Development Communications Coordinator

BASIC NEEDS INC; Cottage Grove (MN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Vision & Dental Insurance

Paid Time Off & Holidays

401(k) Retirement Plan

Professional Development

Employee Discount at Thrift Shop

Job summary

Basic Needs Inc. in Saint Paul Park, MN is seeking a Development & Communications Coordinator to lead fundraising campaigns, manage donor data, and steer your organization's communications and community engagement.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will develop plans, manage execution, track results, and collaborate across teams on major donors, grants, corporate partnerships, and signature events.

Qualifications

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong project and time management with multiple priorities.
• Ability to own projects from planning to evaluation.
• Professionalism, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Ability to learn fundraising, CRM, and communications platforms.
• Ability to collaborate with staff, interns, volunteers, donors, and partners.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Basic Needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage donor databases, gift processing, donor profiles, and stewardship records.
• Develop and execute fundraising campaigns with revenue goals.
• Manage acknowledgments, stewardship communications, and follow-up.
• Prepare grant applications and reports; assist with larger proposals.
• Coordinate sponsorships and corporate partner reporting.
• Support major donor cultivation and donor research.
• Prepare monthly fundraising reports and campaign analytics.
• Lead social media, website, and email communications calendars.
• Create marketing materials using Canva and other platforms.
• Develop impact stories with photographers and videographers.
• Draft press releases, newsletters, and annual report content.
• Coordinate community engagement events and volunteers.

Skills

Organization

Communication

Project management

Multitasking

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

GiveButter

HubSpot

Meta Business Suite

Canva

QuickBooks

Job description

Development & Communications Coordinator

Reports To: Executive Director

Status: Full-Time, Exempt (40 hours/week)

Salary: $50,000 to $60,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience

Location: Saint Paul Park, Minnesota, with regular work in the community

Our Mission

Basic Needs uplifts those who have encountered hardship by providing barrier-free access to basic needs through our nutritious and fresh food market, affordable and high-quality thrift shop, and coordinated social services referral network to build a stronger community focused on equity, inclusion, and sustainability. Our Motto:Volunteer Managed. Staff Supported. Mission Focused.

Position Summary

Basic Needs is seeking an organized, detail-oriented professional to help lead the execution of our fundraising, communications, and community engagement efforts. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Development & Communications Coordinator will manage assigned fundraising campaigns, donor information and stewardship systems, communications, grant administration, and community engagement activities.

This position will have ownership of defined projects and fundraising initiatives, including responsibility for developing plans, managing execution, tracking results, and meeting established goals. The Coordinator will work closely with the Executive Director on larger fundraising strategies, major donors, grants, corporate partnerships, and signature events.

This role is well suited for someone early in their career, or interested in a career change, who is organized, detail-oriented, and dedicated to growing their skills in nonprofit development and communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage donor databases, gift processing, donor profiles, and stewardship records with a high level of accuracy.
• Develop and execute assigned digital and community-based fundraising campaigns with measurable revenue goals.
• Manage donor acknowledgments, stewardship communications, prospect research, and follow-up systems.
• Independently prepare smaller grant applications and reports while supporting larger proposals led by the Executive Director.
• Manage defined sponsorship opportunities, coordinate sponsorship fulfillment, and maintain corporate partner follow-up and reporting.
• Support major donor cultivation through prospect research, donor profiles, stewardship preparation, and follow-up.
• Prepare monthly fundraising reports, dashboards, and campaign performance analysis.

Communications & Storytelling

• Lead the organization’s social media, website, and email communications calendar.
• Create print and digital marketing materials using Canva and other communication platforms.
• Develop impact stories and coordinate with photographers and videographers to produce mission-focused content.
• Draft press releases, newsletters, donor communications, and annual report content.

Community Engagement & Events

• Own the organization’s community engagement calendar and coordinate outreach opportunities.
• Recruit, train, and schedule volunteer ambassadors for community events and tabling.
• Lead planning and execution of assigned fundraising and community engagement events.
• Support larger fundraising events through logistics, communications, sponsorship coordination, registration, and volunteer management.

Administrative Operations

• Maintain development calendars, project timelines, grant deadlines, and campaign milestones.
• Ensure development records, reporting, and backend processes are completed accurately and on time.
• Collaborate across departments to keep fundraising, communications, and engagement projects on schedule.
• Assist Food Market and Thrift Shop operations during periods of increased community need.

Performance Accountability

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Achievement of assigned fundraising campaign and revenue goals.
• Accuracy and completeness of donor and development records.
• Timely completion of grant applications, reports, and sponsorship deliverables.
• Consistent execution of donor stewardship and communications.
• Successful coordination of community engagement activities and assigned events.
• Quality, timeliness, and professionalism of development and communications work.

Qualifications

Required

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to take ownership of assigned projects and follow them from planning through execution and evaluation.
• Professionalism, emotional intelligence, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Ability to learn and effectively use fundraising, CRM, and communications platforms.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, interns, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Basic Needs.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Nonprofit Management, Business, Public Relations, or a related field. Equivalent experience or demonstrated skills will be considered.
• One to three years of experience in nonprofit development, communications, marketing, sales, customer engagement, or a related field.
• Experience with GiveButter, HubSpot, Meta Business Suite, Canva, QuickBooks, or similar fundraising and communications platforms.
• Experience with donor databases, fundraising campaigns, grant writing, events, or community engagement is a plus.

The Development & Communications Coordinator reports directly to the Executive Director and will supervise interns assigned to development and communications projects. The Coordinator will also work collaboratively with volunteer leaders and volunteer ambassadors to execute fundraising, communications, events, and community engagement activities.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Full-time, primarily in-office position with regular work throughout the community.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for meetings, events, and fundraising activities.
• Local travel throughout the Twin Cities metro area.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and occasionally assist Food Market and Thrift Shop operations.
• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods and perform the regular physical activities associated with events and community outreach.

This position will receive paid health, vision and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, sick and safe leave, a 401(k), professional development opportunities, and a 10% employee discount at the Basic Needs Thrift Shop.

Why Join Basic Needs?

At Basic Needs, volunteers are at the center of our work. Our staff supports and equips the volunteer leaders who help make our mission possible. We value people who are dependable, adaptable, collaborative, and committed to serving our community with dignity and professionalism.

We encourage candidates from a variety of professional backgrounds to apply. Experience in nonprofit development is valuable, but skills developed in communications, marketing, sales, customer engagement, events, or other relationship-focused fields can translate well to this position.

If you’re interested in the role but don’t meet every preferred qualification, we still encourage you to apply.

Basic Needs Inc. of South Washington County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an at-will employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We value a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other historically underrepresented candidates to apply.