Senior Manager of Development & Communications

JOB OPENING AT 826MICHIGAN

Position: Senior Manager of Development & Communications 

Position Type: Full-Time; 40 hours/week

Location: Ypsilanti and/or Detroit - this position is largely in-person; please see bottom of posting for further  details

Target Start Date: Approximately April 6, 2026

ABOUT 826MICHIGAN

Mission + Vision

826michigan imagines a future where all students readily access their creative voice and confidently stand in the power of their stories. For over 20 years, we have provided free high-quality writing programs to students ages 5-18 in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Ypsilanti. Our mission is to inspire students to write with skill and confidence, in collaboration with volunteers in their communities. We began in 2005 as a small literary arts project, and have since grown to provide critical literacy support to thousands of students every year. Since our founding, we have delivered free youth writing and tutoring programs to tens of thousands of students across southeastern Michigan.

We believe every student, especially those whose voices have been historically marginalized, deserves to write their truths and to be heard. Our creative writing and literacy programs focus on restoring humanity to educational practices with young people by actively creating trauma-informed programs and spaces.

We actively work to create and maintain a third space that radically heals and uplifts students of color. Support from our community allows students in our region to receive critical literacy support free-of-charge. 

Culture & Working Environment 

826michigan is part of 826 National, the country's largest network of youth writing centers, co-founded by author Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, McSweeney’s) and educator Nínive Caligari. In addition to being a member of the 826 National network, 826michigan is also a vital part of the local community, participating in collaboratives inside of each of our service cities to ensure maintenance of best practices for staff and program participants. 826michigan is a creative organization that highly values collaboration and innovative thinking. We encourage a culture of learning and personal development. Staff are encouraged to pursue relevant learning opportunities and are provided a small stipend to use each year in pursuing professional development opportunities.

Commitment to Inclusion

As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826michigan recognizes the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order for us to serve students in a manner that is respectful, culturally sensitive, and effective, we must collectively and intentionally invest in building a diverse and inclusive organization where all are safe and welcomed. 826michigan prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, citizenship, military service, or disability of any person employed by or seeking employment with 826michigan. 826michigan is an equal opportunity employer. We are interested in receiving candidates from a broad spectrum, including queer and non-binary folks, folks with disabilities, and Black and Indigenous and other persons of color. Application instructions and compensation information are included below. We can’t wait to get to know you!

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking an enthusiastic and personable Senior Manager of Development & Communications to lead fundraising efforts for 826michigan and support brand awareness alongside our Board of Directors’ Communications Committee. Reporting to and working closely with the Executive Director, this role is responsible for leading annual fundraising campaigns; cultivating and stewarding donor relationships, especially with individual givers of all gift sizes;  and developing and standardizing messaging across multiple communication channels and three service cities. 

Duties include but are not limited to:

Development (75% of role)

• Lead 826michigan’s strategic fund development initiatives, including annual fund and majors gifts giving, prospecting, events, and current and future donor stewardship across all constituent groups.
• Work closely with part-time Grants Specialist, who serves as point for Institutional Giving - foundation and corporate partner relationships 
• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes new corporate partnerships (stewarded in partnership with Grants Specialist), a growth plan for individual donors, including major gifts, and the creation of a new Planned Giving Campaign
• Activate 826’s robust current and past volunteer corps as part of donor stewardship efforts 
• Support donor engagement and recognition efforts, including maintaining donor records via Customer Relationship Management software (Salesforce) and developing tailored communications for individual donors including innovative opportunities for donor recognition 
• Oversee organization’s first Planned Giving Campaign 
• Coordinate the development and production of materials for fundraising campaigns, marketing initiatives, and events
• Plan and execute winter and spring fundraising appeals
• Track, analyze, and report on key fundraising metrics, including donor retention and event return on investment (ROI), and use data to refine strategies and improve outcomes
• Plan and lead team of volunteers to execute fundraising events
• Ensure donor acknowledgements in student book projects and other public-facing pieces of writing are accurate 
• Serve as a key staff liaison to the Board of Directors’ Communications Committee

Communications (20% of role)

• Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of internal and external communications strategies, including:
• Maintain and update organizational communications standards and brand guidelines
• Develop and execute quarterly comprehensive communications plans aligned with organizational goals (done in collaboration with Board Committee)
• Create, schedule, and distribute mass email communications, including monthly newsletters, spring fundraising campaigns, and year-end appeals
• Supervise 826michigan’s Communications and Stewardship Apprentice to plan and implement a cohesive social media strategy

• Oversee ongoing maintenance and content updates to 826michigan’s website, including homepage refreshes and creation of new pages as needed; note - manager does not need code writing experience for this role 

Other Duties (5% of role)

• Supervise the Communications and Stewardship Apprentice (paid part-time position at 5-7 hours/week) who aids the Senior Manager in data entry, website and social media support, gift stewardship (thank you note correspondence and mailings), etc.
• Represent and support 826michigan presence at community and organization-wide events, including fundraisers, student book release parties, etc.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will desire to be part of a highly-collaborative team that works hard but also likes to laugh a lot and always puts the student experience (whoever is defined as a student in that moment) first. This candidate will have demonstrated experience in development and communications (or a related field), preferably within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization. The following competencies are required for this position:

• Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal skills, with an emphasis on building and sustaining meaningful, reciprocal relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for diverse audiences and platforms. Familiarity with communications best practices, including brand stewardship and digital storytelling.
• Organization: Ability to manage competing priorities, staff requests, and daily tasks.
• Fundraising Management: Experience planning and executing fundraising or communications campaigns. Experience leading or supporting nonprofit fundraising initiatives, including individual giving, events, or major gifts.
• Cultural Competency: Demonstrated commitment to a lifelong process of learning about anti-discrimination and anti-oppression principles and practices, and the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Familiarity with trauma-informed practices is valued.
• Relentless Curiosity: Ability to thoughtfully question the status quo and engage in solution oriented, systems-thinking.
• Technology: Experience using Google Workspace, Canva, Salesforce (or a similar CRM), and Constant Contact is a plus.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND OTHER POSITION DETAILS

• The starting salary for this position is $63,500/year.
• Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, and vision insurance plus a 401K plan. Our medical package, which is currently with Blue Cross Blue Shields, pays 80% of an individual's costs for our basic plan, the HMO, and 20% of their dependents. A PPO plan at a higher cost is also available. 
• We are a grassroots nonprofit, with a small but mighty team of five (5) full-time staff members, one (1) part-time staff members including our Grants Specialist, and 12 contracted teaching artists
• This is a full-time, exempt position working 40 hours per week; evenings and weekends may be required for organization-wide events.
• We offer free or paid parking on site at both of our work locations, and parking is otherwise reimbursed for work duties.
• A Mac computer with all necessary software is provided. If an employee prefers to use their own computer instead, we offer a monthly reimbursement for laptop use. 
• We offer a very generous time-off policy, including three weeks of PTO (one of which is an organization-wide closure week) and 11 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Remote vs. In Person Requirements: Due to the nature of our work as deeply rooted in community with our students and other stakeholders, staff members are expected to work on site the majority of the time, with one day/week allotted for remote/work from home (pending supervisor approval and subject to change). The Senior Manager of Development and Communications can choose to have their primary work location as either in Ypsilanti inside of Eastern Michigan University’s College of Education or in Detroit at our shared work space inside of the Tech Town offices. If Detroit is the primary work location, the manager should expect frequent trips to Ypsilanti for collaboration with Executive and Deputy Directors, approximately 4-6 times/month. Donor site visits throughout Washtenaw County and Metro Detroit will be regularly scheduled.

APPLICATION AND HIRING PROCESS 

To apply, please complete our application, including uploading a resume and cover letter. The priority application deadline is February 20, 2026 and interviews will begin immediately after. Candidates invited into final rounds of interviews will also meet with members of the programs staff and Board of Directors, and will be invited to visit our offices and spend time observing and shadowing organization culture. Finalist candidates will be asked to complete a short writing assignment and will receive a modest stipend acknowledging this time and labor.  

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete our application, including uploading a resume and cover letter. The priority application deadline is February 20, 2026 and interviews will begin immediately after. Candidates invited into final rounds of interviews will also meet with members of the programs staff and Board of Directors, and will be invited to visit our offices and spend time observing and shadowing organization culture. Finalist candidates will be asked to complete a short writing assignment and will receive a modest stipend acknowledging this time and labor.  

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.