Manager, Narrative Strategy & Communications

Company Description

ABFE is a 501(c)(3), membership-based philanthropic organization that advocates for responsive and transformative investments in Black communities. Partnering with foundations, nonprofits and individuals, ABFE provides its members with professional development and technical assistance resources that further the philanthropic sector's connection and responsiveness to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. Established in 1971 as the Association of Black Foundation Executives, the all-volunteer organization was credited with many of philanthropy's early gains in diversity.

It since has evolved into a fully staffed, influential network. In 2013, the organization shed its descriptor and adopted the simpler ABFE (ab-fee) to better reflect its broadening membership.

Job Description

Overview

The Manager, Narrative Strategy & Communications plays a critical role in advancing ABFE's narrative change work in alignment with the organization's strategic priorities. This position supports and executes narrative initiatives under the leadership of the Director of Storytelling, who leads ABFE's Organizational Narrative Change Strategy.

The Manager helps shape and shift philanthropic narratives by amplifying Black voices, reframing funding conversations, and strengthening the sector's understanding of equity, power, and investment in Black communities. This role translates strategy, research, and programmatic priorities into clear, compelling messaging and public-facing communications that reflect ABFE's narrative direction.

Working under the strategic direction of the Director of Storytelling, the Manager ensures narrative alignment across initiatives and integrates narrative priorities into organizational communications. The Manager also partners closely with the Digital Communications & Marketing Manager to execute communications across platforms, including social media, email marketing, website content, media materials, and reports, helping position ABFE as a thought leader in narrative change within philanthropy.

This is a highly collaborative role ideal for a strategic storyteller who can translate narrative strategy into action, while maintaining narrative integrity, strategic framing, and alignment with ABFE's long-term goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Narrative Strategy

• Support narrative strategy and communications efforts that advance ABFE's mission, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic plan, values, and long-term vision.
• Work with internal teams and external partners to translate strategy, research, and programmatic priorities into clear narrative frameworks, messaging guidance, and public-facing communications.
• Partner closely with the Director of Storytelling to implement ABFE's Organizational Narrative Change Strategy, ensuring consistent narrative alignment across initiatives.
• Develop and steward storytelling approaches that elevate race-explicit grantmaking, Black-led organizations, and ABFE's leadership in philanthropic equity and justice.
• Monitor political, philanthropic, and media narratives related to racial equity, philanthropy, and backlash, identifying opportunities to proactively reinforce, clarify, or counter narratives impacting ABFE's work.

Communications Execution & Strategy Integration

• Collaborate closely with the Communications & Marketing Manager to execute communications across key channels, including:
  • Social media
  • Email marketing
  • Website content
  • Media materials and reports (copyediting and narrative alignment)
• Ensure narrative priorities are consistently and accurately integrated into organizational communications, campaigns, and public-facing materials.
• Draft, edit, and review narrative-aligned content, including blogs, reports, toolkits, digital assets, talking points, briefs, and internal guidance.
• Support development of materials for internal and external audiences that clearly articulate ABFE's positions, priorities, and narrative framing.

The Ideal Candidate

• Strong writer and editor with expertise in narrative framing and storytelling.
• Strategic thinker who can translate narrative strategy into clear, actionable communications.
• Comfortable navigating…