Digital Communications & Marketing Manager

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a year-round editorial calendar aligned with program, volunteer recruitment, fundraising, event, and Board priorities.
• Write and edit newsletters, appeals, annual reports, website copy, stewardship materials, and other communications.
• Manage, capture content for, and populate Chicago Lights on social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) and the Chicago Lights website.
• Collaborate closely with Chicago Lights program staff to collect stories, quotes, observations, and images that reflect program impact, maintaining a consistent presence on-site across all program locations.
• Lead the Chicago Lights digital storytelling pipeline using asset-based, dignity-first messaging; ensure that participants and Program Directors review and formally approve any individual participant content prior to publication or print.
• Support all Chicago Lights programs with appropriately branded, localized collateral (flyers, informational materials) to support participation and volunteer recruitment, engaging external freelance designers when extensive design work is required.
• Ensure strict consistency of tone, messaging, and visual identity across all platforms, materials, and events.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Development and other Development staff on campaign and donor communications, including strategy, project management of appeals, and targeted mail/email/video/social initiatives.
• Produce donor-focused content for stewardship, recognition, and regular touchpoint updates, including donor stories, gift acknowledgments, and initiativespecific proposals.
• Collaborate with the Evaluation and Impact team to track communication outcomes, segmentation, and outreach success metrics within Salesforce and other data platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism is preferred or related field
• 4+ years of nonprofit, mission-driven communications, or agency experience.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment along with strong project management capabilities.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and human-interest storytelling skills, with a deep understanding of dignified messaging in the nonprofit sector.
• Ability to use AI tools effectively and responsibly to support communications strategy, content development research, workflow efficiency, and audience engagement with strong judgment around accuracy, ethics, privacy, and brand voice.
• Experience managing website content management systems, email marketing platforms (e.g., Constant Contact, Mailchimp), social media & community management.
• Experience or familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and data tracking for marketing campaigns is preferred.
• Basic graphic design skills (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.) and basic photography/content-capture skills
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Benefits

• Medical insurance (church pays 85% of employee monthly premium and 75% for eligible dependents).
• Optional dental and vision plans.
• Generous PTO: 17 days plus 11 paid holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions after one year of service.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care.
• Transit and commuter parking benefits.
• Life and short-term disability insurance; optional long-term disability and life insurance.