Fundraising & Communications Coordinator

Arts Hacker; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 24,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Hyde Park School of Dance seeks a Fundraising & Communications Coordinator to strengthen relationships with supporters and communicate clearly with the community.

This role turns plans into polished, timely execution across donor stewardship, fundraising coordination, and outward-facing communications. It suits a strong writer who is highly organized and enjoys both detail-oriented follow-through and creative communication.

Qualifications

• Strong writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent organization, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage recurring responsibilities, deadlines, and follow-up independently.
• Sound judgment when handling donor information and organizational communications.
• Comfort moving between writing, research, tracking, design, and coordination.
• Collaborative working style and the ability to gather information from multiple colleagues.
• Comfort learning and working within digital systems and established processes.
• Experience with nonprofit fundraising, donor stewardship, development, or community engagement.
• Experience with organizational communications, email marketing, social media, or content development.
• Experience with Canva, Neon One, and related tools.

Responsibilities

• Draft donor thank-you letters, acknowledgment emails, appeal language, donor updates, sponsorship follow-up, and related communications.
• Prepare donor communications for review and personalization by organizational leadership.
• Support recurring donor stewardship and acknowledgment cycles.
• Track pledges, recurring gifts, matching gifts, sponsorship follow-up, and outstanding donor action items.
• Conduct research on prospective individual, foundation, and corporate supporters.
• Maintain donor and prospect tracking tools in coordination with the Executive Director and database support staff.
• Prepare briefing materials, lists, timelines, and follow-up items for fundraising meetings and campaigns.
• Support donor events, fundraising campaigns, and related planning communications.
• Draft newsletters, email announcements, event communications, donor updates, and routine social media content.
• Design small-scale communications materials such as flyers, postcards, email graphics, and social media assets.
• Update website content and other communications platforms as assigned.
• Help ensure communications are timely, polished, accessible, and consistent with HPSD’s voice and values.

Skills

Strong writing

Editing

Interpersonal comm

Organization

Deadline management

Collaboration

Adaptability

Tools

Canva

Adobe tools

Google Workspace

Email platforms

CMS

Neon One

Job description

Organization: Hyde Park School of Dance
Reports to: Executive Director
Status: Part-time, 20 hours per week
Compensation: $25 per hour
Schedule: Hybrid, with two regular on-site workdays and one regular remote workday each week
Location: Hyde Park, Chicago
Anticipated start: September 2026 or as soon as practical following completion of the hiring process
Application priority consideration: Thursday, August 20, 2026

Full position information: https://hydeparkdance.org/hpsd-now-hiring

Application form: https://tinyurl.com/HPSDfcc

About Hyde Park School of Dance

Hyde Park School of Dance is a community-rooted nonprofit organization on Chicago’s South Side. We provide high-quality dance education, performance opportunities, and community programming in an environment that welcomes dancers of all races, religions, body types, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and income levels.

We believe dance can cultivate artistry, discipline, confidence, connection, and strength of character. Our administrative team supports the programs, people, and relationships that make this work possible.

Position Summary

The Fundraising & Communications Coordinator helps Hyde Park School of Dance strengthen relationships with supporters and communicate clearly and consistently with our community.

This position turns plans into polished, timely execution across donor stewardship, fundraising coordination, and outward-facing communications. It is well suited to a strong writer and highly organized doer who enjoys both detail-oriented follow-through and creative communication.

The Executive Director retains responsibility for overall fundraising strategy, major donor relationships, and final approval of fundraising and organizational communications. The Coordinator supports preparation, drafting, execution, tracking, and follow-through.

Grant-related responsibilities will focus primarily on prospect research, information gathering, and coordination rather than ownership of a full grant-writing portfolio.

Because this is a 20-hour-per-week position, priorities will be established regularly with the Executive Director. Recurring donor communications, active fundraising campaigns, and time-sensitive organizational communications will come first.

Primary Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship and Fundraising Coordination

• Draft donor thank-you letters, acknowledgment emails, appeal language, donor updates, sponsorship follow-up, and related communications
• Prepare donor communications for review and personalization by organizational leadership
• Support recurring donor stewardship and acknowledgment cycles
• Track pledges, recurring gifts, matching gifts, sponsorship follow-up, and outstanding donor action items
• Conduct research on prospective individual, foundation, and corporate supporters
• Maintain donor and prospect tracking tools in coordination with the Executive Director and database support staff
• Prepare briefing materials, lists, timelines, and follow-up items for fundraising meetings and campaigns
• Support donor events, fundraising campaigns, and related planning communications

Communications and Marketing Execution

• Draft and schedule newsletters, email announcements, event communications, donor updates, and routine social media content
• Design small-scale communications materials such as flyers, postcards, email graphics, digital invitations, and social media assets
• Update website content and other communications platforms as assigned
• Support print materials, campaign collateral, and merchandise-related communications
• Coordinate with staff to gather content, confirm deadlines, and collect accurate program information
• Help ensure communications are timely, polished, accessible, and consistent with HPSD’s voice and values

Database, Board, and Organizational Coordination

• Complete routine donor database updates, acknowledgment workflows, and communication tracking
• Maintain organized fundraising and communications records
• Draft board and committee reminders, meeting communications, and simple follow-up messages
• Assist with board and committee packet preparation and communication logistics as needed

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Strong writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent organization, accuracy, and attention to detail
• The ability to manage recurring responsibilities, deadlines, and follow-up independently
• Sound judgment when handling donor information and organizational communications
• Comfort moving between writing, research, tracking, design, and coordination
• A collaborative working style and the ability to gather information from multiple colleagues
• Comfort learning and working within digital systems and established processes

Experience with some combination of the following would be valuable:

• Nonprofit fundraising, donor stewardship, development, or community engagement
• Organizational communications, email marketing, social media, or content development
• Canva, Adobe tools, Google Workspace, email platforms, or website content-management systems
• Neon One or another donor relationship management system
• Arts, education, youth development, or community-based organizations

Familiarity with dance is welcome but not required.

No specific degree is required. Relevant experience may come from paid employment, freelance work, volunteer service, education, or community leadership. We do not expect any one candidate to bring every preferred qualification.

Schedule and Work Expectations

This position follows a regular hybrid schedule consisting of two on-site workdays in Hyde Park and one remote workday each week. The specific days and hours will be determined based on HPSD’s operational needs and the selected candidate’s workable availability.

The Coordinator will regularly work from HPSD’s on-site administrative office and may be responsible for opening or closing the space on scheduled workdays.

Occasional evening, weekend, or adjusted hours are required around performances, campaigns, donor events, and special projects. HPSD will provide advance notice whenever possible. Any hours beyond the regular schedule must be approved in advance and will be paid at the position’s hourly rate.

Work Environment and Accessibility

HPSD operates in a multi-level facility. The organization’s main administrative office is located on the second floor and is currently accessed by stairs. Regular access to the administrative workspace and the ability to support opening or closing the facility are part of the position’s on-site responsibilities.

On occasion, the role may involve helping move, set up, lift, or carry office, communications, performance, or event materials weighing up to approximately 20 pounds. These occasional activities are shared among staff and are not essential functions of this position.

HPSD is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. We will engage in an individualized process to identify reasonable accommodations that enable a qualified employee to perform the essential functions of the position, unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

Compensation and Benefits

The position pays $25 per hour for 20 hours per week.

• Employees receive paid leave and paid sick and safe leave in accordance with applicable Chicago law and HPSD policy.
• This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, or retirement benefits.

Our Values and Commitment to Equal Opportunity

All HPSD employees are expected to support an organizational culture grounded in inclusivity, respect, diversity, quality, and community.

We seek colleagues who treat people with dignity, value different identities and experiences, communicate with care, and share our belief that dance and the arts can connect and strengthen communities.

Hyde Park School of Dance is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, organizational needs, and job-related considerations without discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable law.