Merrimack Valley Project Development and Communications Manager

Merrimack Valley Project; Lawrence (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrimack Valley Project is seeking a Development & Communications Manager to lead fundraising, donor relations, and storytelling. You will plan annual campaigns, oversee communications, and supervise contracted support while collaborating with staff and volunteers to advance MVP’s mission in the Lawrence area.

The role emphasizes donor stewardship, grant management, and a strong storytelling voice across digital and print channels. Evening/weekend availability may be required.

Qualifications

• 3–4+ years of experience in fundraising or development, communications, community organizing, or a related field.
• Experience managing fundraising strategies, including annual giving, donor cultivation and stewardship, fundraising events, institutional giving, and grants.
• Experience managing EveryAction, Salesforce, or a similar CRM system.
• Experience researching, writing, or coordinating grant proposals and reports.
• Strong relationship-building skills with donors, grassroots leaders, volunteers, community partners, and institutional funders.
• Understanding of community organizing principles, including relational meetings, power-building, and values-based leadership.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms, Canva or Adobe, email marketing, social media management, and Google Workspace or Microsoft Office.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, project management, and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese proficiency is a strong plus.
• Reliable transportation and flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Commitment to advancing racial, social, and economic justice.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement MVP's annual fundraising and development plan in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Manage annual donor appeals and campaigns including Giving Tuesday and year-end asks.
• Create donor communications, segment email campaigns, acknowledgments, and impact updates.
• Coordinate fundraising events (e.g., MICAH Awards Dinner, Annual Meeting) with sponsorships and logistics.
• Maintain donor records in CRM systems (EveryAction, Salesforce) including gift entry and reporting.
• Attend meetings to report progress and strategy.
• Coordinate and draft grant proposals with the Executive Director and contracted writer; track reports and deadlines.
• Collaborate with staff to gather program outcomes, budgets, and supporting materials.

Skills

Donor engagement

Fundraising strategy

Communication

Event planning

Project management

Campaign coordination

Tools

EveryAction

Salesforce

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Google Workspace

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Development & Communications Manager will bring both structure and innovation to Merrimack Valley Project’s growing development and communications efforts. This strategic and hands‑on role requires someone who can think big while minding the details. As MVP enters an exciting period of growth and plans to expand long‑term fundraising and communications capacity, this position will play a key role in strengthening fundraising, deepening donor engagement, and elevating MVP's public narrative through compelling storytelling. Reporting to the Executive Director and partnering closely with the Organizing Team, the Development & Communications Manager will lead annual fundraising campaigns and events, oversee development and communications operations, strengthen individual and institutional fundraising, and supervise contracted communications or development support as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Donor Strategy & Engagement [40%]

• Partner with the Executive Director to develop and implement MVP's annual fundraising and development plan
• Manage annual appeals and donor campaigns, including Giving Tuesday and the End-of-Year Appeal.
• Develop donor communications, including segmented email campaigns, personalized acknowledgments, thank‑you letters, and impact updates.
• Support planning and coordination of MVP's annual fundraising events (e.g., MICAH Awards Dinner & Annual Meeting), including sponsorships, communications, volunteer coordination, and event logistics.
• Apply community organizing principles by maintaining relational 1:1 meetings to cultivate and steward small- and mid‑level donors to monthly sustainers.
• Support the development of MVP’s monthly sustainer program.
• Maintain donor records in EveryAction and Salesforce CRMs, including gift entry, reports, and data management.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and monthly Board Development Committee meetings to report on progress and strategy.

2. Grant Management & Institutional Giving (25%)

• Conduct prospect research to identify new foundation and institutional funding opportunities.
• Maintain the grants calendar and ensure proposals, reports, renewals, and deadlines are completed on time.
• Coordinate and draft grant proposals and reports with the Executive Director and contracted grant writer, as needed.
• Collaborate with staff to gather program outcomes, budgets, and supporting materials.
• Track grant awards, reporting requirements, payment schedules, and records.
• Steward relationships with institutional funders through timely communication and reporting.

3. External Communications [35%]

• Coordinate and support team of volunteer leaders in storytelling, photography, and digital content creation.
• Steward MVP's brand by ensuring consistent messaging, voice, visual identity, and values.
• Draft press releases, cultivate media relationships, and coordinate media outreach for campaigns and events.
• Manage MVP's digital communications strategy, including the website, email marketing, social media, and digital advertising.
• Design print and digital materials—including newsletters, annual reports, campaign materials, e-blasts, and leader resources.
• Maintain MVP's library of photos, videos, and testimonials, and monitor engagement metrics to grow our audience.
• Partner with the Organizing Team to elevate campaign storytelling and the voices of directly impacted leaders.
• Manage content across MVP's social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 3-4+ years of experience in fundraising or development, communications, community organizing, or a related field.
• Experience managing fundraising strategies, including annual giving, donor cultivation and stewardship, fundraising events, institutional giving, and grants.
• Experience managing EveryAction, Salesforce, or a similar CRM system.
• Experience researching, writing, or coordinating grant proposals and reports.
• Strong relationship‑building skills with donors, grassroots leaders, volunteers, community partners, and institutional funders.
• Understanding of community organizing principles, including relational meetings, power‑building, and values‑based leadership.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms, Canva or Adobe, email marketing, social media management, and Google Workspace or Microsoft Office.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, project management, and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese proficiency is a strong plus.
• Reliable transportation and flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Commitment to advancing racial, social, and economic justice.