Manager, Communications

FLSA Status:
Salaried, Exempt
Department:
Advancement

Reports To:

Chief Advancement Officer

Employment Type:

Full-Time

Location:

Chicago, Illinois / Hybrid

Chicago Cares is redefining volunteerism through community-driven service—service co-designed with Chicago’s most impactful community leaders and organizations on the South and West Sides. We serve “with,” not “to.”

Through service, we build connections and bridges among diverse people and help create a more caring, connected, and just Chicago.

The Advancement team leads Chicago Cares’ fundraising, marketing, public relations, communications, and stewardship efforts to deepen engagement, expand our reach, and increase investment in a stronger, more connected Chicago. The Manager, Communications leads the implementation of Chicago Cares’ communications strategy, with primary responsibility for social media, digital communications, storytelling, and content creation.

This position translates Chicago Cares’ mission, programs, partnerships, and community impact into compelling communications across digital and traditional channels. The Manager serves as a cross-departmental communications partner, connecting organizational priorities and stories while helping staff strengthen their communications capacity.

This is a hands-on role that regularly requires attendance at service projects, volunteer and community activities, fundraising events, and other organizational events to capture photos, video, interviews, stories, and other content.

• Develop and implement communications strategies aligned with Chicago Cares’ mission, values, organizational priorities, and Advancement goals.
• Develop communications plans for organizational campaigns, programs, fundraising efforts, events, and major initiatives.
• Lead communications campaigns from concept through execution, coordinating audiences, messaging, channels, timelines, creative assets, and measurement.
• Maintain an organization-wide communications and editorial calendar.
• Ensure communications are accurate, accessible, compelling, consistent, and aligned with Chicago Cares’ brand and community-driven approach.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and evolve the Chicago Cares brand.

• Lead Chicago Cares’ social media strategy and day-to-day implementation, including content development, scheduling, publishing, audience engagement, growth, and performance analysis.
• Create and coordinate written and visual content, including photography, short-form video, graphics, interviews, testimonials, and impact stories.
• Lead or coordinate newsletters and priority email communications.
• Support website content and other digital platforms, ensuring information is timely, engaging, accessible, and aligned with organizational messaging.
• Use audience insights and digital performance data to improve content and engagement.

• Identify and develop compelling stories from Chicago Cares’ communities, programs, volunteers, partners, donors, staff, and events.
• Regularly capture photos, video, interviews, testimonials, and other storytelling assets for communications, fundraising, presentations, reports, and digital channels.
• Ensure storytelling reflects Chicago Cares’ commitment to community-driven service, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism and respects the dignity, agency, and voices of the people and communities represented.
• Develop and maintain an organized library of communications and storytelling assets.
• Support communications before, during, and after priority events to maximize visibility and engagement.

• Partner with departments across…