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.

• 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 sponsor ships, 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 Every Action 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.

• 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.

• 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, Tik Tok, and other platforms.

• 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…