United States onlyKids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.
Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.
Position Summary
KIND seeks a Director, Philanthropy Communications responsible for creating donor materials that serve the objectives of the KIND donor journey. These materials support the organization’s ambitious fundraising goals and play a critical role in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of all KIND supporters. Reporting to the Senior Director, Operations and Strategy, the Director, Philanthropy Communications works closely with the program management team, attorneys, Communications staff, and the entire Development department to craft effective donor-facing messages and engaging stories with a particular focus on major gift fundraising. Materials the Director, Philanthropy Communications will produce include the annual report, donor reports and proposals, events and trip collateral, newsletters, fact sheets, brochures, project summaries, invitations, program updates, cover letters, acknowledgement letters, pitch decks, and direct mail letters. You will oversee the production of all Development’s printed materials, including reports, newsletters, fact sheets, and brochures. You will also manage Development’s relationship with outside editorial, design, and print vendors, and maintain and facilitate consistent organizational usage of the KIND style and brand guidelines. Beyond serving Development’s objectives, the Director, Philanthropy Communications must ensure that donor communications are informed, accurate, and consistent with the KIND brand.
The Director, Philanthropy Communications also collaborates with the Senior Director, Individual Giving and Events to streamline project management and workflow; develop new resources, tools, and best practices for the Major Gifts team; develop new message framing and communication vehicles; and train and mentor other development writers.
This position is for a mission- and values-aligned professional who is both a strategist and implementer, who leads with kindness and thoughtfulness, and who and thrives in a high-energy, fast paced, and entrepreneurial environment where innovation and creativity are valued and expected. This a headquarters position based remotely from any location in the U.S.
Essential Functions
- Serves as lead writer, editor, and communications staff for Individual Giving and Events team.
- Prepares letters of intent, proposals, funding menus, impact reports, and other pitch materials for existing and prospective major donor solicitations.
- Proofreads and provides editorial suggestions on existing materials. Revises and edits to existing pieces, often incorporating changes from multiple parties simultaneously.
- Works alongside fundraisers to fine tune and prepare targeted timely pitch materials.
- Works with program teams to gather information and write summaries of specific campaigns and initiatives that demonstrate impact for fundraising purposes. Ensures plans are kept updated.
- Works closely with the Data and the Planning and Performance departments to track and capture outcomes and measures of success across the organization.
- Schedules, manages, and conducts interviews with internal staff as needed to capture timely information on programming and outcomes.
- Determines stories, writes, designs, and oversees the printing for the quarterly print newsletter.
- Prepare frequent and customized impact updates for existing and prospective donors.
- Regularly collaborates with the Communications department to ensure consistency with messaging, theme, brand, design, and content, following established KIND guidelines.
- Writes and designs the annual Impact Report.
- Works with the Director, Direct Marketing and Engagement to prepare direct mail campaigns that integrate with department messaging and organizational priorities.
- Prepares correspondence and slide decks about our organization’s work for use by senior leadership.
- Works with the Communications department to regularly audit and update website content, ensuring content is timely and best reflects the work and priorities of the organization.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Undergraduate degree required.
- Must be fluent in English.
- Minimum of 10 years of professional communications and/or writing experience, preferably in a fundraising setting.
- Impeccable persuasive written and oral communication skills. Skilled at developing technical information gathered from diverse international settings into strong, clean, compelling copy, with expertise in fact-checking, line editing, and proofreading.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to serve as a member of a small team, and to collaborate adaptively and effectively with professionals across the organization.
- Experience in the use of grammar, pronunciation, and syntax in line with KIND’s style guides.
- Shares commitment to incorporating and uplifting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the work product and process. Familiarity with the immigration field and child protection issues is a plus.
- Ability to speak and write with confidence and perspective around issues of U.S. immigration and global child migration.
- Strategic and critical thinker.
- Employ strong storytelling and development-writing principles.
- Strong coordination skills, as well as the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, and balance multiple projects simultaneously without losing sight of the overall goals.
- Experience synthesizing information from various sources in a timely manner and working both collaboratively and independently with multiple teams and perspectives.
- Experience working at a non-profit organization, in progressive issue advocacy, or in policy and/or political expertise preferred.
- Ability to write in various leadership voices.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially MS Word, Excel, and Outlook. Graphic design expertise with expert-level knowledge of the Adobe CC tools, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, and InDesign.
- Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
- Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
- Commitment to prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.
- Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.
- Ability to multitask and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
- Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.
KIND requires all staff be COVID vaccinated with the exception of those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.
Application Instructions
To be considered for this role, please submit an employment application at supportkind.org/join-the-team, along with your resume and cover letter. KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Disclaimer: KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm “no fees” recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website: https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/kind-employment-practices/.
