Director of Development and Communications

Director of Development and Communications

 

About Commonwealth Land Trust

Commonwealth Land Trust (“CLT”) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide affordable housing and supportive services to individuals and families, in order to prevent homelessness, rebuild lives, and preserve neighborhoods. CLT’s portfolio includes over 400 housing units in Greater Boston. Most of CLT’s supportive housing residents have some combination of physical disabilities and mental health challenges, addictions, and histories of homelessness.

 

Position Summary

This is a newly created position responsible for building and leading CLT’s fundraising function, and overseeing organizational communications. The position reports to the President and CEO, and works closely with senior team members, board members, and external partners as needed.

 

The Director will lead efforts to grow philanthropic revenue, and oversee CLT’s organizational communications. Fundraising is the primary focus of the role. Communications is an integrated function that supports fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and organizational positioning.

 

This is a build role. The Director will establish systems and priorities, with flexibility to shape how the function evolves over time. Future growth will be driven by performance, strategy, and organizational needs. This role offers the opportunity to shape how a mission driven organization tells its story, and grows its impact.

 

Essential Functions

Fundraising Leadership

• Lead and own CLT’s fundraising strategy, with a focus on individual giving, major donors, and philanthropic relationships
• Partner closely with the CEO and Board on fundraising priorities, cultivation, and engagement
• Develop and manage donor pipelines, stewardship practices, and fundraising plans
• Translate organizational strategy and program impact into compelling donor facing narratives and collateral
• Coordinate with internal leadership on funding priorities and revenue planning

 

Communications and Narrative Ownership

• Oversee CLT’s communications strategy, and day-to-day communications work
• Ensure clarity and consistency of messaging across donors, public facing materials, and external stakeholders
• Support public facing communications and external positioning as needed, including coordination around legislative or stakeholder messaging
• Maintain narrative discipline across fundraising, communications, and external engagement

 

Function Building and Leadership

• Build and manage the development and communications function, including systems, workflows, and priorities
• Build on early fundraising strategy, vision, and materials developed with external support, with the opportunity to work alongside an experienced fundraising consultant during an initial transition period to accelerate onboarding and momentum, while taking ownership of refining and implementing the work over time
• Assess and recommend future capacity or structure as the program grows
• Leverage internal administrative support, and collaborate across departments to execute effectively
• Coordinate with the senior team on grants, policy context, and high level messaging
• Work with external consultants as appropriate to support organizational goals

 

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, communications or related leadership roles
• Demonstrated ability to translate organizational strategy and program impact into effective communications
• Comfort participating in donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising conversations
• Experience owning or shaping organizational messaging across public facing materials and organizational events
• Experience contributing to or building systems, processes, or infrastructure that support fundraising and communications work
• Judgment and discretion in a complex, mission driven, and politically sensitive environment
• Comfort operating with ambiguity, and helping shape a function that is still evolving
• Understanding of CLT's mission and populations served

 

Compensation

Salary range is $105,000 to $125,000, commensurate with experience

 

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance