Development & Communications Associate

Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF) conserves and restores wild sea-run fish and their habitats in Downeast Maine, promoting the abundant return of these species for the ecological, cultural, and economic benefit of the region and beyond. DSF is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where lived experience, local knowledge, and a variety of perspectives are valued, and where every team member feels respected and supported.

As a member of the DSF team, the Development & Communications Associate (DCA) plays an integral role in advancing the organization's mission by supporting its fundraising and communications efforts. Working closely with the Director of Development & Communications (DDC) and the Executive Director (ED), the DCA helps strengthen relationships with individual, foundation, business, and government supporters while increasing awareness of DSF's work across a variety of audiences.

This position supports all aspects of DSF's fundraising and communications efforts, including donor cultivation and stewardship, content development, management of digital and print communications, event and project coordination, gift processing, database management and reporting, and other initiatives that strengthen relationships, increase public awareness, and grow support for DSF's mission and strategic priorities.

• Assist with the design, execution, tracking, and reporting of a comprehensive annual fundraising and communications plan.
• Provide executive support for major and planned gifts cultivation and stewardship for the ED, DDC, and board members, including scheduling, meeting logistics, materials preparation, and follow‑up communications.
• Coordinate annual giving and appeal initiatives.
• Support prospect research and maintain records to track the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of relationships with individuals, foundations, businesses, and government funding sources.
• Coordinate and provide acknowledgments, tax receipts, recognition, and stewardship for all gifts, grants, and sponsor ships.
• Maintain and optimize the CRM donor, grants, and sponsorship databases; develop and provide reports as determined. Ensure DSF’s CRM systems function well and serve the range of organizational needs for data capture, audience‑specific communications, and moves management.
• Manage charitable solicitation registrations and annual compliance filings in applicable states.

• Support effective use of the annual grants and sponsor ships calendar allowing for timely proposal development, submission, and required reports.
• Assist with research and identification of foundation, government, and business grant and sponsorship opportunities aligned with DSF priorities.
• Maintain an accessible database of DSF’s grant and sponsorship proposals.
• Track grant and sponsorship writing assignments and provide support, as determined.
• Write and edit grant and sponsorship proposals, as assigned.
• Support grants and sponsor ships reporting.

• In collaboration with the DDC, manage DSF’s digital communications tools and systems, including the website, social media channels, and email communications, while implementing strategies that deliver clear, consistent messaging to multiple audiences and uphold DSF’s brand.
• Maintain and manage the organization’s communications calendar by coordinating content, campaigns, events, and key messaging across digital, print, and outreach channels to ensure timely, consistent, and strategic communications.
• Generate copy and coordinate design for organizational communications that reflect ongoing learning, strategic positioning, mission impact, community engagement, partner relationships, and funder expectations.
• Produce newsletters, annual reports, news releases, social media posts, donor communications, presentation materials, signage, and other media.
• Coordinate and support DSF’s annual and one‑time events.
• Support the DDC, ED, staff and board members in their communications roles.

• Contribute to building and stewarding a collegial, respectful, and collaborative…