●     Update the funder and event-related pages of the website.

●     Develop and implement a press-release and media engagement plan to heighten awareness of YES and our work.

Database Administration and Donor/Supporter Engagement (40%)

●     Manage and develop systems in Salesforce CRM database to support strong donor engagement, acknowledgement, and tracking of interactions.

●     Manage accurate database records and conduct data entry and mass imports.

●     Perform mail merges for donor acknowledgement and other mailings.

●     Hand-address envelopes for donor acknowledgement and other mailings.

●     Engage volunteers to help with associated donor follow-up tasks.

●     Support set-up of online fundraising campaigns on YES website and donation platforms.

●     Provide additional administrative support for a variety of tasks.

Event Support (10%)

●     Event preparation, set-up, clean-up, execution, and follow-up.

●     Manage and track sponsorships, in-kind supporters, and vendors.

Shared Organizational Leadership (5%)

●     Participate in staff trainings, board and staff discussions, and engage in decision-making processes.

●     Participate in departmental and organization-wide activities such as contributing to and/or facilitating staff meetings, development & communications team meetings, annual staff retreat, monthly “Sunshine” team-building activities, etc.

●     Enhance organizational culture by sharing past work, education, and lived experiences that align with YES’s values, equity lens, and shared leadership approach.

Qualifications

●   Commitment to and passion for YES’s mission, values, and work.

●   Commitment to social justice, equity, and diversity in fundraising practices.

●   Ability to build strong, reciprocal working relationships with YES staff to gather program information and translate it to compelling stories that represent the community we engage accurately and respectfully.

●   Strong attention to detail and thoroughness.

●   At least two years of experience in development and communications, preferably in the nonprofit sector.

●   Experience in working in a relational database or CRM (Salesforce preferred), including at least some of the following: creating reports, data entry and mass data imports, engagement plans/moves management, creating new fields including formulas, list views.

●   Outstanding written and oral communication skills (creative writing, strong grammar and proofreading, creating compelling narratives tailored to specific audiences).

●   Experience - personal and/or professional - with social media platforms.

●   Reliable and dependable.

●   Flexibility, efficiency, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously holding both the big picture and the fine details.

●   Willingness to engage in conversations about equity, inclusion, diversity, power, and privilege.

●   Computer- and web-savvy. Skills and aptitude in the following software and platforms: Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel; Constant Contact; iMovie, YouTube; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter; Canva.

●   Neat handwriting, print or script.

●   Occasional evening and weekend work required.

●   Experience working with underrepresented communities and familiarity with Richmond’s history, communities, and context is a plus.

●   Preferable to have own transportation.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The Development & Communications Associate must be able to function well in a busy and focused work environment; frequently use hands (computer and hand-written work); use computer; sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, occasionally lift and carry 25 pounds over short distances; and correspond with supervisor effectively in-person and by email, phone, and video chat.