UPDATE: This position has been filled.

DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Salary Range: $60,000-$70,000 

Start Date: August 2024

Reports to Executive Director

Full-time, Year Round, Benefits 

Hybrid schedule, with 2 days/week required on site

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ABOUT GAINING GROUND

Farming sustainably for hunger relief in Boston, Lowell, and the MetroWest

Gaining Ground (Concord, MA) is a nonprofit, no-till organic farm that donates everything we grow to emergency food programs in the region.

Each year, about 10,000 people of all ages and backgrounds benefit from the fresh, nutritious, and culturally-preferred food we provide. Our distribution partners include day and overnight shelters, soup kitchens, schools, food pantries, and senior centers. 

Our grassroots organization thrives on committed, friendly individuals who support our mission with enthusiasm, a positive outlook, and a sense of humor.

Our mission is to provide free, fresh produce to people experiencing food insecurity.  We do this with a diverse community of volunteers who work and learn with us on the farm. 

We envision a world where everyone has equitable access to sustainably-grown food.  

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ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

Integrity—we remain true to our mission.

We grow high-quality, fresh produce in a sustainable manner, respect and honor all individuals, provide meaningful experiences for volunteers, and maximize the generous support of our donors.  

Equity —we donate everything we grow.

We believe that healthy food is a human right.  We provide our produce for free to eliminate barriers to access and maximize our impact on food insecurity.

Inclusion —we welcome everyone.

We welcome staff, board members, volunteers, partners, and donors with diverse perspectives and lived experiences. 

Inspiration—we nurture joy and wonder in our fields.

We cultivate an environment of discovery, belonging, and meaning.

Continuous Learning —we learn from others and share our knowledge.  

We embrace learning, acknowledge the contributions of other cultures and individuals to our farming practices, and always look for ways to improve our operations. We readily share what we’ve learned and strive to lead by example. 

Sustainability—we are good stewards of the land.

We are committed to modeling sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize thoughtful use of water resources; the health of our soil, crops, and species that pollinate our crops; and the well-being of people who eat our food and all who work in our fields.

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ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Development & Communications Manager is responsible for the administrative, systematic, and creative elements of an annual fundraising and communications plan.  This role also serves as the in-house manager for our external freelance writer and graphic designer.  

The Development & Communications Manager works with the Executive Director and key staff and Board members to raise $1M+ in revenue annually by building a program to attract, retain, and steward the gifts of grant funders and individual donors. 

Responsibilities include:

• Drafting compelling communications to individual donors and for broad appeals
• Creating, producing, and sending 2x/annual print and email appeals
• Grant writing, reporting, and new prospect research
• Processing all donations to Gaining Ground and issuing prompt receipt/acknowledgment to donors
• Managing donor database (Bloomerang), including data entry, reporting, and systems updates
• Supporting occasional special events 
• Working with a freelance writer to create and send a monthly email newsletter, an annual print newsletter, and an annual gratitude report
• Working with a freelance graphic designer to create an annual print newsletter, an annual gratitude report, and graphics for 2x/annual poetry and art exhibits on the farm
• Remaining informed about best practices in philanthropy and strategizing with leadership on opportunities for improving annual fund implementation
• Willingness to help with tasks outside this job description on an as-needed basis

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated interest in Gaining Ground’s mission, food insecurity/food justice, and/or regenerative agriculture
• 5+ years of development/fundraising experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail and solid project management and organizational skills 
• Proven ability to build relationships, connecting and engaging with donors, Board members, and community members
• Ability to handle diverse, simultaneous tasks, prioritize, meet deadlines, and attend to follow-through 
• Knowledge of development best practices and ability to implement planned campaigns
• Experience managing donor database systems (familiarity with Bloomerang is a plus) and discretion with confidential information
• Proficiency with Google Drive for workflow management, email marketing (Constant Contact a plus), Canva, WordPress, and video editing software
• Team player, self-starter, interested in personal and professional growth
• A calm, grounded presence, and the ability to manage setbacks 
• A solutions-focused outlook and growth mindset 
• Self-motivated and committed to personal and organizational excellence
• Openness to learning and willingness to give and receive feedback 
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends
• Adaptable to the changing needs of the organization
• Willingness to get a little dirty (we are a farm, after all!) 

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary for this full-time position is $60,000 – $70,000, depending on experience. Benefits include:

• 10 days of vacation, 11 Federal Holidays, and up to 5 sick days/year
• Additional paid time off on the Wednesday before and Friday after Thanksgiving, as well as the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.  
• Hybrid work schedule (two days/week in-office required with occasional in-person work aligned with responsibilities and events)
• Health care stipend
• Professional development opportunities

Gaining Ground is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status.

To apply for the role, please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, (and any other materials that best communicate why you are the right person for the job!) in a single PDF to: hiring@gainingground.org  Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We look forward to hearing from you! No phone calls, please.