Development and Communications Associate

Organization Profile 

For more than two decades, Comprehensive Youth Development has helped to transform the lives of New York City’s young people by empowering them to create rewarding futures for themselves and their families. CYD is a nonprofit that provides a range of services to youth ages 14-24 to help them complete high school and succeed in college, advanced training, and the workplace. CYD staff operates at three public high schools: Manhattan Comprehensive Night & Day High School, City-As-School, and The High School for Health Professions and Human Services, as well as at the CYD Career Academy, a post-secondary healthcare training program in partnership with Borough of Manhattan Community College. Last year, we served nearly 3,500 young people.  

Job Summary 

The Development and Communications Associate reports to the Director of Development and Communications and is a key member of a lively, collaborative three-person team. The candidate also works closely with the Executive Director and serves as liaison to the Board of Directors. The Development and Communications Associate is involved in the full range of agency activities and is responsible for individual giving mailings and acknowledgments, social media and graphic design projects, database management, organizing events and meetings, and a range of other functions. We are looking for a candidate who is eager to strengthen their skills in all facets of nonprofit development and who relishes being part of a fast-moving organization serving the next generation of New Yorkers. The successful candidate will be dynamic, detail-oriented, and tech-savvy, with excellent writing and administrative skills and a genuine interest in CYD’s mission.  

Responsibilities 

Individual Giving  

• Responsible for producing and overseeing development mailings, including producing and sending appeal emails and acknowledgments 
• Prepare mailing lists and donor reports from a database 
• Assist with the production of an annual media piece (video, digital, etc.) 
• Database management: manage and maintain data in DonorPerfect, including entering and acknowledging all gifts, maintaining donor contact information and giving histories 
• Support the department’s fundraising strategies by running queries, analyzing data, and producing reports 
• Work with the Controller to reconcile and ensure accuracy of monthly income reconciliations  
• Manage Harness and Stripe giving systems 

Communications 

• Photograph, film, and edit key organizational events and student interviews 
• Plan and create posts for CYD’s social media platforms; manage CYD’s social media calendar  
• Assist with the production of a large-scale annual media piece for fundraising purposes (can be a video, digital piece, or printed piece) 
• Manage CYD branding efforts and train staff on importance and implementation 
• Design flyers and graphics for CYD staff as requested 
• Manage relationship with CYD website administrator and assist with keeping CYD’s website updated with new content 
• Work with the Grants and Communications Writer to lay out external newsletters in Constant Contact 

Internal & External Events 

• Work alongside the Director of Development to plan CYD’s annual Spelling Bee for Grownups Fundraiser, including coordinating vendor contracts, soliciting sponsors, and placing orders  
• Manage logistics for annual staff training days and celebration events   
• Partner with the Director of Workforce to plan and implement corporate and individual volunteer events 

Executive Director and Board Support  

• Assist the Executive Director in a range of organizational functions 
• Serve as a liaison for the Board of Directors’ meetings and activities, including quarterly committee meetings and social events 
• Manage administration for quarterly board meetings by preparing the meeting materials and agenda in coordination with Executive Director 
• Support board and committee meetings as appropriate by sending reminders and taking minutes 

Proposal & Grant Reporting Assistance 

• Work with the Grants and Communications Writer to update organizational content for proposals and reports 
• Log foundation grants into Donor Perfect 
• Gather foundation letters for annual audit 
• Acknowledge foundation gifts 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree  
• 2-3 years prior fundraising, communications, and/or other relevant experience 
• Proven ability to work collaboratively as well as independently in a fast-paced team environment 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with ability to prioritize, manage, and complete multiple tasks simultaneously 
• Overall flexibility, diligence, and readiness to be a hands-on team player  
• Keen eye for detail and problem-solving orientation 
• Written and verbal communication skills 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a variety of stakeholders including staff, board members, volunteers, and students  
• Superlative skills in Microsoft Office Suite and proficiency in a fundraising database, such as Donor Perfect or Blackbaud 
• Photo editing, video editing, and graphic design experience in Canva or a similar platform 

Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Pre-tax metro cards (Transitchek)
• Over 10 paid holidays

CYD offers competitive compensation and opportunities for personal and professional growth as well as the rewards of serving high-need students from across New York City. CYD is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.