Merrimack Valley Project Development and Communications Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Development & Communications Manager will bring both structure and innovation to Merrimack Valley Project’s growing development and communications efforts. This strategic and hands-on role requires someone who can think big while minding the details. As MVP enters an exciting period of growth and plans to expand long-term fundraising and communications capacity, this position will play a key role in strengthening fundraising, deepening donor engagement, and elevating MVP's public narrative through compelling storytelling. Reporting to the Executive Director and partnering closely with the Organizing Team, the Development & Communications Manager will lead annual fundraising campaigns and events, oversee development and communications operations, strengthen individual and institutional fundraising, and supervise contracted communications or development support as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Donor Strategy & Engagement [40%]

• Partner with the Executive Director to develop and implement MVP's annual fundraising and development plan
• Manage annual appeals and donor campaigns, including Giving Tuesday and the End-of-Year Appeal.
• Develop donor communications, including segmented email campaigns, personalized acknowledgments, thank-you letters, and impact updates.
• Support planning and coordination of MVP's annual fundraising events (e.g., MICAH Awards Dinner & Annual Meeting), including sponsorships, communications, volunteer coordination, and event logistics.
• Apply community organizing principles by maintaining relational 1:1 meetings to cultivate and steward small- and mid-level donors to monthly sustainers.
• Support the development of MVP’s monthly sustainer program.
• Maintain donor records in EveryAction and Salesforce CRMs, including gift entry, reports, and data management.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and monthly Board Development Committee meetings to report on progress and strategy.

2. Grant Management & Institutional Giving (25%)

• Conduct prospect research to identify new foundation and institutional funding opportunities.
• Maintain the grants calendar and ensure proposals, reports, renewals, and deadlines are completed on time.
• Coordinate and draft grant proposals and reports with the Executive Director and contracted grant writer, as needed.
• Collaborate with staff to gather program outcomes, budgets, and supporting materials.
• Track grant awards, reporting requirements, payment schedules, and records.
• Steward relationships with institutional funders through timely communication and reporting.

3. External Communications [35%]

• Coordinate and support team of volunteer leaders in storytelling, photography, and digital content creation.
• Steward MVP's brand by ensuring consistent messaging, voice, visual identity, and values.
• Draft press releases, cultivate media relationships, and coordinate media outreach for campaigns and events.
• Manage MVP's digital communications strategy, including the website, email marketing, social media, and digital advertising.
• Design print and digital materials—including newsletters, annual reports, campaign materials, e-blasts, and leader resources.
• Maintain MVP's library of photos, videos, and testimonials, and monitor engagement metrics to grow our audience.
• Partner with the Organizing Team to elevate campaign storytelling and the voices of directly impacted leaders.
• Manage content across MVP's social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 3-4+ years of experience in fundraising or development, communications, community organizing, or a related field.
• Experience managing fundraising strategies, including annual giving, donor cultivation and stewardship, fundraising events, institutional giving, and grants.
• Experience managing EveryAction, Salesforce, or a similar CRM system.
• Experience researching, writing, or coordinating grant proposals and reports.
• Strong relationship-building skills with donors, grassroots leaders, volunteers, community partners, and institutional funders.
• Understanding of community organizing principles, including relational meetings, power-building, and values-based leadership.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms, Canva or Adobe, email marketing, social media management, and Google Workspace or Microsoft Office.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, project management, and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese proficiency is a strong plus.
• Reliable transportation and flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Commitment to advancing racial, social, and economic justice.