Development Communications Consultant
Newark, New Jersey•Contract
$60 hourly
$60 hourly
About the Job
Covenant House New Jersey seeks a part-time Development Communications Consultant to create clear, compelling, donor-focused content that supports fundraising goals across the development program.
This is a writing-centered role for a consultant who can produce strong drafts while also bringing sound judgment about audience, message, and channel. The consultant will work from prior materials, staff direction, and communications briefs when available, and should be able to strengthen ideas, identify gaps, and shape content into effective donor communications.
This role is focused on creating content, not managing production or deployment. The ideal consultant is a strong writer who also understands how message, audience, and channel fit together within an overall fundraising strategy.
What you will do:
- Contribute thoughtful input on messaging, audience, and channel as the development team shapes communications priorities and plans.
- Draft donor emails for the full donor file and for segmented donor audiences.
- Draft postal mail appeals, including year-end appeals and other donor-facing mailings.
- Draft stewardship-oriented donor communications for print and digital use.
- Draft social media copy that supports development and donor engagement goals.
- Shape and adapt content for different audiences and purposes, including broad-file donor communications, segmented donor outreach, stewardship messages, foundation-facing materials, and business-partner communications.
- Identify opportunities to improve clarity, sequencing, and donor resonance when reviewing briefs, prior materials, or draft messaging.
- When needed, gather information from program or development staff to support accurate and compelling content.
- Collaborate closely with the CHNJ development team; this role requires participation in department-level meetings to stay current on priorities, programs, and donor strategy.
What is out of scope:
- Press and media relations.
- Mass email production or deployment.
- Communications calendar management.
- Broad capital campaign communications leadership.
What we are looking for:
- Passion for the mission of Covenant House New Jersey to support youth experiencing homelessness and survivors of human trafficking with absolute respect, unconditional love, and relentless support.
- Strong experience drafting donor-focused nonprofit communications.
- Excellent writing and editing skills.
- Experience with appeals, donor emails, and stewardship content.
- Ability to tailor donor communications to the audience, purpose, and fundraising goal.
- Ability to strengthen rough ideas or incomplete briefs and turn them into clear, effective donor communications.
- Ability to work effectively from past materials and staff guidance.
- Strong reliability, responsiveness, and revision skills.
This position is part time 10-15 hours a week.
Hourly Rate: $60.00
Experience and Skills:
Preferred Experience:
- Experience in a human services or other mission-driven nonprofit environment
- Experience writing for both individual and institutional donor audiences
- Familiarity with donor communications across email, print, and social media
Engagement Structure:
- This is a part-time consulting engagement expected to average 10-15 hours per week, with some fluctuation based on workload and season. The consultant will bill for actual hours worked.
To Apply:
Please submit a resume and relevant writing samples demonstrating donor-facing nonprofit communications experience. Candidates are encouraged to include samples such as donor emails, appeals, stewardship pieces, or segmented donor communications, along with a brief note on the audience and purpose of each sample.