Deputy Director of Donor Communications

The Deputy Director of Donor Communications works with the Leadership Institute's fundraising program across both print and digital channels.

This role oversees production of large-scale direct mail campaigns, organizational reports and publications as well as smaller, highly targeted projects such as personalized letters from Partnership Advisors.

The Deputy Director reports to the Senior Director of Donor Communications and ensures that all communications — whether print or digital — meet the high standards set by the Leadership Institute (LI) for quality, accuracy, and timeliness as well as their respective budgetary requirements.

Responsibilities include collaborating across teams on high-priority and complex stewardship projects; creating and maintaining a calendar of all fundraising campaigns; vendor coordination; organizing, documenting, and approving expenses; tracking, inserting, exporting, and updating data in Salesforce; and producing reports on campaign and overall fundraising results.

This position must work on-site at the Leadership Institute’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.  Remote work is not available for this position.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Mail Production Management

• Coordinate end-to-end production of direct mail campaigns, data merges, printing, and mailing

• Serve as the primary liaison with print and mail vendors

• Monitor production calendars and flag potential delays or issues

• Conduct quality control checks on and approve final printing proofs

• Manage, track, and report on USPS Promotion Incentives

Special Mail and Publication Production Management

• Manage specialized projects (e.g. to select donors), ensuring accuracy, personalization, and timely delivery

• Oversee the printing and mailing of donor proposals, reports, and publications

Digital Fundraising Production

• Coordinate end-to-end production of digital mail (i.e. email) campaigns, and assist with and/or learn HTML production

• Prepare and maintain donor audience lists for email campaigns

• Ensure accurate audience segmentation, suppression, and personalization for email campaigns

• Conduct quality control checks on email campaigns and audiences prior to and after deployment

Expense Oversight & Budget Tracking

• Manage direct mail program expenses

• Receive, organize, and approve all invoices

• Coordinate with LI’s Finance Department to ensure all expenses are reconciled and attributed to the correct department, expense type, and project

• Track and reconcile vendor invoices, ensuring accuracy against estimates and projects

• Provide timely reporting to the Senior Director of Donor Communications on discrepancies, completed expenses, and fundraising revenue

Data Management & Reporting

• Help to ensure accurate donor segmentation, list pulls, and suppression management

• Update and maintain accurate campaign records in Salesforce and other internal tracking systems

• Generate regular reports on campaign performance, donor response, and revenue metrics

• Support the Senior Director of Donor Communications in analyzing trends and recommending program improvements

• 3+ years of professional experience, with preference given to experience in fundraising, marketing, or communication

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Strong project management skills with experience in managing priorities across multiple projects and deadlines

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, both within the department and across the organization

• Understanding of the conservative movement and the public policy process

• Alignment with and excitement for the mission of the Leadership Institute