Communications Specialist

About the ELCA

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states, Caribbean, and U.S. Virgin Islands. With a vision to live in a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation, the ELCA strives to be a welcoming, thriving, and connected church that introduces people to Jesus so they can discover community, justice, and love.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About the position

The Development team within the Office of the Presiding Bishop is responsible for engaging donor members from across the ELCA ecology. Through Mission Support and Stewardship, Annual Giving, Institutional Giving, Transformational Giving, and the Development Services team, the Development team seeks to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors of all kinds as they support the variety of ministries the ELCA does as church together.

Working as part of the Development Communications team, this position supports the growing base of major and mid-level donors to churchwide ministries (such as ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response) by creating marketing materials, managing event communications and compiling and maintaining various communication tools with the goal of inviting, inspiring and thanking our most generous supporters.

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, remote position.

Candidates for this remote position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

1. Implement annual marketing plan for the Leadership Circle, an affinity group comprised of the organization’s midlevel donors including individuals and congregations, in collaboration with the program’s director. This includes writing, editing, working with designers and coordinating printing of biannual stewardship publications, managing communications for virtual events, facilitating website updates, and compiling other communications geared toward this audience.

2. Create materials, such as one-pagers, brochures, stationery and PPT templates, for major gift officers and unit executives to use in conversations with donors and during events.

3. Write, update and maintain a variety of development tools, including acknowledgment letters, pledge forms and a resources site, as well as coordinating material distribution to the development team.

4. Assist the Development Communications team with special projects, internal communications and other duties as assigned. Assist the team with the implementation of marketing plans, including direct mail campaigns, e-marketing campaigns, print materials and more.

5. Track, record and analyze results of work, including setting goals and demonstrating progress towards key metrics, including revenue, donor retention and donor satisfaction.

6. Other duties as assigned.

1. 2+ years of experience in fundraising or communications, preferably in the non-profit sector, bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience,

2. Strong written communication skills. Experience and proven ability to provide content strategy and write for a variety of media (print, web, email) and audiences (executives, donors, leaders, and general public) with different tones, voices and techniques.

Strong verbal communication skills to be able to plan and strategize with colleagues at multiple levels of the organization, including executives.

3. Strong organizational skills with ability to create and manage large volumes of content.

4. Ability to work both independently and within a team environment, including managing the development of content from a variety of sources. Very organized and able to manage projects from conception through completion. Able to respond to shifting priorities and to work efficiently under deadlines.

5. Innovative, creative and willing and able to test new things that could help the organization meet its goals. Positive attitude, energetic, and eager to learn and to teach. A cooperative spirit and team player who is receptive to others' opinions, collaborates well, and is diplomatic; engaging interpersonal skills; experience with leading a diverse team of people.

6. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Readiness to prioritize diverse voices and stories that represent the whole church, including those in traditionally marginalized communities.

7. Appreciation for the mission, vision, values, and goals of the ELCA.

8. Expertise in Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel required. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat) and CRM software (Blackbaud, etc.) preferred.

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Position requires minimal travel for churchwide events, meetings and continued education/conferences. Valid driver’s license required.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Minimum: $37,378.00.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact People Solutions (HR).