Communications & Advancement Coordinator

Sierra Club•Chicago, IL

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications & Advancement Coordinator will help support Illinois Sierra Club’s efforts to build a grassroots movement for 100% Clean Energy for All in Illinois. This role is focused on developing and maintaining our digital communications and fundraising (â€œadvancementâ€ ) efforts. This position will work with chapter staff and volunteer leaders to develop and share messages and graphics to promote our campaigns and action opportunities with the nearly 20,000 people on our statewide email list, over 3,000 people on our statewide texting list, over 3,000 followers on social media, and nearly 1,000 active donors. The Communications & Advancement Coordinator will be responsible for several weekly tasks that will help the chapter maintain regular and engaging communications with our supporters and the swift processing and acknowledgement of donations. This position will also play a key supporting role during fundraising events and mailed appeals at specific times each year, which will require in-person days at our Chicago office.

Requirements

Comfortable with using a wide range of computer software and are quick to learn new software. Proactively learn new tools and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing technology environment.
Knack for designing and formatting visually-appealing graphics for social media posts, emails, and/or printed materials.
Aim for accuracy and attention to detail. Can learn, internalize, and incorporate our â€œvoiceâ€ across platforms. Organize and share information effectively â€” whether writing an internal email or delivering a presentation.
Keenly aware of the power of language and representation. Use references and examples that speak to the experiences of a diverse audience, particularly the communities we aim to reach.
Take financial responsibility seriously and demonstrate that you can be trusted and held accountable to follow protocols to pick up, process, and deposit checks for the organization. Also take seriously the responsibility of posting messages and graphics on public platforms on behalf of the organization, and demonstrate that you can be trusted and held accountable to follow our communications protocols.
Can manage a high volume of work with efficiency. Have, or can create, a system for keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize without sacrificing quality. Consistently overcome challenges and leverage resources to creatively solve problems. Propose solutions to issues without much guidance (but aren't afraid to ask questions). Proactively ask for help, anticipate problems, and course-correct where needed. Able to work independently, but always within a framework of teamwork, collaboration, and clear communication with others.
Understanding of how climate change disproportionately impacts communities of color, Indigenous communities, and low-income communities; the climate solutions and leadership being demonstrated in those communities; and interest in and/or experience with developing inclusive campaigns at the intersection of environmental action and social justice.
Aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. Have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. Bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting digital communications and/or fundraising at an advocacy-based nonprofit
Experience with event planning and management, particularly fundraising events
Experience using any of the software programs listed above
Knowledge of and/or interest in climate change, clean energy, environmental, and social justice issues
Fluency in Spanish
Ability to travel across the state needed. Valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record, and proof of auto insurance required.

Responsibilities

Create and send e-newsletters. Help schedule, prepare, and send other mass emails using our marketing systems and mass text messages. Create, print, and mail the annual print newsletter in the fall.
Schedule engaging daily posts and stories that highlight Illinois Sierra Club’s work and issue areas on our social media accounts. Use Drupal to maintain our website with blog posts and up-to-date static content. Post relevant video content to our channels. Use our internal platforms to maintain our online events calendar, including digital registration forms for Outings. Coordinate with staff and volunteer teams on content.
Ensure content is consistent with broader Sierra Club messaging goals and implemented strategically. Develop, implement, and coordinate communications and digital engagement strategy for the full range of chapter campaigns. Use Canva to create eye-catching shareable graphics.
Pickup mail weekly at our downtown Chicago office. Prep and deposit c4 donation checks at the bank. Mail c3 donation checks to the Sierra Club Foundation. Record donations in Salesforce database. Coordinate with volunteers to write thank-you notes to donors. Contact monthly donors to update expired credit cards. Send donation reports to Chapter Director each quarter. Assist Chapter Director with other donor stewardship strategies.
Help prepare fundraising letters, brochures, and mailing lists for annual mailed appeals in spring, summer, and fall. Coordinate volunteers to hand-address major donor letters and other fundraising tasks. Lead outreach for nonprofit giving days like Illinois Gives in May and Giving Tuesday in December.
By working closely with staff and volunteer leaders, help us better communicate about our planned and existing programmatic work to donors, potential funders, and supporters. As time allows, develop and deliver communication trainings to staff and volunteers on topics including but not limited to: narrative strategy, equitable communications, interacting with the press, message development, email and social media strategies, among other areas.
Help plan and manage fundraising events. Create materials for fundraising training for ExCom and interested volunteers. Help research other creative and effective fundraising event ideas.
As time allows, research and assist with applying for additional grant opportunities to support our work at local, regional, and national foundations.
Attend meetings for local and regional campaigns related to the Chapter’s areas of focus, such as clean energy, transportation water, outings and electoral work, and others as deemed appropriate by the Director. Provide programmatic support to these teams and campaigns through creating digital content, coordinating communications such as follow-up emails or resource sharing, and other miscellaneous tasks as needed.
Other miscellaneous duties as assigned.