About you:

This role is an opportunity for an experienced communications professional to take your skills to the next level while supporting a dynamic community institution entering our 14th year of growth. The 18 Reasons Communications Manager is a solution-oriented wordsmith who creates and manages all communications for the organization and assists with the grantmaking lifecycle. Scope includes weekly newsletters, social media, public relations, funder communications, appeals, annual report and other organization collateral, grant applications, and grant compliance. You are passionate about food, learning, community, and equity. A career at 18 Reasons is an opportunity to learn new skills and play a valuable role in serving the community. We take special care to create a working team of positive, flexible, and driven people who are committed to caring for the community. 

The person in this role is responsible for executing strategic communications to support the growth of 18 Reasons’ programs and championing our core values of Food, Heart, Learning, Liberation, and Moxie. You will report to the Director of Development & Communications. This is an opportunity for a driven, dedicated, and ambitious professional to help build the capacity of the Development & Communications Department.

Responsibilities 

As our Communications Manager you do not need to be an expert in all areas of development and/or communications before you start, but you must be highly organized, motivated, curious, and eager to learn. You do not need to have experience writing grant proposals specifically, but you do need to have professional communications experience. You are meant for this role if you are a lifelong learner with a passion for writing and storytelling. 

Ultimately, we are looking for someone who has a talent for communication, a love of building relationships, and who is whole-heartedly enthusiastic about growing with our business.

Communications and Content Creation (60%)

• In close partnership with the Director of Development and Communications, develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance 18 Reasons’ brand identity, increase visibility, move ticket buyers and supporters through the engagement funnel, communicate the power and success of our programs to donors, general public, supporters, and institutional partners, and market 18th Street Kitchen. 
• Develop and maintain the communications calendar across channels to ensure message consistency and fresh content, partner with and assist stakeholders in program areas to meet their marketing needs.
• Develop high-quality, timely content across media (including website, newsletter, social media, print collateral, annual report, event marketing, and press releases) supporting our mission and vision.
• Recommend and implement paid advertising efforts: Google Ads, social media boosts, etc.
• Collaborate with Director Development and Communications and Donor Relations Manager to plan and execute donor appeal campaigns
• Maintain online profiles, including Charity Navigator and Guidestar
• Partnering with Donor Relations Manager, increase data-driven marketing and communications through market research and tracking network engagement and growth.
• Assist with planning and execution of two annual large-scale fundraising events

Grants Management (30%)

• Manage a portfolio of 20+ funders, ensuring that all upcoming application and report deadlines, as well as compliance requirements, are completed and documented.
• In close collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Development and Communications, analyze new grant opportunities, and create application strategies that meet the organization’s needs and maximize its competitiveness.
• Generate near-final proposals for private foundations and government agencies, budgets and support materials, making revisions as needed, and submitting the final application package by deadline.
• Support the Executive Director as needed with large scale grant applications
• Support the Executive Director to complete funder reporting requirements.
• In close collaboration the Director of Development and Communications, maintain and improve grants management systems.
• Field general funder communications, updating appropriate staff members.

Asset Management (10%)

• Maintain photo library and testimonial library
• Own and ensure compliance regarding filing and storage of all development department documents, materials, art assets, and other.

Requirements

• 3+ years experience in marketing/communication and/or nonprofit development
• Experience managing integrated marketing programs
• Experience with fundraising communications desired
• Superlative writing, editing, and proofreading skills; ability to organize and present a logical, persuasive, and compelling case or narrative. High level and sophisticated English grammar required.
• Ability to quickly produce highest quality writing for a variety of audiences and media/formats and across a variety of print and digital communications media
• Excellent project management skills, successfully managing competing priorities and deadlines to produce quality results on time with attention to detail
• Adept at building and presenting budgets as well as gathering and incorporating research data and quantitative and qualitative program evaluation metrics
• Technology: the ability to quickly learn and master new technology and software programs, as needed 
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Candidates must be located in or willing to relocate to the Bay Area; we work out of our office at 3674 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 once a week and work remotely four days a week
• Occasional night and weekend work required

Qualifications

• Passionate about our core values of Food, Heart, Learning, Liberation, and Moxie
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Passionate about our culture of professional development, accountability, continuous and open feedback, and celebrating diversity
• Willingness to learn on the job and grow with our organization, including working to identify opportunities for innovation

Physical Requirements

General office duties include: computer work; filing; typing; phone communication; copying; and participating in meetings with donors, funders, and other stakeholders. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable any qualified person to perform essential job duties. 

Classification & Compensation

• This is a full-time, salaried position that pays $60,000-$70,000 DOE
• Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance; 3% IRA matching; 12 holidays; 20 days of PTO; and a 20% discount at Bi-Rite Market locations

Reports to

This position is supervised by the Director of Development & Communications