Join Our Team
About the Community Empowerment Fund
CEF is a non-profit organization operating in Durham and Orange Counties that is working to end the racial wealth gap by supporting people experiencing homelessness or financial insecurity. We work alongside approximately 250 volunteers and 3,000 Members in their pursuit of employment, secure housing, and financial stability. We are valued by Members and partners for our ability to meet people where they are and walk alongside each individual to achieve personal goals, as well as our collaborative approach to address systemic racism and oppression which causes gaps in our local communities. We are passionate about sustaining transitions out of homelessness, and combine flexible relationship-based support with innovative matched savings accounts, referral networks, resource databases, and programs to support Members in achieving their long-term dreams. Learn more at www.communityef.org.
To discourage practices of negotiating that have historically reinforced larger systems of inequality, CEF posts the amount we are able to offer for each position. All employees have the opportunity to earn raises based on increased competencies in their positions and all employees will receive a 2% annual cost of living increase. Please do not apply to a position if the compensation listed does not meet your requirements.
In addition, CEF anonymizes all applications in order to create a more equitable hiring process. This means that the hiring committee does not know the name or contact information of candidates. CEF also redacts the names of educational institutions that candidates have attended. Internal candidates are always welcome to apply to posted positions. Their experience with CEF will not be redacted which means that hiring committee participants may be able to identify these candidates. For internal candidates, you should expect that your work or volunteer experience at CEF will be considered in the candidate evaluation process. CEF is committed to maintaining a fair and equitable hiring process for all candidates.
Open Positions:
Development & Communications Manager
Applications accepted on a rolling basis, open until filled.
Position Overview
Working closely with CEF’s executive and board leadership as well as support staff, the Development & Communications Manager will lead development and communication efforts as CEF continually grows its reach in the community. The Development & Communications Manager will be responsible for sustaining CEF’s development strategy through grants and contracts management, funder relationships, communications stewardship, and donor campaigns and events; creating and posting content to CEF’s social media platforms; creating a monthly newsletter; producing CEF’s Annual Report; and managing all communications and grant processes and documentation. Although most responsibilities may be carried out remotely, some on-site work should be expected, especially for events. The Development & Communications Manager will report to the Executive Director and may supervise volunteer Advocates and Summer Interns. They are a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Position Responsibilities
Developing and implementing development strategy to achieve fundraising goals:
- Create, lead, and implement annual and multi-year development plans, in close collaboration with CEF leadership team (includes ED and Board Development Committee), including a long-term sustainability strategy
- Identify, cultivate, and steward strong relationships with funders, donors, governmental partners, and other allies–including direct solicitations
- Identify and cultivate new funding prospects, including major donors and foundations
- Lead and coordinate CEF staff, volunteers, and board members engaged in development, including supervision of volunteer Advocate leaders and working with Board Development Committee
- Manage development systems and processes, including maintaining donor database (Salesforce) and managing the creation of the Annual Report
- Participate in organizational strategic planning alongside the leadership team
Manage application and reporting processes for CEF grants and contracts:
- Create and manage an annual grants/contract calendar in order to monitor and meet grant application and reporting deadlines
- Develop materials for grant applications, letters of inquiry, proposals, invoices, and grant and contract reports
- Identify and cultivate new funding prospects
- Manage contract cultivation, relationships, and reporting
- Work with program staff to ensure that necessary outcomes are being tracked
Individual donors – major gifts, events, mailing campaigns:
- Lead and implement annual fundraising events and house parties
- Manage and implement individual donor campaigns (2x/year)
- Coordinate team efforts and engage actively in individual donor development, including ongoing communication, gift acknowledgments, and relational connections
- Plan & organize “friend-raising” events including the annual Share the Love: Art Show and Alumni Advocate reunions
- Plan CEF’s annual event, The Piggy Bank Bash, including cultivating sponsors, finding a venue, outreach, ticket sales, etc.
Develop and manage CEF’s external communications strategy:
- Create and manage a communications calendar for external communications (including to wider CEF network and donors)
- Develop written content for all external ephemera including donor-facing communications, monthly e-newsletters, and the Annual Report
- Work with program staff and volunteer Advocates to produce regular social media and blog posts (3-4/wk) highlighting relevant local stories and programs, Member stories, staff stories, updates to CEF programs, and fundraising campaigns
- Work with program staff and volunteer Advocates to create and use Member-interview protocols to share stories both externally and internally
- Maintain CEF’s website
Administrative Tasks:
- Maintain necessary files and records (both electronic and paper) for all grants, contracts, and donations
- Manage the monthly thank-you process–matching donations in Salesforce, including generating donor list, completing mail merge, and writing messages to each donor. Also responsible for mailing
- Work with Finance & Operations Manager to provide the necessary documentation to CEF’s auditor
CEF Team Member
- Attend and participate in all regularly scheduled team meetings, caucuses, retreats, supervision, and other activities in Durham and Chapel Hill (remote and in-person)
- Work collaboratively with team members when necessary
- Engage actively in program design and project management efforts to improve CEF’s outcomes, impact, and methodologies
- Embody CEF values and guiding principles, participate meaningfully in meetings, work collaboratively with coworkers, and engage in CEF in ways that are informed by social justice frameworks including, but not limited to relationship-based support, trauma-informed care, harm-reduction, and motivational interviewing
- Follow CEF financial procedures, including timely reporting of expenses, clear communication around debit card needs, and participation in budget creation
Position Qualifications (Required unless indicated as “preferred”)
- 3-5 years of experience leading fundraising, and development work–including demonstrated success in securing funds from foundations and major donors, preferably for organizations $1M-$2M in size
- Experience with a range of development/fundraising duties, including individual donor cultivation/campaigns, grant/contract management, and major donor communications
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
- Experience leading fundraising events planning, including sponsorship cultivation
- Experience with project management and coordinating a team, including volunteers
- Experience with donor database management (Customer Relationship Management database software, ex. Salesforce) and outcomes reporting (database tracking software, ex. Tableau)
- Strong aptitude with spreadsheets required, including proficiency in G Suite (Google Sheets and Docs) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word and Excel)
- Self-motivated, with exceptional organizational abilities and attention to detail, with ability to follow through on many simultaneous projects
- Clear analysis and understanding of racial equity, structural racism, socioeconomic inequity, and white supremacy culture, particularly in relation to communications and nonprofit organizational structure
- Experience leading narrative storytelling through a racial equity lens and creating communications that work to dismantle white supremacist systems within CEF’s internal functions
- Experience maintaining a WordPress website, preferred
- Experience working with Canva, preferred
- Willingness and ability to learn new technologies and programs quickly
- Commitment to CEF’s mission
An ideal candidate will have
- A commitment to shared leadership, embodying CEF’s values and guiding principles
- Affirming, empowering, collaborative, and listening-based leadership style, with a strong sense of self-direction and accountability to the community
- Compelling, authentic, and clear verbal and written communication
- Ability to take initiative and complete duties independently
- Experience and comfort working with people across abilities and neurological differences, and from diverse racial, socioeconomic, educational, cultural, religious, gender, and ethnic backgrounds and identities
- Experience with work management software (ex. Asana, Slack)
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time, salaried position. The Development & Communications Manager is expected to work an average of 40 hours per week and will be paid $55,000 annually. This position is also eligible for 100% employer-paid health insurance; 100% employer-paid term life insurance; a 401(k) plan with 4% employer match; optional employee-paid dental and vision; paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave; and a professional development stipend. See an outline of CEF’s benefits here. All CEF staff are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit weekly negative test results. This position is open immediately.
To Apply
Please submit a cover letter outlining why you are a great fit for this position, resume, 2 writing samples, and 3 professional references to hiring@communityempowermentfund.org with the subject “Development & Communications Manager.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQI identified people, and people with lived experience with homelessness or poverty.
Member Resource Specialist (Chapel Hill)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis – priority deadline 8/25/23
Position Summary:
The Member Resource Specialist (MRS) is a full-time position focused on cultivating resources that supplement our Member Services in targeted content areas. In addition to providing in-office support for CEF Members and Advocates as a member of the Chapel Hill team, the MRS will be responsible for leading our efforts to grow targeted program services focused on housing and employment. In the future, the MRS may focus on additional services including financial coaching, resource development, and longitudinal data tracking. This position will have responsibility onsite in CEF’s Chapel Hill office with flexibility for off-site work and will report directly to the Chapel Hill Member Services Coordinator.
Responsibilities:
In-Office Support for Members and Advocates (30%)
- Provide 8-10 hours per week of in-office staff support to support Advocates and Members, ensure delivery of quality member services, and promote office policies and boundaries, especially regarding emotional and physical safety.
- Support general office operations with other staff members including mail, phones, walk-ins, scheduling, member surveys, etc.
- Contribute to weekly case-conferencing at team meetings to provide support when navigating complex or crisis situations.
- Provide excellent relationship-based care coordination for CEF Members.
- Manage a list of 50+ Members who are actively searching for employment opportunities by conducting bi-weekly check-in calls to update how best to provide individualized support.
- Maintain accurate employment search updates on Member’s profiles to track continued progress and inform Advocates for their meetings with Members.
First-Time Homebuyers Pilot Project (40%)
- Work with Member Asssistance Funds Manager to create and maintain relevant partnerships that will strengthen the program.
- Recruit participants for a first-time homebuyer cohort in Orange County.
- Communicate with savings team when a participant has met all of the requirements for their savings match.
Community Class Financial Education Project (10%)
- Organize monthly financial education seminars– including scheduling presenters, gathering materials, confirming attendance, and providing snacks.
- Follow-up with participants in between monthly workshops to ensure they are receiving the support services they need, including scheduling regular meetings with CEF to participate in financial coaching sessions.
- Track participant attendance and progress towards savings goals.
Resources and Financial Coaching (RFC) Team (10%)
- Participate as a member of the Resources and Financial Coaching (RFC) Team, the team responsible for building and updating new Member Goals and financial coaching modules in our Salesforce system, Connect.
- Attend biweekly meetings to test and case conference updates to Member Goals and resources in our Resource Database, discuss development priorities, and write and review soft code for upcoming updates.
- Take lead on managing the development status and testing of content-specific Member Goals and resources such as the Working on Employment Member Goal.
Resources TeamTeam (10%)
- Coordinate and facilitate biweekly meetings with a Resource Team of 3-4 Advocates where you will develop new resources in response to community needs.
- Empower Resource Team Advocates to support resource building and development while managing their progress and addressing their questions.
- Form and deepen relationships with like-minded organizations and community members to understand community needs.
Community Partner Coordination (5%)
- Coordinate referral pipeline with local service partners alongside Chapel Hill Member Servies Coordinator
CEF Team Member (10%)
- Actively participate in CEF staff meetings, caucuses, retreats, board meetings, and organizational decision-making.
- Participate in Chapel Hill staff meetings, as well as all-staff meetings.
Relevant Skills & Qualifications:
- Exceptional organizational abilities and attention to detail; ability to follow through on simultaneous projects, including daily tasks and long-term projects.
- Experience managing projects and case-management responsibilities in collaboration with internal and external partners.
- The ability to work well with people across race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability status, education level, religion, and other diverse identities and experiences.
- An aptitude for database management and technical skills with an ability to learn how to soft code.
- Availability for regular evening and weekend hours to accommodate volunteer schedules.
- Experience with technology and willingness to learn new technologies including but not limited to Salesforce, Google Suite, Slack, and Asana.
- Creative, comfortable taking initiative, and works well independently.
- Bilingual or bicultural skills are preferred but not required.
Compensation:
This is a full-time, salaried position. This position is expected to work an average of 40 hours per week and will be paid $40.000/year. This position is also eligible for 100% employer-paid health insurance; a 401(k) plan with employer match; optional employee-paid dental and vision; paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave; and a professional development stipend. See an outline of CEF’s benefits here. All CEF staff are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit weekly negative test results.
To Apply:
Please submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a resume, and (3) contact information for three references to hiring@communityef.org with the subject “Member Resource Specialist”. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of 8/25/23 and will remain open until filled. Your cover letter should speak to your interest in working with CEF, one goal you would have for your first year in this position, and the experiences and qualities that will make you a great fit.
CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQI identified people, and people with lived experience with homelessness or poverty. Thank you for your interest! Please contact hiring@communityef.org with any questions.
