Social Media Strategy & Content Planning Specialist #016

The ImpactKits Project is seeking a Social Media Strategy & Content Planning Specialist to help turn our mission, programs, community initiatives, and campaigns into effective social media content.

This role sits between strategy and creative production. You’ll help determine what we should communicate, who we’re communicating with, why the content matters, and what our creative team needs to produce it successfully.

You won’t be expected to create every post, graphic, or video yourself. Instead, you’ll provide the strategy, planning, and direction that allows our creative volunteers to do their best work.

What You’ll Do

Content Strategy & Planning

• Help develop and maintain ImpactKits’ social media strategy.
• Research social media trends, platform features, content formats, and audience behavior.
• Recommend content themes, recurring series, campaigns, and creative ideas.
• Plan content around ImpactKits programs, events, volunteer opportunities, partnerships, and community initiatives.
• Help maintain a social media content calendar.
• Recommend the best platforms and formats for different messages.
• Help balance educational, community, recruitment, fundraising, storytelling, and promotional content.

Creative Briefs

You’ll turn ideas into clear instructions that our creative volunteers can use to produce content.

Creative briefs may include:

• Objective: What are we trying to accomplish?
• Audience: Who are we trying to reach?
• Key message: What should the audience understand or remember?
• Platform & format: Instagram Reel, carousel, graphic, story, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.
• Call to action: What should the audience do next?
• Visual direction: What should the content look or feel like?
• Important information: Dates, statistics, links, requirements, or other details.
• Resources: Existing assets, references, or branding materials.
• Deadline: When the content needs to be completed.

You may also provide hooks, initial concepts, references, or examples to help creators get started.

Supporting the Creative Team

You’ll work alongside our:

• Social Media Content Creator
• Motion Graphics & Animation Specialist
• Marketing & Communications Volunteers
• Organizational Leadership
• Other creative volunteers

Your role is to provide clarity and direction, not to manage the creative team.

You’ll help answer:

What should we create? Why are we creating it? Who is it for? What should it communicate? What does success look like?

The creative team can then focus on:

How should we make it?

Content Review & Improvement

• Review drafts against the original brief and campaign goals.
• Provide constructive and specific feedback.
• Identify unclear messaging or missing information.
• Help ensure content aligns with ImpactKits’ brand and communications goals.
• Review published content and identify what performed well.
• Recommend improvements for future campaigns.

Research & Analytics

• Monitor relevant social media trends and emerging formats.
• Research other nonprofits and community organizations for inspiration.
• Track basic content performance metrics.
• Identify patterns in engagement and audience response.
• Recommend future content based on what we learn.

What We’re Looking For

You don’t need professional nonprofit experience. We’re interested in people who are curious about social media, communications, digital marketing, content strategy, or nonprofit storytelling.

Relevant experience can come from:

• Personal social media accounts
• School clubs or student organizations
• Volunteer projects
• Freelance or personal creative work
• Marketing or communications coursework
• Previous nonprofit experience

Helpful Skills

• Strong written communication
• Good organization and planning
• Understanding of social media platforms and formats
• Curiosity about trends and audience behavior
• Ability to turn broad ideas into actionable plans
• Attention to detail
• Ability to provide constructive feedback
• Ability to work independently and communicate proactively

Experience with Canva, Google Workspace, content calendars, campaign planning, or social media analytics is helpful but not required.

What You Won’t Be Expected to Do

This is a strategy and planning role, not a one-person social media department.

You will not be expected to:

• Create every social media post.
• Design every graphic or edit every video.
• Write every caption or script.
• Manage ImpactKits’ entire social media presence.
• Supervise or manage other volunteers.
• Be available around the clock.
• Work beyond your agreed weekly commitment.
• Purchase software, equipment, or other resources.
• Develop major campaigns without organizational support.

If you’re blocked because you need information, assets, feedback, or a decision, you can flag the task and your coordinator will help resolve it.

How You’ll Be Supported

You’ll receive:

• Organizational context and campaign priorities
• Brand and communications guidance
• Relevant program and initiative information
• Support from a designated coordinator
• Feedback and clarification when needed
• A workload based on your stated availability

We recognize that volunteers are contributing their time freely. Your agreed schedule and availability will be respected.

Commitment

You’ll typically focus on a manageable number of campaigns or planning projects rather than being responsible for ImpactKits’ entire social media operation.

Why Volunteer With ImpactKits?

This role is an opportunity to:

• Build real-world experience in social media strategy and digital marketing.
• Develop a portfolio of nonprofit campaigns and creative briefs.
• Learn how strategy connects with creative production and community outreach.
• Collaborate with volunteers across different creative disciplines.
• Gain remote experience with an international volunteer team.
• Earn volunteer service hours and professional references based on your contributions.
• Help shape how a growing, student-led nonprofit communicates with its community.
• Help increase awareness and support for individuals and families experiencing hardship throughout Orange County.

Most importantly, you’ll help make our creative team stronger.

Instead of asking one person to do everything, you’ll help create the strategy, planning, and direction that allows our Social Media Content Creators, Motion Graphics & Animation Specialists, and other volunteers to do their best work.

The ImpactKits Project is committed to equal opportunity and providing an inclusive volunteer environment. We do not discriminate based on protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals. View our Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, & Reasonable Accommodation Policy.