Posted on July 2, 2012

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Communications and Development Associate

The Communications and Development Associate is responsible for assisting with VISIONS fund raising, revenue generation initiatives, public relations, social networking, general and donor agency communications and community activities. The successful Communications and Development Associate will ignite passion for the work of VISIONS among donors, funders and supporters, increase coverage of VISIONS in the media and establish good working relationships with community partners (NYVRA, advisory boards, etc.).

The Communications and Development Associate must be able to translate VISIONS story to a variety of audiences including foundations, individual donors and community stakeholders. The Communications and Development Associate’s role will be writing and producing a twice a year newsletter, creating up to ten event journals per year, maintaining website content and updates, producing an annual Board report and assisting with the agency’s annual report. In addition the Associate will write grants and reports under the direction of the Director of Development, draft letters and maintain information relating to the VISIONS Board of Directors. The Communications and Development Associate will be the organization’s content expert acting as a resource across departments for external communications.

The Associate will assist the Director of Development and Outreach and the Executive Director/CEO.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Grants management-do prospect research, write, and submit grant applications and reports for government, foundation, corporate and individual grants; assist with meeting all fund raising deadlines. Draft compelling letters of interest and proposals to maximize current and new grant opportunities. Provide superb written content and all data analysis for accurate, on-time reporting to funders. Solicit and compile project-specific input from other VISIONS team members. Research prospective foundation and corporate funders. Create grant-related updates for Board of Directors & other key stakeholders. Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar to track deadlines and manage grants database.

2. Event Communications-produce desktop invitations; create journals for up to 10 events (luncheons, golf, Lions Day at VCB, special events, etc.); assist at the events; create ads for journals; assist with quarterly reports and staff schedules.

3. Data management-prepare spreadsheets for agency wide statistics and produce the annual Board report with input from each department; organize and manage data needed for grant applications and reports.

4. Media Relations-prepare press kits, write press releases and news articles; generate interest in VISIONS throughout the print and broadcast media; attract media coverage of programs and events.

5. Correspondence- draft letters for the Executive Director/CEO and community outreach staff as needed; initiate and respond to email, phone and letter inquiries; maintain updated letterhead and Board lists, etc.

6. Donor and Board Relations and Communications- design, write and create the agency newsletter and mail appeals twice a year; the agency annual report; marketing materials; maintain a portfolio of individual donors for stewardship, cultivation and solicitation; ensure appropriate systems for tracking, recognition of and communication with donors and funders; maintain files for easy and accurate retrieval of information, previous grants, solicitation letters, etc.; maintain files for VISIONS Board members and the Board contact list.

7. Website- maintain VISIONS website with frequent updates.

8. Social media- maintain VISIONS presence on You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

9. Marketing- strengthen VISIONS brand and meet marketing goals to increase visibility.

10. Collaborating Organizations- takes minutes and handle administrative tasks for community partners.

11. Supervise- recruit and manage interns and volunteers.

Other Duties as Assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of 1-year experience with grant writing and desktop publishing content and layout
• Advanced word-processing and desktop publishing skills required
• Ability to think creatively and strategically
• Ability to work efficiently and with accuracy in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment
• Ability to handle multiple tasks demonstrating flexibility, poise and project planning skills
• Extremely organized, and exceptional writing and verbal communications skills
• Strong self-starter with an entrepreneurial attitude and highly-developed attention to detail.
• Team player who works collaboratively
• Sense of humor
• College or technical degree required; Bachelors or Masters degree preferred.

Work Schedule

This full-time non-exempt position is located primarily at VISIONS main office at 500 Greenwich Street in West Soho/Hudson Square in Manhattan. Scheduled evening hours may be required.

The salary is commensurate with experience

Application Instructions

Submit cover letter, resume and salary requirements to:

rschwartz@visionsvcb.org

No calls please