Development & Communications Manager

Development & Communications Manager

WHO WE ARE:

ROOM: A Sketchbook for Analytic Action is a global, public forum in which individual experiences shared through essays, art, creative writing, poetry, and community projects enrich our understanding of the social and political world. It was conceived just days after the 2016 U.S. presidential election as an agent of community building. Since then, each issue of ROOM has been a window through which readers experience how culture and politics impact us personally, and how our psychology affects our environment and political reality. By bringing our unique interdisciplinary lens to the complex problems of our world, ROOM has leveraged a powerful social platform, reaching readers in over 160 countries. We believe that the exquisite singularity of individual expression has universal relevance. Published three times a year, ROOM is available free online. Following each issue, an international roundtable allows readers and authors to deepen the conversation together. Additionally, ROOM produces a biweekly podcast featuring contributors to the magazine. ROOM has earned widespread acclaim for its contributions to psychoanalysis and culture, winning The Sigourney Award (2025), IPA in Culture Community Award by the International Psychoanalytic Association (2023), the NAAP Gradiva Award for New Media (2018), and recognition from the PEN World Voices Festival.

POSITION :

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, strategic, and hands-on Development & Communications Manager to lead and execute ROOM ’s fundraising and communications work. As the primary person responsible for development and communications, this role has meaningful ownership and autonomy and the opportunity to become an integral part of ROOM ’s small team, while working closely with ROOM leadership, the Board of Directors, and other members of the team.

The role spans frontline fundraising, development systems, strategic communications, and events, with priorities shifting based on ROOM ’s needs and what is most important at a given time. You will help shape priorities and strategy while also doing the hands-on work to move relationships, campaigns, and projects forward. As ROOM grows, there will be opportunities for the role to grow with it, shaped by the organization’s needs and the strengths and experience of the person in the role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Frontline Fundraising & Campaign Execution

• Develop and implement ROOM’s annual and multi-year fundraising plan, including clear goals, priorities, and funding targets.
• Manage ROOM’s individual giving program, including annual appeals, digital campaigns, donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and re-engagement.
• Cultivate relationships with current and prospective donors, including leadership-level and major donors, and work with ROOM leadership and the Board to identify opportunities and leverage their networks.
• Research prospective foundations and institutional funders and manage the grant lifecycle, including prospecting, proposal development, submission, reporting, and follow-up.
• Evaluate fundraising activities and results, including revenue, retention, and pipeline activity, and recommend adjustments based on what is working and where there are opportunities to grow.

2. Development Systems & CRM Operations

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records, gift histories, pledges, payment schedules, and funding information in Givebutter.
• Establish and maintain clear workflows for gift processing, acknowledgments, donor tracking, fundraising campaigns, and development reporting.
• Produce regular development reports for ROOM leadership and the Board, using data to inform fundraising priorities and decision-making.
• Identify and implement improvements to development processes, tools, and systems as ROOM’s fundraising program grows.
• Maintain shared documentation, trackers, and other resources that keep fundraising activities organized and moving forward.

3. Strategic Communications & Events

• Develop and implement communications that strengthen ROOM’s relationships with readers, supporters, funders, and the broader community.
• Work with ROOM leadership and the editorial and program teams to develop clear, consistent messaging about ROOM’s mission, work, programs, and impact.
• Write and shape communications across newsletters, donor appeals, grant narratives, sponsor pitches, impact reports, stewardship communications, digital campaigns, website content, and other external materials.
• Translate ROOM’s interdisciplinary work into compelling stories and clear cases for support that resonate with different audiences.
• Plan and execute ROOM’s fundraising and community events, including the annual gala and donor cultivation events, and develop communications and outreach around major events, campaigns, publications, and other initiatives.
• Represent ROOM thoughtfully and authentically with prospective donors, funders, partners, and other external stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5-10+ years of professional experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, communications, or related work, with a track record of managing fundraising priorities from planning through execution.
• Experience across several areas of nonprofit fundraising, such as individual giving, major gifts, institutional fundraising, grant writing and management, donor stewardship, campaigns, or special events. You do not need to have done every piece of the work described here .
• Strong written, storytelling, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to move comfortably between an appeal email, grant narrative, sponsor pitch, newsletter, impact report, board update, and conversation with a prospective supporter.
• Demonstrated project management skills, with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities from planning through execution with strong organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.
• Comfort building and maintaining relationships with donors, funders, Board members, colleagues, readers, and other external stakeholders, and asking for support when the time comes.
• Experience working with donor databases/CRMs such as Givebutter, email communications tools such as Mailchimp, spreadsheets, and other basic productivity tools.
• A willingness to take ownership, make decisions, and do the hands-on work required to move fundraising and communications priorities forward.
• Excitement about ROOM’s community-building mission and interdisciplinary approach.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience or interest in psychotherapy, psychology, mental health, higher education, publishing, civic engagement, or another field relevant to ROOM ’s interdisciplinary mission.
• Experience working with a small, collaborative organization, particularly in a role requiring substantial independence and cross-functional work.

POSITION DETAILS

• Employment Type: Contract, approximately 10 hours per week.
• Schedule: Flexible schedule arranged around your availability and ROOM ’s priorities.
• Location: Remote
• Room to grow: As ROOM ’s funding and needs grow, there may be opportunities to increase the hours dedicated to this work and deepen the role over time.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email your resume and cover letter to View email address on us.fitly.work . In your cover letter, describe how your experience and qualifications make you a strong fit for this position and include your desired hourly rate.