Title: Development and Communications Associate
Reports to: Executive Director Classification: Remote, part-time
About Firelight
Firelight is a multi-donor fund that raises capital to support community-based organizations that are working with their communities to address significant systemic gaps and opportunities for a range of vulnerable children and youth in Southern and Eastern Africa.
Firelight also builds evidence, leverages networks, and supports local African institutions to influence critical stakeholders to value and fund local community-driven systems change for children and youth in Africa. Our vision is that African communities have the power to realize safe, strong, nurturing environments where children and youth thrive.
We invest in community-driven systems change as an approach to development and social transformation that emphasizes the insight, leadership, and ownership of the people who are living and experiencing issues at the community level and their work to create lasting change in the systems and root causes that underlie the critical issues they seek to address. Our theory of change, model, mission, and vision are all framed in the context of community-driven systems change. Please see our website to get more information about Firelight Foundation and our work: http://www.firelightfoundation.org
Role Summary
The Development and Communications Associate will support Firelight’s fundraising, donor engagement, and communications efforts. The Associate will contribute to effective donor engagement by maintaining Firelight’s donor directory, supporting prospect research, helping cultivate individual donors and supporting overall fundraising efforts, as needed. The Associate will also serve as the primary contact for communications needs, coordinating engagement with external consultants, monitoring and maintaining Firelight’s online and social media presence, and assisting with storytelling and other communications initiatives.
This is an exciting role for someone who is highly organized, has a passion for storytelling, and is keen to contribute to shifting power to communities. If you’re eager to apply your skills to Firelight’s mission to support community-driven systems change alongside a passionate and committed team with opportunities for growth, we encourage you to apply!
This is a part-time, remote position (24 hours per week), with the possibility full-time employment in the future, pending funding availability.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising and Donor Engagement Support (50%)
- Maintain accurate donor records and update our donor directory after meetings and new developments.
- Assist in managing follow-up and due diligence requests from donors regarding pending or submitted grant proposals.
- Handle logistics for donor meetings, including calendar scheduling, note-taking, and follow-ups.
- Track and process donor acknowledgements, thank-you notes, and quarterly donation reconciliations.
- Other tasks, as needed.
Communications Support (40%)
- Support the publishing of content on Firelight’s website and social media platforms.
- Manage a content calendar for Firelight’s website and social media platforms.
- Maintain and organize communication files, including photos, videos, and other relevant materials.
- Support with the preparation and coordination of periodic newsletters, blogs, annual reports and other communications materials.
- Help monitor data analytics to optimize the effectiveness of Firelight’s social media and website.
- Other tasks, as needed.
Other Tasks (10%)
- Support with other tasks, as needed.
Qualifications
The requirements for the position include:
- A degree in Communications, Nonprofit Management, or other directly relevant field or equivalent combination of training and/or experience required.
- Minimum two years of relevant experience.
- Excellent organizational, proofreading, and prioritization skills. An eye for detail and accuracy is critical.
- Strong writing/composition skills, strong verbal communication skills, and strong, active listening skills.
- Experience with Microsoft tools, such as Excel, and other office software packages preferred.
- Strong interpersonal skills. Experience and/or ability to work and interact genuinely and effectively with diverse, multicultural individuals.
The preferred qualifications include:
- Nonprofit experience.
- Fluency in French is a plus.
- Experience with database management, database reporting, and/or donor management systems is a plus.
- Skills or an interest in social media storytelling.
Additional Information
- The hourly compensation for this role is between $24/hour and $28/hour, depending on experience.
- This is a remote role and preference will be given to candidates based in Africa.
To Apply
- Please send a CV and cover letter at development@firelightfoundation.org with the subject Development/Communications Associate.
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
