Writer and Editor

 

Position Type: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt

 

Location: Flexible (remote); Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

 

Salary:  Starting at $77,000

 

Closing Date: March 15, 2024

 

Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until we have a sufficient pool of diverse candidates who meet the job requirements, at which point we may pause the review of new applications before the stated deadline. Please understand you may not be contacted for several weeks after you apply.

 

Ideal Start Date: March 18, 2024

 

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

 

CDP began in 2010 with the goal of pioneering the practice of strategic disaster philanthropy. Since then, it has grown in its ambition, envisioning a world where the impact of disasters is minimized through thoughtful, equitable and responsive recovery for all. CDP has a $33 million budget and a team of more than 20 staff members working remotely across the U.S.  

 

CDP is a trusted partner, expert and authoritative resource helping hundreds of individuals, foundations and corporations boost the impact of philanthropic giving in response to disaster and humanitarian crises by supporting equitable recovery and addressing root causes of vulnerabilities worldwide.

 

In 2022, CDP awarded $28.2 million, through 117 grants to 99 grantee partners worldwide; demonstrated thought leadership through 15 webinars, 21 external commentaries, 113 blog posts, 43 featured speaking engagements and other events; and served 40 philanthropic partners through consulting efforts.

 

• In 2020, CDP was a featured nonprofit for the 14^th Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.
• CDP has earned Charity Navigator’s Four-Star Charity rating and Candid’s Platinum Transparency seal.

 

As an organization grounded in racial and intersectional equity, our team members are deeply committed to strengthening communities most vulnerable to disasters because of systemic inequities. We are guided by our values of integrity, boldness and innovation, humility, and empathy in all that we do in pursuit of our mission.

 

Bottom line: We aspire to walk the talk of anti-racism and to treat each other and our partners in ways that inspire trust, creativity, learning and care.

 

Be a part of our fast-growing team that offers countless ways to help communities thrive. Join us!   

 

Responsibilities & Duties

 

Over the last few years of CDP’s 13-year history, growth has been exponential. CDP has granted more than $123 million to nearly 700 nonprofits. We’ve increased brand awareness and engagement among foundation, corporate and wealthy donors.

 

But with a new strategic plan that aims to build on our successes, we need a talented writer and editor to boost our impact storytelling and ensure that our content educates and inspires our community members.

 

Temporarily reporting to the senior director, marketing and communications, and eventually to a new director, marketing and communications, this position will play a critical role in amplifying our brand awareness, engaging with CDP’s diverse audience, and positioning the organization as a vital resource and authoritative expert that grantmakers and donors can turn to for their equity-centered strategic disaster giving.

 

Primary responsibilities include:

 

1. Impact storytelling:
   • In collaboration with the funds management team, write inspiring stories highlighting the impact of CDP’s grants in communities affected by disasters worldwide.
   • Post impact stories on CDP’s website and work with the marcomms manager to highlight these stories on social media in ways that celebrate our grantee partners’ work and effectively promote CDP as a trusted, strategic partner for individual and corporate donors.
2. Writing and copywriting:
   • Write articles for the CDP blog as part of a content marketing strategy that positions CDP’s educational resources, services and expertise.
   • Update, edit or copywrite for CDP’s website, blog, select social media campaigns, ads, advertorials, and other marketing and communications (marcomms) materials to maximize engagement and conversion, ensure consistency in voice and alignment with CDP’s brand, values and style guide.
3. Copyediting and proofreading:
   • Ensure that all short- and long-form content published and posted on CDP’s website, blog, mass emails, grant application and report templates, white papers, and other outreach materials are clear, unbiased, persuasive, easy-to-understand, mistake-free and consistent with CDP’s style guide.
4. Blog:
   • Inform, implement and manage the blog strategy in collaboration with other members of the marcomms and other CDP teams to ensure it continues to position the expertise and educational resources of CDP and other key community partners while providing timely and relevant insights and information to the donor community.
   • Work with CDP staff bloggers and guest writers in creating content for CDP’s blog and external placements.
5. Marketing, communications and fundraising:
   • Edit and proofread fundraising materials such as donors’ emails, grant reports and grant proposals.
   • Collaborate with the marcomms and development teams to ensure that CDP’s website and blog content is promoted on social media, newsletters and donor communications.
   • Encourage CDP staff to read, share and utilize website and blog content in their writing, presentations and other external engagements.
   • Manage the editorial calendar.
6. Organization-wide:
   • Participate in team/project meetings, staff activities and other special events, including in-person retreats, conferences and convenings.
7. Other tasks:
   • Other writing and editing tasks as assigned.

 

Required qualifications:

The writer/editor is a dynamic, self-motivated individual who believes in the power of the written word to inspire hearts and minds into action.

 

• BA in English, Journalism, Communications or other related field.
• 5+ years of experience writing and editing short and long content for a variety of media, such as websites, brochures and reports.

• Excellent writing skills, with demonstrated experience applying a reader-first approach to telling compelling stories and conveying complex, nuanced ideas in a balanced and easily digestible way.
• Demonstrated ability to edit content with today’s information-saturated reader in mind in collaboration with authors with diverse writing styles.
• Familiarity with AP Stylebook.
• Ability to successfully write and edit under tight deadlines.
• Proficiencies with Microsoft Office suite, specifically Word and Excel.

 

Preferred qualifications:

• Work experience in philanthropy or nonprofits.
• Experience working with marketing and communications teams.
• Experience using various platforms that allow for synchronous and asynchronous communications and collaboration, such as project management tools and Slack.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work remotely with minimal direct supervision, including managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, individually and within a dispersed team.

 

Characteristics:

• Commitment to the values intrinsic to CDP’s mission and strategy, including the centrality of local leadership, equity and service to marginalized and vulnerable communities.
• Entrepreneurial spirit.
• Team player.
  • Willingness to learn.
  • Sense of humor.

 

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

 

We welcome and encourage applicants with non-traditional career paths. If you don’t exactly meet the qualifications outlined here, please apply and tell us how your experiences would equip you for the job.  

 

To Apply

 

Qualified candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter via this link. Applications must highlight competencies against requirements and include links to at least two published writing samples and at least two work products you edited. These samples may consist of short or long-form content such as blog posts, essays, web copy, and brochures.

 

All applicants must be able to provide documentation that they are legally eligible to work in the United States for an extended period.

 

Due to the expected volume of applications, only finalists will be notified. No phone calls, please.