Development & Communications Strategist

MacPhail Center for Music; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 49,593 - 56,481; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefit eligible

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

A nonprofit arts organization in Minneapolis is seeking a Development and Communications Strategist to integrate fundraising and communication strategies. The role involves creating annual giving programs, managing donor communications, and overseeing digital marketing efforts. Candidates should have over 5 years of nonprofit experience, excellent writing skills, and proficiency with fundraising tools. This position is full-time with a hybrid work model, offering competitive compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and/or communications.
• Demonstrated track record of managing annual giving and donor communications.
• Excellent writing and editing skills for various audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a comprehensive annual giving strategy.
• Write compelling content for fundraising and communications.
• Implement digital fundraising and marketing efforts.

Skills

Nonprofit fundraising experience

Communications expertise

Project management skills

Creative storytelling

Data analysis skills

Email marketing proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or philanthropy

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

HubSpot

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Development and Communications Strategist

Reports To: Vice President for Development

Department: Development

Location: Minneapolis, Remote/Hybrid Eligible

Status: Non-Exempt; Full-Time, 40 hours per week

Compensation: $36.00 - $41.00 per hour; Benefit Eligible

SUMMARY

The Development and Communications Strategist is a key contributor to advancing MacPhail’s mission through the thoughtful integration of fundraising and communications strategies. This position leads the strategy and execution of the annual giving program, and the content creation and digital communications strategy and execution across the organization. While reporting directly to the VP of Development, the Director of Marketing and Communications will supervise the content and communications work of the role. The role blends creative storytelling with donor-centered fundraising practices and data‑driven decision‑making. Success in this role will thrive at the intersection of development and communications and play a vital role in shaping how we engage donors, market programs to current and potential students and their families, and communicate our impact to the community.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Annual Giving Strategy and Execution (50%)

• Develop and manage a comprehensive, multi‑channel annual giving strategy, including direct mail, email, and social media appeals
• Oversee donor segmentation, calendar planning, copywriting, design coordination, and production
• Collaborate with VP of Development to establish and meet annual giving goals.
• Support donor stewardship efforts such as impact updates and special campaigns (Give to the Max Day, year‑end fundraising)
• Monitor results, analyze performance, and adjust tactics accordingly

Content Creation and Writing (30%)

• Write compelling, mission‑aligned content for fundraising appeals, stewardship communications, newsletters, donor communications, website, brochures, one‑pagers and more
• Support multimedia content creation efforts—including basic video editing, graphics, and short‑form digital content—for fundraising campaigns, social media, donor engagement, and other programs as needed
• Partner with program and marketing teams to develop promotional content for classes, events, and community impact
• Collaborate with Director of Marketing and Communications and other marketing team members to manage the editorial calendar across marketing and fundraising
• Source stories from across the organization that can drive enrollment for prospective students and student families and illustrate our mission, programming and the value of support for a donor audience
• Collaborate with Director of Marketing and Communications and other marketing team members to maintain brand standards and a consistent tone and voice across platforms and departments
• Meet regularly with the Director of Marketing and Communications and attend Marketing team meetings as needed

Digital Communications Strategy, Implementation, & Reporting (15%)

• Manage and implement digital fundraising and marketing efforts, including but not limited to email campaigns
• Develop and maintain a digital content calendar in alignment with development, enrollment and other key program priorities
• Use analytics to report on fundraising digital engagement metrics and guide strategy improvements

Data Management/Hygiene (5%)

• Support the teams in ensuring accurate donor, student, and student parent records in Raiser’s Edge/NXT and HubSpot
• Work with database specialist and digital marketing manager to run queries and reports to inform strategy, support campaign segmentation, performance tracking, and donor analysis and/or work closely with data owners of other systems across the organization as needed to coordinate efforts (e.g. development, marketing and student services)
• Ensure data hygiene and alignment of digital tools in close collaboration with cross‑org data owners including the development, marketing and student services

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and/or communications, with a demonstrated track record of managing annual giving and donor communications, required
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or philanthropy related field, required
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with experience creating content for a range of audiences and platforms
• Experience using CRMs (e.g. Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and familiarity with tracking, analyzing, and reporting on campaign data
• Experience with basic video editing software (e.g., iMovie, Adobe Premiere, or Canva Video) to support storytelling across digital channels
• Experience in arts education, education, or community‑based nonprofit settings, preferred

Skills & Attributes

• Proficiency with email marketing tools (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp, Constant Contact), social media platforms, and content management systems (e.g., WordPress)
• Proficiency with multimedia design tools such as Canva and Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro)
• Strong project management and organizational skills; able to balance multiple priorities and deadlines
• Creative, collaborative, and mission‑driven, with a deep belief in the power of storytelling and donor engagement
• Strong command of email campaign best practices and optimization, with a curious, forward‑thinking approach to staying current on digital trends, new technologies, and continuous learning opportunities (including AI)
• Understanding of donor behavior and philanthropic communication best practices, preferred

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Sales, General Business, and Education

Industries

Wireless Services, Telecommunications, and Communications Equipment Manufacturing