Operational Support, Communications + Marketing @ Rhythm Seed Farm

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About Rhythm Seed Farm:

Rhythm Seed Farm is a 3-year-old nonprofit urban seed and education farm in NE Portland working to improve community food security, resiliency and heal urban ecosystems. We grow and preserve hundreds of varieties of rare, locally-adapted vegetable, flower, and medicine seeds that we sell online, to stores and at plant sales. With a commitment to equity, for every seed packet we sell, we donate one to BIPOC growers, schools, community gardens and low-income groups. While the Spring and Summer is dedicated to our growing operation, our Fall and Winter operations focus on seed harvesting, processing and packaging to be ready for distributing seeds at the start of the next year. We also run our donation program in the winter months, distributing thousands of packets to our community network.

As a learning farm, we host workshops, tours, and events throughout the year where people of all ages come to learn about growing food and medicine, seed saving, and climate resilient growing techniques. Our Spring Plant Sale, plant tasting trials, Summer Fest and Fall Harvest Festival are attended well. Our Volunteer & Ambassador Program attracts regular volunteers, and we operate a Farm Apprenticeship Program that trains a seasonal cohort. We also work with local Portland schools and offer land-based education for students of different ages. We are an active member of the Portland Placemaking Coalition and collaborate with a variety of food justice groups such as Black Food Sovereignty Coalition and Feed’em Freedom Foundation.

Scope of Work:

As our programs, partnerships and supporters have grown, we are seeking a contractor to work with our Executive Director to execute organizational systems, outreach and communications for our 2025 growing, event and fundraising season. This is an exciting time to be a part of a community resiliency project in Portland and provide valuable expertise while having a positive impact. In 2024 we doubled our budget and individual donors and launched a new membership program. RSF’s successful pilot has educated and inspired hundreds of people into climate action, and is excited to further its mission and impact in 2025.

Summary of Deliverables:

• Implement 2025 Membership structure and campaign to recruit new members
  • Outcome I – members receive welcome packet communications, benefits and are regularly communicated with in a timely manner
  • Timeline – Strategy and timeline is in place for communications
• Produce Spring fundraising campaign & Year End Giving Tuesday campaign
• Create & implement seasonal strategic plans for community engagement communications, storytelling & relationship building that acquire, cultivate & steward supporters, donors and sponsors around programs and events.
  • Seed Preservation Program, Apprenticeship Program, Garden Volunteer Program, School Education Program, Seed Donation Program
• Launch outreach campaign to local companies/organizations introducing company volunteer days on the farm
• Execute volunteer coordination, ticketing, marketing and logistics for events including, work parties, Summer Fest, Fall Fest, concerts
• Produce executed operational systems and scheduling using organizational work plan and outlined operations guidelines, including monthly financial tracking, donation procedures, volunteer coordination, inquiries for tours
  • Outcome 1: Team meetings are coordinated weekly and monthly to plan and develop activities and foster input
  • Outcome 2: Work plan is maintained, and activities are achieved on time
• Collect, track and deliver RSF program impact data and documentation quarterly for board and donors including program reports, photos, surveys, participant testimonials, measurable outcomes/metrics for:
  • Seed Preservation Program, Apprenticeship Program, Garden Volunteer Program, School Education Program, Seed Donation Program
• Produce monthly editorial calendar for content & communications for social media, email marketing, & website updates that promote timely events, program news, event recaps, movement news, community profiles and impact storytelling, calls to action, education.
  • Outcome I: Program news feature posted monthly as blog on website
• Execute digital communications & media systems using Constant Contact, Google Office Suite, Dropbox, etc. according to communications schedule.
  • Outcome I: E-mail newsletter is produced once per month minimum

Budget & Timeline:

This is a contract position with meet up in Portland, Oregon.

Monthly fee of $1200.

Contract Term starts April 2025 – June 30, 2025.

Deliverables assessed July 1, 2025 for contract renewal through December 2025, with assessment end of September.