Director of Development and Communications

Grow Food Northampton

Job Description

Job Type, Schedule, Compensation and Benefits: Full-time salaried and exempt; 40 hours per week. Pay range of $62,400 - $85,280/year. Benefits include four weeks paid vacation; 12 holidays; week+ off between Christmas and New Year’s; 15 sick days per year; 401(k) matched up to 4%; health insurance coverage at 80% employer contribution with optional dental coverage; and local food, technology, and professional development stipends. Grow Food Northampton values work-life balance and allows for flexibility in staff members’ daily schedules.

To apply: Please send an email with title “DoDC Position” with résumé and cover letter to Alisa Klein, Co-Executive Director, alisa@growfoodnorthampton.org. 

Deadline: Please apply by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026. 

About Grow Food Northampton 
Grow Food Northampton (GFN) is a dynamic food and farming justice organization located in Northampton, MA. We are creating an alternative to industrialized agriculture and the broken national food system: a vibrant, equitable local food and farming system that is flourishing right here in our community. We work towards food justice and sovereignty for all -- the right of people to control their own food and agriculture systems, to have access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant foods, and to have land to grow food. We employ nine full-time and one part-time staff members, and work with hundreds of volunteers, interns, and program participants. 

Position Description 
GFN is seeking an experienced and creative Director of Development & Communications (DoDC) to lead the organization’s resource mobilization and communications work. The DoDC is central to sustaining GFN’s financial health by increasing consistent and diverse revenue streams for the organization. This role will grow GFN’s annual budget and capacity through all aspects of institutional, corporate, government, and grassroots fundraising. They will also mobilize community volunteers, and oversee the development and implementation of strategic communications initiatives. The DoDC will ensure alignment with GFN’s Fundraising Principles, which are rooted in grassroots resource mobilization and community-centric fundraising approaches. The ideal candidate for this role will be passionate about the mission of Grow Food Northampton and love to collaborate. They will be a talented communicator and writer, a strategic thinker, and have years of experience in the field of nonprofit fundraising. 

Responsibilities 
General Development Duties
  • Lead the organization’s Resource Mobilization Team in all aspects of fundraising and communications including the development of fundraising strategies; donor event planning and management; board engagement with fundraising; institutional and corporate giving; donor prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship; annual campaigns; and planned giving.
  • In collaboration with the Co-Executive Directors, develop and execute an annual development plan including setting fundraising goals, tracking and analyzing its progress, and reporting to the board.
  • In collaboration with the Communications Coordinator, manage GFN brand stewardship and oversee design and visual identity of GFN.
  • Ensure that the values of the organization serve as a through-line in all development and communications practices, and that they are consistent with GFN’s Fundraising Principles.

Collaboration with Staff
  • Engage regularly with program staff to stay abreast of programmatic work and innovations.
  • Collaborate with the organization’s Communications staff to create effective synergy between their work and the raising of funds, including the design of consistent and effective messaging to share impact and motivate giving.
  • Collaborate across the organization to recruit, support, and celebrate volunteers.

Institutional Giving
  • Collaborate with the Co-Executive Directors to research, identify, and develop partnerships with foundations; and share grant writing, tracking, and reporting. 
  • Develop and implement corporate giving strategies.


Grassroots/Individual Donor Prospecting, Cultivation, and Stewardship
  • Seek out new donors, communicate regularly with current donors, solicit monetary support,and manage all follow-up associated with financial asks. 
  • Cultivate continued support among a portfolio of existing major donors and recruit new supporters at the major-gift level.
  • In collaboration with the Co-Executive Directors, serve as leader among regional food system organizations, and pursue collaboration with local nonprofits.

Event Planning and Execution
  • Collaborate with staff and board to design and produce fundraising and community events that raise the profile of GFN and educate the community.

Board Engagement
  • Collaborate with Chair of the board-staff Development Committee to achieve full participation in fundraising efforts by the GFN Board of Directors.

General
  • Participate in leading the organization as a member of the Leadership Team, and in staff meetings, trainings, and other staff activities.
  • Participate in promoting a culture of care within the organization and the greater GFN community, including among program participants, volunteers, and donors. 
  • Ensure the centering of economic and racial justice in our work and practices.
  • Other duties as agreed upon by the DoDC and Co-EDs.

Qualifications 
  • A strong commitment to building a just and sustainable local food system, racial and economic justice, and shifting power to community members marginalized by the conventional food system. 
  • A minimum of three years of experience in managing a development program for a non-profit, including cultivating new and major donors, designing and managing donor events, implementing a planned giving program, developing institutional partnerships, and designing and carrying out annual appeals and giving days. 
  • Familiarity with grassroots resource mobilization and community-centric fundraising approaches, and ability to implement GFN’s Fundraising Principles.
  • A high level of comfort and enjoyment engaging donors and asking for support. 
  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to conduct telephone calls and write professional and engaging correspondence, grant proposals,and other communications and copy.
  • Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with colleagues, sharing leadership, and achieving consensus. 
  • Creativity and a positive attitude. 
  • Comfort using a CRM, spreadsheets, and other technological platforms. 
  • Supervisory experience.

Systems We Currently Use and Memberships Relevant to Fundraising
  • Currently using Bloomerang as our CRM
  • GrantStation
  • Philanthropy MA (with access to Foundation Directory Online)
  • MA Nonprofit Network

Additional Information
  • Writing samples and three references may be requested. 
  • Grow Food Northampton is operating as a hybrid workplace.
  • We have a strong preference for a candidate who lives locally and knows the greater Northampton community well. 
  • The position requires occasional local travel for donor meetings and other events. A car and driver’s license are not required but would be helpful.  

Grow Food Northampton is an equal opportunity provider and employer. People of all races, colors, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, national origins, and ability, are encouraged to apply. We embrace diversity and equal opportunity and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.