Responsibilities

• Work with senior leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with the Foundation’s mission and program priorities – entrepreneurship, strong families and veterans – grounded in learning, data, research, and grantee and community dialogue.
• Recognizing the critical role the grantee-funder relationship plays in philanthropic impact, engage in thoughtful and transparent communications methods with the goal of establishing and deepening rapport and mutual trust with key stakeholders.
• Using the foundation’s focus on impact metrics (e.g. not the number of people reached, but rather the impact of a message on trust-building and mission-advancement), establish annual communication objectives, track progress, and report learnings to leadership, Board and the public.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director, program leadership, and Board on opportunities for community support, message development, positioning, and establishing foundation voice and presence in the philanthropic landscape.
• Leverage communication as a strategic tool in Foundation grantmaking to build trust, bridge divides and help make meaningful impact possible.
• In partnership with the Executive Director and leadership team, draft and/or review and edit major external communications pieces, including but not limited to press releases, annual reports, talking points, presentations, team-generated thought leadership pieces, and Q&As. As needed, support spokespersons as needed with preparation and coaching.
• Build relationships with the communications leaders of the foundation’s grantee partners and peer funders to ensure the Foundation is a constructive, collaborative partner on issues important to the communities served.
• Amplify the work and learnings of grantee partners to raise awareness of issues impacting local communities and the approaches employed to mitigate them.

Requirements

• 5 – 7 years of progressively responsible communications experience, with a strong preference for candidates with backgrounds in philanthropy, non-profits, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing organization-wide communications strategies highly aligned with values and mission. This includes strategy and content planning, brand management, and stakeholder engagement.
• An understanding of how communications practices can support and elevate people-centered systems or philanthropic and community ecosystems.
• Proven project management experience with demonstrated collaboration skills across organizational levels and departments.
• Ability to nuance messaging using the appropriate balance of humility, service, knowledge-sharing, and marketing/branding in a way that advances the Foundation’s mission.
• Proficiency with modern communications and marketing tools (e.g., CMS, email marketing platforms, social media management, practical AI application, basic design tools and/or oversight of creative teams).

Preferred

• Familiarity with design software such as Adobe Suite, Canva, and/or web development skills for interactive online content a plus.
• A baseline understanding of social sector evaluation, the opportunities and challenges it presents to funders and grantees alike, and an understanding of how to navigate the tension between communicating impact and what can be measured.
• Knowledge and/or lived experience related to the RLD Foundation’s issue areas and/or areas related to economic equity, community development, or aligned fields strongly preferred. This includes the ability to communicate about these topics in a people-first and community-centered manner.
• Previous experience with communication in relation to issue-based research, policy, evaluation, and/or data analytics.
• Ability to be a self-starter, take initiative, and work independently to establish the organization’s initial communications framework.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with up to 4% employer match
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance (80/20 split)
• Life insurance (no cost)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance (no cost)
• Competitive PTO policies
• Pre-tax Commuter Expense Reimbursement Plan