Communications & Stewardship Coordinator

CommonSpirit Health•Austin, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work. The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service. SUMMARY: THIS IS A TEMPORARY, FULL-TIME "PINCH-HITTER" ROLE COVERING MATERNITY LEAVE AND INTERIM NEEDS. THE ROLE SUPPORTS THE ADVANCEMENT TEAM (INCLUDES PHILANTHROPY, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS) WITH DONOR STEWARDSHIP, MONTHLY GIVING (CONSTANT COMPANIONS), CONTENT COLLECTION AND COPYWRITING (NEWSLETTERS/DONOR COMMUNICATIONS), PR/MEDIA COORDINATION, INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND ENTRY-LEVEL CORPORATE RELATIONS SUPPORT. APA! IS A VOLUNTEER-POWERED ORGANIZATION, AND THIS ROLE IS CENTRAL TO MAINTAINING A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE WHERE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE LIVES. This position may involve shift flexibility, weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need. Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow.

Requirements

1-2 years experience in philanthropy, communications, or a similar field (Internships and senior-level university coursework may count).
Excellent written communication skills with a flair for crafting stories.
Working proficiency in Google Suite.
An authentic passion for animals and commitment to APA!'s mission.

Responsibilities

Manage the Constant Companions (monthly giving) program, acknowledge gifts, conduct donor stewardship (cards, phone calls, emails), and support acquisition strategies.
Write donor stories and newsletters, and assist with content collection for donor communication campaigns.
Assist with media outreach, story sourcing, and representing APA! at corporate and community events.
Support the Corporate Philanthropy Officer role by managing and triaging partner inquiries, drafting invoices and contracts, and conducting prospect research and outreach.
Support internal messaging and team communication needs.
Work collaboratively with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, contributing to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect.
Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment
Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—not siloed
Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program
Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work
Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager
Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts
Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands-on guidance, and offering in-the-moment support