Development Communications Specialist
Remote or Hybrid - Colorado Springs, CO
Colson Center Ministry Opportunities
The Colson Center exists to equip Christians with the clarity, confidence, and courage they need to live like Christians in this cultural moment. All employees are part of our ministry effort, and each is assigned significant responsibilities to move our mission and vision forward. This description lays out the key ministry areas this position leads and supports.
Ministry Position Summary
We are looking for an innovative Development Communications Specialist to create and execute the Colson Center’s direct response marketing and fundraising strategy. This will include an emphasis on overseeing the strategy and writing process for digital fundraising communications, direct mail copy, and managing the copy development process from start to finish for all fundraising projects within established guidelines. This also includes overseeing the development and execution of assets for mid and major donor pieces, such as brochures, bifolds, and impact reports. Key duties include strategic direct mail fundraising, content guidance for all aspects of campaigns (graphics, emails, letters, etc.), copy review and editing, campaign management and analysis, and giving trend analysis. This role is crucial to the smooth and efficient operation of an expanding, robust direct response fundraising program. Ideal candidate will have experience in direct response within a nonprofit organization.
Key Ministry Responsibilities
• Assist Vice President of Development with fundraising strategy, execution, donor relationships and KPI’s and segmentation for general file donor audience
• Focus on retention and growth efforts; long-term value, life-time value of general file audience.
• Management & execution of campaigns ministry wide, primarily for general file but also major campaigns such as calendar year end fundraising
• Oversee the growth of the Cornerstone program which includes developing the communication calendar.
• Build/create donor journeys within segmentations
• Maintain & update donor welcome series as needed
• Create Mid & Major donor assets that are customized from the general file strategy
• Website/giving pages maintenance & optimization
• Provide clear content guidance for all fundraising copy and work with copywriters to execute.
• Serve as copy editor for all general file fundraising communications & mid/major donor print assets
• Coordinates copy development for both direct mail and digital fundraising communications and secures necessary sign-off and approval from internal staff
• Produces member-centric copy for emails, as well as newsletter articles, annual report stories, and other copy as assigned
• Supports the day-to-day relationship with any outside vendor agency to implement the direct mail and digital fundraising and acquisition program
• Reviews plans for each project, making strategic and creative suggestions, reviews segmentation and coordinates data requests
• Serves across departments with teams to design, plan, and implement digital campaigns for outreach to the organizations' online community; ensures coordination with fundraising campaigns; may provide leadership for projects within this team
• Manages joint cost allocations for all direct response fundraising projects, tracks all costs and approves invoices
• Provide analysis on giving patterns and campaign performance, providing recommendations for future improvements based on results
Guidelines for All Employees
The Holy Bible, Statement of Beliefs/Faith, Employee Handbook, KPI’s for role
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience: 3 plus years of marketing-based fundraising methods and approach, project management, and content strategy and messaging guidance
Knowledge areas: New donor acquisition strategies and national CRM tools strongly preferred
Technology: Intermediate knowledge with project management tools (Asana) and digital marketing and CRM/sales tools
Abilities: Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communications skills and is a creative self-starter that works independently. They must produce excellent content under tight deadlines while navigating competing priorities. Successful candidate must remain positive, tactful and composed under pressure.
Position Classification: Full-Time Exempt
Travel: Up to three weeks per year
Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, HRA, 403b