Development and Communications Associate

Govern For America, Inc.

Our mission is to build the next generation of public servants to create a more responsive government that better reflects and serves our communities. We imagine a world where our most dynamic young leaders see government as an avenue for meaningful change, and our governments reflect the values and diversity of our nation. GFA believes that by engaging America's top talent, we can better meet the needs of all residents while revitalizing public service as an attractive career path for recent graduates and building a diverse leadership pipeline into government.

GFA’s Values

Staff are guided by and make decisions based on our shared organizational values:

• Equitable & Inclusive Action: We purposefully seek and promote diversity, champion equitable policies and processes, and foster inclusive climates in all our work.
• Bold Leadership: We pursue innovative ideas and partnerships that challenge the status quo and support the communities we serve.
• Transformative Vision: We recognize that our goals are ambitious and the progress we seek will take time, empathy, and compassion for ourselves, our communities, and our country.
• Collaborative Partnership: We actively value, seek input from, and make decisions in the best interest of GFA Fellows, government partners, and the broader GFA community.
• Data-Driven Learning: We use data and evidence to examine our assumptions, learn from different lived experiences, make decisions, and shape our vision.
• Transparent Decisions: We foster a culture of trust by being honest with Fellows and partners about our strategy, plans, and decisions.
• Supportive Community: We are more than a network of mission-aligned leaders. We nurture inter-dependent and supportive bonds among Fellows and partners.

You Belong At GFA If...

• You believe in the value of public service and the power of government as an avenue for meaningful change in our society.
• You are passionate about building a diverse leadership pipeline into government and believe that talented and committed people can strengthen our public institutions to foster inclusion, promote equity, and better serve everyone in our country.
• You are a creative thinker, collaborative problem-solver, and an energetic doer who is committed to doing what it takes to build a transformative new organization
• You are a self-starter and a team player who is excited to join and build a growing, highly motivated, and creative team.
• You are passionate about turning ideas into action and ask compelling questions that help your team focus on what matters most.

Position Overview

The Development and Communications Associate will support the Chief Executive Officer and ensure that GFA’s development and communications goals are achieved. The Associate will work closely with internal teams and external contractors to produce compelling grant proposals and communications assets, which include a monthly newsletter, an annual impact report, and social media content. The Associate will also conduct high-quality donor research and ensure the CEO is prepared for meetings with prospective funders. GFA is a remote-first organization and this is a remote position. Below are the responsibilities for the incoming Associate.

Grant Writing & Management (35%)

• Write grant proposals, letters of inquiry, grant reports, interim reports, and concept memos.
• Collaborate with GFA team members to gather data and content necessary for drafting proposals, reports, and other donor materials.
• Provide guidance and support to the Finance & Development Associate on grant tracking requirements and timelines.

Communications (35%)

• Write and curate Fellow Impact stories to engage and inspire donors to support GFA.
• Update and produce communications collateral to respond to donor opportunities and inquiries.
• Produce a monthly newsletter that maintains a high standard of content and engagement.
• Support the production of the annual Impact Report in collaboration with external contractors, ensuring accuracy and quality.
• Ensure all external-facing communications, such as pitch decks, website content, and concept memos adhere to the organization's brand guidelines.
• Manage and track communications tasks via the organization's Communications Asana platform.
• Create or update assets such as event flyers, decks, and other promotional materials as needed.

Donor Research and Engagement (20%)

• Conduct prospect research to identify funding opportunities and support the CEO’s donor engagement meetings.
• Assist the CEO in planning and executing donor engagement strategies and activities.
• Manage the stewardship engagement calendar to ensure timely and strategic touchpoints with donors.

Planning and Administration (10%)

• Collaborate with the CEO to develop and track annual development goals and objectives.
• Contribute to strategic planning to advance GFA’s development and communication efforts.
• Partner with the Finance & Development Associate to ensure data in Salesforce for donors and grants is accurate and updated on a scheduled basis.

Qualifications

Don’t meet every single qualification in this job description? That's ok! If you’re excited about this role and our mission but your experience doesn’t align perfectly we encourage you to apply anyway.

• Three years of experience in grant writing, fundraising, or donor communications.
• Self-motivated and comfortable working with multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong prioritization and organizational skills to effectively support short-term and long-term tasks and responsibilities in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional project management skills with the ability to effectively plan and execute short- and long-term projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Asana, Airtable), communication platforms (e.g. Mailchimp), Salesforce, Slack, and Google Workspace.
• Preferred experience with video editing and social media content creation.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for different audiences.