Position Summary

The Development & Communications Manager is a part-time role at the intersection of fundraising and storytelling. This position is responsible for cultivating the donor relationships that power our work, managing the databases and tools that keep us organized, and communicating our impact to donors, families, and the broader community through compelling content across multiple channels.

Because Decibels is a very small organization, all staff are expected to contribute wherever needed, including helping to plan, run, and attend events such as our annual Golf Tournament and other community programs. Our staff are versatile self-starters who are energized by variety, comfortable wearing many hats, and genuinely passionate about improving the lives of Deaf and hearing-impaired children and their families.

Responsibilities

Donor Relations & Fundraising

• Build and nurture relationships with current and prospective donors
• Create and manage appeal campaigns from strategy through execution
• Cultivate and grow the monthly donor program
• Re-engage lapsed donors through targeted outreach
• Develop and implement strategies to move donors to higher giving levels
• Send timely, personalized donation acknowledgements
• Produce the annual report in collaboration with staff and leadership
• Create and manage segmented contact lists for targeted communications
• Keep donor and contact records current and accurate on an ongoing basis

Tracking & Reporting

• Track fundraising activity and donor engagement metrics
• Prepare regular reports on fundraising and communications performance for leadership

Communications & Marketing

• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar to guide content planning
• Develop and implement messaging strategies that reflect the Decibels Foundation’s voice and values
• Gather, document, and share beneficiary stories to illustrate the Foundation’s real-world impact
• Produce the annual Holiday Newsletter
• Create and update marketing collateral (print and digital)
• Manage press releases and traditional media relations
• Respond to email and phone correspondence in a timely, professional manner

Social Media & Digital Presence

• Produce engaging social media content on a consistent schedule
• Maintain and update the Decibels Foundation website

Grant Seeking (Incoming Grants & Sponsorships)

• Maintain calendar of foundation and corporate grant deadlines
• Prepare applications for foundation and corporate grants
• Prepare applications for corporate event sponsorships
• Produce grant impact reports for funders as required

Additional Duties

• Assist with event planning, logistics, setup, and attendance as needed
• Contribute to other organizational tasks as they arise as part of a small, collaborative team

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit development, communications, or a closely related field
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to write for diverse audiences and channels
• Experience managing donor databases or CRM tools (GiveWP, Salesforce, DonorPerfect, or similar)
• Experience with email marketing platforms (Constant Contact, Mailchimp, or similar)
• Experience with grant writing and impact documentation
• Comfort creating and managing content across a variety of social media platforms
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar)
• Self-directed, reliable, collaborative, and able to manage multiple deadlines independently
• Genuine passion for The Decibels Foundation’s mission and the communities we serve

Preferred

• Demonstrated connection to and understanding of the Deaf/hard of hearing community 
• Experience with WordPress or a similar website CMS
• Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising best practices and donor lifecycle strategies
• Graphic design skills or experience with tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience with press and media relations

Position Details

• Classification: Part-time, non-exempt
• Hours: Approximately 15-20 hours per week, generally flexible schedule, occasional weekend hours required for events (2-3x/year)
• Compensation: $24-27 per hour, commensurate with experience
• Location: Primarily remote with occasional in-person attendance at events and meetings in the greater Boston area, 1-2x/month
• Reports to: Board President

The Decibels Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.