CommonWealth Kitchen (CWK), a nonprofit social enterprise, based in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, is on a mission to build a new food economy grounded in racial, social, and economic justice. We are hiring our first Senior Director of Impact to  lead all of CWK’s marketing, communications and fundraising efforts into a unified, coordinated strategy to drive impact. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of effective marketing, communications, and fundraising experience and at least seven years of senior leadership and progressive supervisory experience within a related field. 

About CommonWealth Kitchen 

CommonWealth Kitchen (CWK) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit social enterprise working to build a just, equitable food economy where all of us can participate and prosper.  To accomplish this work, we take a systems-based approach that focuses on empowering diverse entrepreneurs to start and build food-based businesses, connecting them to the resources, relationships, and industry networks essential for success.  Our core programs include operating a shared-use commercial kitchen that is home to over 50 diverse food businesses, a range of business education and technical training, coordinated market access to help drive sales, and our own small-batch food manufacturing operation. For 2024, approximately $1.5M of our $5M annual budget will be generated through earned income, with the balance from fundraising.  

Since 2009, CWK has helped launch more than 175 diverse food businesses that are still going strong today, creating over 650 jobs and generating over $65 million annually in combined gross revenue. In all, 94% of our businesses are BIPOC and/or women-owned. Our member products are integrated onto menus including Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Northeastern, Brandeis, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Peabody-Essex Museum. These products can be found at Whole Foods, HomeGoods, and other local stores.

Over the years, CWK has been increasingly gaining notice for our entrepreneurial approach and regularly fielding requests from communities across the US looking to adapt or replicate our work. CWK has been named “Best Incubator” by Boston Magazine, a “Game-Changer” by the Boston Globe, and, in 2021, CWK was thrilled to be named “Best Community Catalyst” by Boston Magazine. 

The Senior Director of Impact Position 

The Senior Director of Impact will be responsible for the development and implementation  of all of CWK’s fundraising, marketing, and communications strategies. They will manage two+ dedicated staff and project-specific consultants, and work closely with CWK’s programs and operations teams.

Marketing/Communications: This position is responsible for developing and implementing all internal and external marketing and communications including written, online, and through the media, and to a range of audiences, including funders, government, media, current and prospective member businesses, buyers and the general public. 

• Develop and implement clear, consistent communication and marketing strategies for CWK and the businesses we work with to achieve organizational goals and objectives;
• Collaborate with the organization’s Executive Director and the Senior Team, as well as other cross-functional teams on all fundraising and marketing initiatives and special events;
• Develop content, materials and outreach strategy that best conveys key messages and meets the organization’s goals;
• Provide oversight and collaboration with third party vendors, such as event planners, designers, IT/IS consultants, or other marketing specialists;
• Ensure CWK website is regularly updated and functioning as designed;
• Ensure consistent look, feel and voice for all marketing, communications and educational materials and programs;
• Refresh and implement a newsletter strategy for internal and external audiences;
• Write op-eds, articles, and blog posts to promote the work;
• Engage with local and regional media outlets;
• Identify stakeholders and target audiences for engagement, which includes relationship building with constituency groups;
• Serve as a representative, spokesperson, and advocate for external stakeholders and in the media, in partnership with the executive director;
• Track benchmarks and report to the Board; and
• Manage staff, interns and consultants involved in this work.

Fundraising: The Senior Director of Impact is also responsible for leading all of CWK’s fundraising work, including developing strategies to expand our donor base and grant support. 

• Collaborate with Executive Director and the Board of Directors to develop annual fundraising goals, impact measures and strategies that further support the organization’s mission;
• Implement a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes government, corporate, individual, and foundation giving, board giving, endowments, major gifts, and earned income;
• Conduct prospect research and set priorities for donors, grants, and corporate sponsorships;
• Develop and maintain a fundraising calendar;
• Oversee collection of all impact data in partnership with key staff;
• Lead development staff in crafting compelling proposals and reports consistent with organizational goals and strategies;
• Develop/track benchmarks and data essential for measuring and evaluating impact and for reporting. 
• Manage the fundraising budget in consultation with the Executive Director;
• Advise and support the Executive Director for strategic cultivation and solicitation activities;
• Provide oversight and collaboration with third party vendors, including grant writers, or other consultants;
• Collect, measure, analyze, and report impact data relating to the organization’s work for internal and external purposes, including donor development;
• Monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate effectiveness and adjust strategies as needed; and
• Manage staff, interns and consultants involved in this work.

Qualifications 

The successful candidate must possess exceptional written and verbal communication skills, excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, and ability to distill and present complex information into clear, concise, and engaging communications for diverse audiences, as well as:

• 7+ years of direct experience in fundraising and strategic communications or equivalent, including experience raising $2.5M+/year for operations;
• Exceptional people management skills and cultural competency;
• Demonstrated expertise in project management, strategic planning, and budget  management; 
• Experience bringing initiatives and teams to the next stage of growth; 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate, whether it be short emails, annual reports, conference presentations or persuasive funding proposals;
• Knowledge of philanthropy, fundraising, and revenue streams for nonprofits outside of earned revenue;
• Experience and skill working with people in the intersections of cultural identity;
• Proficiency with cloud-based tools, including Salesforce, Google Suite, Slack, Asana, and project management tools.

Compensation and Benefits

This hybrid position is based at our Dorchester kitchen facility with at least 3 days/week on site. CommonWealth Kitchen offers a fast-paced, collaborative work environment, a group employee health insurance plan, and excellent holiday and vacation benefits. Salary range is $110,000-$135,000, commensurate with experience.

To Apply 

CommonWealth Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse staff who are representative of the community we serve and bring a variety of traditions, experiences, and points of view. Individuals of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please apply below with your letter of interest, resume, and supporting materials. We will review all submissions and only contact individuals selected to continue in the search process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.