Overview:
The Wassaic Project seeks a full-time Development and Communications Assistant. This role is crucial in supporting the organization’s fundraising efforts and ensuring effective communication with diverse audiences, including donors, artists, and the community. Reports to Development and Communications Manager.
The Development and Communications Assistant will support the development and coordination of an ambitious, growth-oriented, and comprehensive development and communications program including visitor and events programs, two annual fundraising galas, three exhibitions with public openings and closing, at a minimum quarterly public performance events, monthly donor cultivation events, and weekly store and exhibition hours. We are looking for someone to grow with us and who is motivated by achieving revenue goals. This role will evolve with the organization.
As a non-profit organization with big programs and a small team, all of our staff members work with a collaborative mentality and exceptional work ethic. A dedication to supporting our mission and keen interest in our goals as an organization is essential to our team.
This position begins January 6, 2025. Our Development and Communications Assistant will work full time in Wassaic (40hrs/week), Tuesday - Saturday.
Key Responsibilities:
Development:
- Fundraising Strategy Support: Assist in developing and implementing strategies to achieve fundraising goals, including donor cultivation, annual giving campaigns, and special events.
- Grant Writing and Reporting: Research and draft grant proposals and reports for foundation, government, and corporate funding, coordinate with grant writers.
- Donor Relations: Assist with donor communications, including special event invites, thank-you notes, annual reports, board reports, presentation decks, and impact statements.
- Database Management: Support the tracking of donors, grants, sales, and reporting in our CRM (Salesforce), ticket tailor, and shopify.
- Event Coordination: Support the planning and execution of fundraising events (two benefits per year), exhibition openings and closings, performance events, and cultivation events (dinners, private tours, cocktail parties).
Communications:
- Content Creation: Develop compelling content for newsletters and social media to highlight the Wassaic Project’s public programs, artist residencies, and exhibitions. Coordinate with photographers to document exhibitions, events, merch, and other content.
- Social Media Management: Draft content for the Wassaic Project's social media platforms to engage with followers, promote events, and expand the organization’s reach. Manage social media calendar in balance with the full communications calendar.
- Public Relations: Collaborate on media outreach strategies, including developing press kits and cultivating relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets.
- Work with the Development and Communications Manager to focus content on revenue generation including driving sales of art, merch, and programming tickets.
Front Desk:
- Welcome visitors to the Wassaic Project at the front gallery desk on Saturdays – follow front desk protocols, communicate with visitors, process sales, etc 3 quarters per year.
- Support appearance and customer experience of our gallery store, both on-site and online. This includes weekly re-organization, supporting inventory management, evaluations of sales, as well as working with the Development and Communications Manager to create and implement strategies around earned revenue at the store.
Expectation is that this originating position will evolve over time with growing responsibilities. We are a collaborative team and a small staff who work together to solve challenges and staff events.
Qualifications:
- Experience: 1-2 years of experience in development, communications, or a related role preferred
Skills:
- Easy to work with, a good attitude, and a team player.
- Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
- Proficiency with social media platforms, website management, and email marketing tools (such as Mailchimp).
- Familiarity with donor management systems (Salesforce) and grant writing a plus
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with an ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Passion for the arts and community engagement.
- Experience in visual arts or cultural programming is a plus.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Comfortable using G Suite and Microsoft Office.
Application Instructions / Public Contact InformationApplication Requirements:
- Contact information
- Resume/CV (2 pages max)
- 2 professional references and contact info
- If you are a creator/maker, we encourage you to please include up to 4 examples of your work.
- Please answer the following questions:
- Why do you want to be the Development and Communications Assistant and work at the Wassaic Project? What makes you an ideal candidate? What do you hope to get out of this experience? Please address: relevant experience; your interest in the position and the Wassaic Project; collaborative approach. 500 words max.
- If you were going to advertise in one place for the Wassaic Project, where would it be and why? 100 words max.
NOTIFICATIONS:
Notifications will be sent out on or before December 1.
For more information please see:
https://www.wassaicproject.org/opportunities/development-and-communications-assistant
Contact:
Bridgid Bergin-Davidson: bridgidl@wassaicproject.org
Deadline to apply: October 31, midnight EST
Application Deadline10/31/2024