Organization: West Africa Volunteers Development Initiative (WAVDI)
Term(s): Fall, J-Term, Spring, or Summer (All year around)
We are seeking a multi-talented Communications & Development Associate to support communications across WAVDI’s varied audiences. The Communications & Development Associate will have demonstrated success in using written and visual communications to help an organization/business meet its strategic goals. The Communications & Development Associate will join the Operations & Communications Manager, Development Manager, and Executive Director to form an Advancement Team that makes our mission sustainable and irresistible. The Communications & Development Associate will significantly increase organizational capacity to align our communications and fundraising work into a cohesive whole. To grow our capacity for messaging strategy and content development, the Communications & Development Associate will create effective written and visual communications for WAVDI’s multiple audiences across platforms, whether on social media, email newsletters, or mailed fundraising appeals. In addition to original content creation, the Communications & Development Associate will take on essential administrative tasks such as scheduling content, monitoring analytics, and entering donations in the donor database. The Communications and Development Associate will also support communications and logistics for fundraising and signature programming events.
Job Responsibilities include:
Support organizational communications efforts including website, email, and social media – 60%
Coordinate WAVDI’s social media efforts and email newsletters, from assisting
with drafting copy to scheduling posts. Engage with followers and relevant organizations across platforms to increase audience engagement.
Create digital and print graphics as well as some video to support communications efforts across the organization.
- Maintain and update organizational website including blog posts, events, news, and edits as directed.
- Designs materials such as factsheets, one-pagers, event invitations, annual reports and other supporting materials
- Create quarterly communications reports noting trends, successes, challenges, and adjustments.
- Conduct research as directed to execute platform and workflow improvements and offer feedback for further growth (e.g. social media trends, ad placement) and content development.
Work with other WAVDI staff to insure coordinated, unified communications on behalf of the organization
Support fundraising communications efforts including donor communications, appeals, and sponsorship as directed by Program Manager – 20%
In coordination with Development Manager, plan, draft, and execute bi-monthly
donor e-newsletter.
Support fundraising appeals, donor campaigns, and solicitation materials, including designing materials and managing logistics for online and mailed appeals.
- Support funder communications from solicitation through recognition and impact reports. Plan and track all corporate and funder recognition throughout grant/sponsorship periods.
Collaborate with Development Manager to explore current and possible new initiatives that honor donors as a unique audience.
Support fundraising administration and donor database management – 15%
- Manage donation tracking in donor database to ensure clean, accurate and updated donor records. Prepare and send donor tax acknowledgements.
Prepare donor database reports and execute data update projects as directed by Development Manager.
Support fundraising and programming events – 5%
- With Development Manager and Operations & Communications Manager assist with planning for fundraising events, including attendee communications, event logistics (reserving event space, catering, run of show, etc.) and event reporting.
- Solicit in-kind donations for fundraising and/or other events.
Support signature programming event logistics such as volunteer recruitment and on-site staffing.
Qualifications:
- Highly collaborative style; experience developing and implementing communications strategies
- Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills
- A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently
- Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to “manage by influence”
- High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels
- Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters
- Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
- Passion for international travel, different cultures, and making a difference in the world
Desire Class Level: First Year (Freshman), Second Year (Sophomore), Third Year (Junior), Fourth Year (Senior)
Expiration Date: Depending on intern availability
requirement: Cover letter and CV only. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be processed on a rolling basis.