Director, Strategic Fundraising Communications (Remote)

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers in chapters across the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter @JDRF.

As a JDRF team member, you can look forward to interesting and challenging work, building strong relationships with fellow staff and our network of volunteers, and having a meaningful impact on the lives of everyone affected by this devastating disease. JDRF supports a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Strategic Fundraising Initiatives, the Director, Strategic Fundraising Communications will serve as a key partner in the creation of donor-centric messaging for the highest organizational priorities. The Director will lead the development of timely and high-quality fundraising communications that convey the relevance, need, and impact of major and principal gift donor support toward advancing JDRF’s mission.

Critical to these efforts, the Director will partner broadly with fundraising and program-area leaders across JDRF and external high-level volunteers and partners to design and execute fundraising communications collateral for major and principal gift donor engagement and stewardship strategies that are part of a 5-year comprehensive campaign. The Director will partner with the Marketing & Communications department to make sure all materials are aligned with JDRF’s look, feel, tone and strategic communications priorities. This position is part of an expanding new function at JDRF and will have the opportunity to contribute to organizational strategy with a high degree of visibility.

This is a fully remote position.

Responsibilities

Comprehensive Campaign Communications

• Write and collaborate on media relations and communications for campaign announcements
• Act as lead for all executive campaign communications, including personalized correspondence and talking points - produce engaging and effective fundraising communications personalized to individual voices
• Collaborate with Campaign Director and AVP, Strategic Fundraising Initiatives on identifying and developing collateral pieces and messaging that are aligned with and support campaign strategies
• Develop and write talking points for C-suite and Campaign Cabinet cultivation of prospects and donors that are consistent with campaign tone, priorities and messaging
• As new, targeted campaign funding opportunities are identified; write, and develop campaign collateral pieces and corresponding proposals and impact reporting
• Write collateral materials for campaign and other VIP fundraising events including invitation and program copy, speaker scripts, etc.

Proposals & Stewardship

• Write and project manage the development of gift proposals to engage donors and prospects in philanthropic opportunities at the six- and seven-figure levels
• Write, generate content for and project manage the development of personalized impact and stewardship reports for campaign, principal, and major gift donors

Strategic Fundraising Communications

• Maintain and communicate campaign writing and design standards
• Work, if/as needed, with outside vendors–designers, other writers, printers on the design and production of principal gift donor and campaign communication materials
• Other duties as assigned.
• Identity, recommend and coordinate opportunities for increased relationship-building through donor outreach and fundraising communications; create language, messaging, and templates for internal use as appropriate
• Collaborate in the development of annual campaign and stewardship communications plans
• Manage production of various fundraising communication products concurrently; coordinate reviews by key stakeholders and incorporate feedback, oversee schedules, and adhere to deadlines.
• Review and edit written materials to ensure quality and consistency

Qualifications

• Experience preparing PowerPoint presentations, talking points, and other materials for various audiences. Excellent project management skills and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and data security.
• Experience demonstrating accountability and follow-through
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, and the ability to form and sustain working relationships within a complex organization.
• The ability to serve as a strategic thinker, capable of providing proactive solutions to challenges and opportunities. Ability to work with stakeholders at all levels – including JDRF leadership, development officers and volunteers
• College degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 7 years of professional experience in development communications, marketing, or related field. (Experience in fundraising or nonprofit management preferred). Supervisory experience preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, editing, proofreading and verbal.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel & PowerPoint). Experience with Salesforce or other database platforms

Target Salary - $90K - $120K

Essential Functions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and infrequently up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Additional Information

To protect the health and safety of our employees, all employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have a COVID-19 booster shot regardless of location or position. This includes those with remote status. Requests for medical, religious, and other exemptions will be considered on an individual basis. JDRF will comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

JDRF supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.

JDRF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.