Donor Communications Manager
About The Position
Sonoma Land Trust (SLT) is looking for a Donor Communications Manager who will create a comprehensive donor communication strategy, craft compelling narratives to deepen engagement, and ensure donors are well-informed. Working closely with various departments, they will translate organizational priorities into engaging stories, strategically coordinate fundraising campaigns, and serve as an “air traffic controller” for external communications. SLT serves a diverse audience with broad cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, and orientations. We encourage applications from candidates who reflect and value the audiences and populations we serve. Overview The Donor Communications Manager (DCM) is part of the Philanthropy Team, reporting to the Deputy Director of Philanthropy, while working closely with the Marketing and Communications (Marcomms) Team. They help achieve the strategic priorities of the Philanthropy team by developing engaging communication materials for donors and coordinating the dissemination of organizational communications through close partnership with key departments (Philanthropy, Marcomms, and Community Engagement). They maintain current, expert knowledge of donor communications tools and practices and play a key role in strengthening alignment, visibility, and impact across the organization.
Requirements
- A passion for conservation and environmental issues.
- Exceptional written communication skills and the ability to translate complex concepts into clear and actionable content.
- Proven ability to plan, write, and edit written materials for use with donor solicitations, grant proposals, donor reports, member communications, and events, in ways that build donor engagement.
- Demonstrated ability to write for donor audiences and use communication to engage and inspire current and prospective donors with a mission or cause.
- Track record of excellence in project planning with the ability to self-direct, anticipate roadblocks, meet deadlines, and prioritize among competing goals, while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to present information in a professional manner, using established brand standards, templates, Canva and/or Microsoft products.
- Strong team player, who thrives working in a fast-paced environment, while meeting deadlines.
Nice To Haves
- Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with staff across an organization. Experience using diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships.
- Experience in interviewing, researching, and compiling information from many sources into engaging stories.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience are valued.
- Knowledge of and basic understanding of database best practices.
- Knowledge of current trends around communications and philanthropy.
Responsibilities
- Distill Sonoma Land Trust’s work into stories, presentations, and written materials that resonate with donors, including writing copy and compiling visuals for case studies, case statements, one-pagers, print collateral, and emails, in alignment with organizational branding.
- Demonstrate strong project management skills with the ability to keep all donor communications materials accessible and up to date and create a pipeline of materials for upcoming projects and campaigns.
- Support and participate in communication efforts for events and campaigns; including the development of themes, messaging, and talking points - both written and creative communications.
- Strategically manage the donor communications calendar with the wider organizational calendar to ensure timely delivery of communication pieces.
- Act independently within broad program goals to prioritize tasks in the absence of specific instructions and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
- Implement and manage new initiatives that will ensure department and organization-wide goals and strategies are achieved.
- Manage multiple vendors/contractors (e.g. graphic designers, printers), including adhering to established budgets and negotiating contracts.
Benefits
- Paid time off including paid vacation based on tenure, 15 paid holidays, and paid sick and family leave
- 100% of employee premiums for medical, dental, and vision, and 75% of dependent premiums
- 5% employer contribution to retirement plan after one year of employment
- Employee life and disability insurance
- Pre-tax dependent care coverage plans for dependent or elder care
- An employee assistance program for mental health, coaching, and financial or legal services
- A lifestyle account annual stipend for wellness or gear purchases
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
