COMMUNICATIONS & FUNDRAISING ASSOCIATE

Hours: Full-Time (40 hours/week)

Reports To: Executive Director

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Location: 63 W. 125th St., 4TH Floor, New York, NY.

Organization Background

Youth Justice Network (YJN) was founded in 1990 to anchor, support and build capacity among young people released from jail in New York City. We break cycles of incarceration and promote an equitable justice system by providing young people with opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead. Through a combination of individualized advocacy, mentorship and services, our network of advocates develops relationships with young people whose lives intersect with the justice system. We leverage authentic relationships and local resources so that young people can forge their pathways to wellbeing and positive development.

Position Framework and Description

Youth Justice Network celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. As a pioneer in working with young people cycling through Rikers Island, YJN has emerged as a thought leader in youth justice innovation. We are seeking a Communications and Fundraising Associate who will uplift and support all aspects of the organization’s communications strategy and the development/growth of mission-based colleagues, coalitions and donors. This includes ensuring YJN’s voice and branding is consistent across all forms of communication, external and internal.

Responsibilities

Communications and Social Media

• Implement YJN’s communications strategy across all forums (social media, email, development and donor communications as follows:
  • Write content for all agency communications including newsletters, appeals, e-blasts, press releases, and acknowledgement of donors and partners.
  • Develop tools to measure effectiveness of campaigns and marketing initiatives.
• Collaborate with executive and program leadership to create and monitor authentic content for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn:
  • Work with YJN staff to post content representative of our work and mission.
  • Generate reports and insights based on social media analytic performance data
  • Engage and grow YJN’s digital audience
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to align communications strategy with YJN’s mission, organization objectives and opportunities to amplify YJN’s public image.

Development and Fundraising Support

• Maintain donor management software and contact lists (Constant Contact and Kindful).
• Lead content creation for individual fundraising campaigns via email and social media.
• Manage donor correspondence and donor/volunteer inquiries.
• Strategize with leadership surrounding new fundraising campaigns and individual donor cultivation.
• Engage in donor prospect research/ to identify individuals and organizations whose philanthropic interests align with our mission.
• Engage in research for public, private and individual donor prospects.

Administrative and Grants Support

• Provide support with creating internal flyers and ordering YJN merchandise.
• Manage the Books to Jails initiative, which sends books to youth in detention.
• Provide occasional writing/editing support to the grants manager and executive team to support institutional fundraising efforts.
• Support the grants team with updating the grants calendar and sending acknowledgements.
• Update YJN’s website as necessary and manage YJN’s organization email.
• Provide administrative support to the Executive Director in coordinating and communicating with donors and partners.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and excellent social media skills required.
• 3+ years of communications experience, preferably within social justice and/or nonprofit arena.
• Experience with traditional media, digital media, web, and other creative content/platforms.
• Strong communications and project management skills, with experience using digital marketing tools like Constant Contact, Kindful, donor prospect research software, or similar platforms.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills as well as strong interpersonal, networking and relationship capability.
• Event planning experience preferred.
• A self-starter willing to take ownership of new challenges and new initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate measurable results.
• Ability to work collegially and in partnership with all facets of the organization’s internal and external environment.
• Critical personal characteristics include integrity, discretion, good humor and a commitment to social justice and passion for the agency’s mission.

Youth Justice Network is privileged to have a profoundly committed and caring staff – one which believes unconditionally in our members’ ability to do right and do well. We take our work very seriously but also strive to make time for self-care and joy. We seek staff and interns from all walks of life who have integrity, a strong work ethic, a sense of humor, who are passionate about our mission and work, and who are committed to addressing the harms that lead to and are caused by mass incarceration.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000 per year

Benefits include competitive vacation/sick leave policy including 3 days off between Christmas and New Year’s Day, generous health insurance, 403b employer match.

Target Start Date: As soon as possible.

Work Location: Hybrid: 3 days per week in person.

Main Office: 63 W 125th St, 4th Floor, NY, NY 10027

Additional office locations in Brooklyn and the Bronx

To apply, please send a cover letter, writing sample, and resume to careers@youthjustice.org. Candidates selected for a second interview will be asked to draft a sample communication plan.