Gaining Ground - Concord, MA

posted 5 months ago

Full-time - Mid Level
Concord, MA
Social Assistance

About the position

Gaining Ground, Inc. is seeking a Development and Communications Manager to join our team in Concord, MA. As a nonprofit no-till farm, we are dedicated to donating everything we grow to emergency food programs in the region, benefiting approximately 10,000 individuals annually. The Development and Communications Manager will play a crucial role in our mission by overseeing the administrative, systematic, and creative aspects of our annual fundraising and communications plan. This position will work closely with the Executive Director, key staff, and Board members to raise over $1 million in revenue each year by developing a robust program to attract, retain, and steward the gifts of grant funders and individual donors. In this role, the Development and Communications Manager will be responsible for drafting compelling communications for individual donors and broad appeals, creating and sending biannual email appeals, and conducting grant writing and reporting. The manager will also process all donations, manage our donor database (Bloomerang), and support special events as needed. Additionally, the manager will collaborate with external freelance writers and graphic designers to produce newsletters and reports, ensuring that our communications are engaging and effective. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in Gaining Ground's mission and a background in food insecurity, food justice, or regenerative agriculture. With at least five years of development and fundraising experience, the candidate should possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and solid project management abilities. This position requires a team player who is self-motivated, adaptable, and committed to personal and organizational excellence. The Development and Communications Manager will also need to be open to learning and willing to engage in feedback, while maintaining a calm and solutions-focused outlook in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

  • Draft compelling communications to individual donors and for broad appeals
  • Create, produce, and send biannual email appeals
  • Conduct grant writing, reporting, and new prospect research
  • Process all donations to Gaining Ground and issue prompt receipt/acknowledgment to donors
  • Manage donor database (Bloomerang), including data entry, reporting, and systems updates
  • Support occasional special events
  • Work with a freelance writer to create and send a monthly email newsletter, an annual newsletter, and an annual gratitude report
  • Collaborate with a freelance graphic designer to create an annual newsletter, an annual gratitude report, and graphics for biannual poetry and art exhibits on the farm
  • Stay informed about best practices in philanthropy and strategize with leadership on opportunities for improving annual fund implementation
  • Assist with tasks outside this job description on an as-needed basis

Requirements

  • Demonstrated interest in Gaining Ground's mission, food insecurity/food justice, and/or regenerative agriculture
  • 5+ years of development/fundraising experience
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Excellent attention to detail and solid project management and organizational skills
  • Proven ability to build relationships, connecting and engaging with donors, Board members, and community members
  • Ability to handle diverse, simultaneous tasks, prioritize, meet deadlines, and attend to follow-through
  • Knowledge of development best practices and ability to implement planned campaigns
  • Experience managing donor database systems (familiarity with Bloomerang is a plus) and discretion with confidential information
  • Proficiency with Google Drive for workflow management, email marketing (Constant Contact a plus), Canva, WordPress, and video editing software
  • Team player, self-starter, interested in personal and professional growth
  • A calm, grounded presence, and the ability to manage setbacks
  • A solutions-focused outlook and growth mindset
  • Self-motivated and committed to personal and organizational excellence
  • Openness to learning and willingness to give and receive feedback
  • Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends
  • Adaptable to the changing needs of the organization
  • Willingness to get a little dirty (we are a farm, after all!)

Benefits

  • 10 days of vacation
  • 11 Federal Holidays
  • Up to 5 sick days/year
  • Additional paid time off on the Wednesday before and Friday after Thanksgiving
  • Paid time off during the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day
  • Hybrid work schedule (two days/week in-office required with occasional in-person work aligned with responsibilities and events)
  • Health care stipend
  • Professional development opportunities
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