Communications and Development Coordinator

COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

REPORTS TO: Development Manager

STARTING SALARY: $55,605

FLSA STATUS: Full Time, Exempt

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

City Blossoms is a nonprofit that cultivates the well-being of our communities through creative programming in kid-driven gardens. We envision cities with abundant, accessible green spaces where communities thrive and children build lifelong connections to the natural world. Applying our unique brand of gardens, science, art, healthy living, and community building, we "blossom" in neighborhoods where kids, their families, and neighbors may not otherwise have access to green spaces.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

City Blossoms’ strives to create a work environment and programs based on our values:

• EQUITY. Strive to ensure access and inclusion for all
• DIVERSITY. Celebrate everyone's strengths and experiences
• RESPECT. Nurture compassion and consideration for all living things
• COLLABORATION. Enhance our impact by joining together
• CREATIVITY. Cultivate open-mindedness and experimentation

All City Blossoms programming aligns with our mission and strategic plan. City Blossoms staff work as a team to embody the values of the organization to carry out all aspects of our work.

POSITION SUMMARY

City Blossoms is thrilled to hire a Communications and Development Coordinator to meet the needs of our rapid growth! Reporting to the Development Manager, this position will support the development and implementation of City Blossoms’ communications and fundraising strategies. Communications responsibilities include writing City Blossoms’ bi-monthly newsletter, creating social media posts, and conducting on-the-ground community engagement to promote City Blossoms’ programs and organization updates to key stakeholders and program participants. Development responsibilities include writing reports for foundation grants, supporting the implementation of City Blossoms’ individual donor strategy, co-planning and executing our annual gala, and more.

This role will partner closely with the Development Manager, Executive Director, Community Outreach Coordinator, and the Board of Directors to execute essential functions and responsibilities. City Blossoms will cultivate an environment for learning and training to ensure the person in this role feels supported.

The ideal candidate has familiarity with any of the following essential functions: creative writing, supporting a communications strategy, social media communications and analytics, planning and executing events and/or campaigns, conducting research, exceptional communication and project coordination skills.

The position will be based primarily at the City Blossoms Studio (516 Kennedy Street NW) with occasional travel to other partner sites throughout Washington, DC. The position requires a Monday through Friday schedule between December-March, Tuesday through Saturday schedule otherwise. Finally, this position requires some attendance at Community Workdays - events usually held on Saturday mornings in which staff members build or revitalize a garden - and occasional attendance at evening meetings and events.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy, Vision and Leadership - 10%

• Contribute to the accomplishment of City Blossoms’ strategic goals and objectives as laid out in the organization’s Strategic Plan;
• Correspond with the Board of Directors’ Development and Events Committees;
• Participate in maintaining a culture of support, high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality, mission and collaboration;
• Represent City Blossoms externally, as necessary.

Development and Fundraising - 45%

• Support City Blossoms’ development and fundraising strategy alongside the Development Manager and Executive Director, and with occasional support from the Community Outreach Coordinator;
• Support the implementation of City Blossoms’ fundraising strategy for individual contributions and foundation grants;
• Co-lead foundation grant report writing alongside the Development Manager;
• Support the prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual contributions;
• Participate in the planning and execution of the annual fundraising gala and seasonal fundraising events, alongside the Development Manager, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Executive Director;
• Maintain accurate and complete donor records through data entry in City Blossoms’ Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, Bloomerang.

Communications and Branding - 45%

• Align and support City Blossoms’ Communications Strategy alongside the Development Manager and Executive Director;
• Co-create City Blossoms external voice and tone alongside the Development Manager and Executive Director;
• Support creating and updating organizational language that communicates the story and impact of the organization;
• Utilize Mailchimp for the regular use of targeted email messaging with support from Development Manager;
• Utilize social media and on-the-ground communications and outreach to promote programming and organizational updates to community partners, youth, and families;
• Support the Executive Director with keeping the website up-to-date and refreshed as needed.

Other tasks in line with the essential functions/responsibilities mentioned above may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field of study.

Requirements

• Successful completion of MPD background check
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

Experience

• At least one year of experience in the areas of non-profit development and fundraising preferred, but not required;
• Familiarity with supporting a communications strategy, managing a CRM, and planning and executing fundraising events and campaigns;
• Familiarity with donor prospecting, cultivation, and solicitation;
• Experience with graphic design tools and platforms preferred, but not required;
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively support both strategic and tactical development and communications initiatives;
• Experience working in diverse settings, on community-based initiatives, and directly with community members;
• Minimal experience in gardening or outdoors encouraged;
• Passion for City Blossoms’ mission.

Skills

• High attention to detail and self-starter mentality;
• At home working in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, and creative professional setting;
• Excellent written, oral, and presentational communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal and active listening skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, board of directors, and staff;
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills including negotiation and conflict resolution skills;
• Ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as strategic thinker;
• Ability to document and articulate organizations’ work and needs to a diverse audience;
• Familiarity with managing CRM, email marketing software, major social media platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite cloud storage preferred, but not required;
• Conversational Spanish preferred, but not required;

Equal Opportunity Employer: City Blossoms is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other class protected by law. People of color, especially those from the Washington DC area, are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process.