Job Type Full-timeDescriptionDo you enjoy crafting compelling narratives about real people and situations that influence others to action? Are you skilled at writing motivational communications and thoughtful thank you messages that make donors feel valued? At United Food Bank, we're looking for a Communications and Grants Specialist who can engage donors and strengthen their connection to our mission. If you're ready to join a team dedicated to fighting hunger and making a lasting impact, this role could be the perfect fit for you!Our Mission and Values: We are passionate about our Mission of Uniting Communities to Alleviate Hunger. You are most likely to find success at United Food Bank if you are: Teamwork-oriented , collaborating with others to achieve the best outcomes,Guided by Integrity to do the right things, always, andInspired to go above and beyond to deliver Service & Innovation in your role. The Role: The Philanthropy Specialist will enhance donor engagement and retention by finding and crafting compelling stories that highlight the impact of United Food Bank's work with community partners, volunteers, and donors. This role will support the Philanthropy team by developing relevant thank you messages, assisting with the grant writing process, and ensuring donors feel appreciated and connected to the mission of the food bank.Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:Storytelling:Identify and collect impactful stories from clients, volunteers, and staff that illustrate the food bank's mission and successes.Craft these stories into compelling narratives for use in thank-you messages, grant proposals, and donor communications.Grant Writing Assistance:Collaborate with the grant writing team to integrate compelling stories into grant proposals and reports.Assist in drafting and editing grant proposals, ensuring they effectively communicate the food bank's impact.Maintain a library of stories and materials that can be used for various grant opportunities.Assist with grant opportunity research and reporting.Philanthropy Support:Work closely with the philanthropy team to identify storytelling opportunities that can be leveraged for donor engagement and fundraising.Provide content and storytelling support for donor events and stewardship activities.Donor Stewardship:Develop and produce thank you messages, including videos and personalized notes, to acknowledge and engage donors.Ensure that thank you messages are delivered to donors promptly.Assist in creating new donor welcome packets and other stewardship materials.Collaboration and Coordination:Collaborate with the marketing team to share gathered stories for distribution across various platforms.Coordinate with other departments to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with the organization's goals. RequirementsQualifications :Passion for alleviating hunger and aligned with our mission and values.Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, nonprofit management, or a related field and 2+ years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.2-3 years of experience in donor relations, communications, or a similar role.Experience in grant writing, research, and reporting.Exceptional writing and storytelling skills.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders (i.e. people with different backgrounds, socio-economic levels, and staffing levels).Strong organizational and project management abilities.Balance of creative problem-solving skills and analytical thinking.Ability to assume responsibility and work independently.Detail-oriented with adherence to deadlines.Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), and Google Suite. Proficiency in content creation software and tools.Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for events and donor activities. Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and reach with hands and arms.Ability to sit at a computer for 4-8 hours a day doing repetitive motions on a keyboard.Ability to travel to local events for story collection and interviews.In instances of a federal, state, or locally declared emergency, United Food Bank is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all of its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties.The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in this job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role at United Food Bank.