Development & Communications Coordinator

Community Cooks is a Somerville-based nonprofit that mobilizes individuals, businesses, civic, educational, and faith-based groups to provide home-prepared food for vulnerable neighbors. We do this by partnering with shelters, after school programs and other human service agencies that provide support for those struggling with food insecurity. By providing home-cooked meals to these agencies, we free up their time to focus on their advocacy and service models as well as ensure that those they are supporting receive the nutrition they need to meet their daily challenges. During non-COVID times, we rally over 1,000 volunteers and provide 5,000+ monthly meals to 41 partner agencies in the Greater Boston area. After pivoting during the pandemic to partner with a woman-owned café business so we could continue to fulfill our mission without skipping a beat, we are now gradually phasing our volunteer teams back in, resuming our core model of service. 

 

Founded as an all-volunteer organization 31 years ago, Community Cooks became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2012 and now has a paid staff of four, an engaged Board of Directors, and a budget of nearly $400,000 annually. Our very small, hard-working and friendly team is eager to meet qualified candidates!  

 

THE OPPORTUNITY 

 

The Development & Communications Coordinator is a 4 day/week part-time position reporting to the Executive Director (ED). This person will be responsible for an array of crucial day-to-day development and administrative tasks to ensure that our meal program and fundraising efforts run smoothly. This individual will also help to create and implement a communications plan for the organization that increases engagement, builds community, and helps us convey the impact of our work to donors, program volunteers and stakeholders. 

 

Specifically, the Development & Communications Coordinator will: 

 

·         Support our ED with ongoing development, administrative and data needs including coordinating the scheduling and mailing of fundraising appeals, drafting donor correspondence, and maintaining and updating our Salesforce database 

 

·         Establish and execute development and communications systems to maximize effectiveness, including Salesforce database protocols such as: 

o  Development of donor acknowledgement system for recording gifts, updating contact information and maintaining donor notes 

o  Day to day implementation of all development data entry and donor acknowledgements 

o  Creation and dissemination of all necessary fundraising reports 

 

·         Help ED to draft, schedule and coordinate social media campaigns, e-newsletters and e-blasts 

 

·         With guidance from ED and staff, lead planning and on-site coordination of fundraising and outreach events, including annual gala 

 

·         Perform basic web maintenance and updates using Squarespace platform 

 

·         Perform grant research and assist with grant writing/ reporting 

 

Qualifications 

The successful candidate will be excited about working as an integral member of a small, collaborative team and be a detail-oriented, highly organized person with social media savvy, excellent writing and customer service skills, and an eye for design. Proficiency with basic MS Office applications (Word, PPT and particularly Excel) and social media platforms is essential. Additional requirements include: a basic understanding of nonprofit development and some experience fundraising for nonprofits. Working knowledge of Salesforce and Constant Contact, along with familiarity with development databases and some event planning experience is preferred. 

 

Additional desired skills and characteristics include creativity, self-motivated, and dependability. The successful candidate will be eager to convey the impact of what we do while understanding and appreciating the importance of administrative processes, systems and technology that support an efficient, effective organization. 

 

Additional Information 

 

·            This position is 4 days per week (28 hours) to start at a prorated annual FT salary of $44K 

 

·            Benefits include 12 vacation days, 2 personal days, 11 holidays, + sick time as req'd by law. 

 

·            Currently, all staff are working remotely. We will return to the office 3+ days/week when safe. 

 

·            This position offers some flexibility regarding workday shift within regular business hours. Occasional evenings or weekends may be required with comp time provided. 

 

To Apply 

Please apply to jobs@ccooks.org if you are a qualified candidate who is energized by our model of community engagement to address hunger and food insecurity in our neighborhoods. Submit your resume and a cover letter that tells us why you are excited to work for a small, dynamic organization and describes the work environment that would enable you to deliver your best effort in the Development & Communications role. Please note: applications received without a cover letter will not be reviewed.

For priority consideration, please submit your résumé as soon as possible and no later than October 8, 2021.

Community Cooks is an equal opportunity employer. Just as we work to nourish people in need of all backgrounds and circumstances without discrimination, we are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve across our organization. We actively seek to build an inclusive workplace that values a diversity of lived experiences and welcomes staff to bring their whole selves to work. We strongly encourage people of color, members of the LGBTQIA community, non-binary people, people with disabilities, and individuals who have experienced food insecurity to apply.