Development and Communications Manager (FT, Exempt)
Location: Newport, RI
Reports to: Executive Director
Works closely with: Managing Director, Artistic Director, Development Committee
Position type: Full-time, Exempt
Salary: $65,000
Anticipated start: March 2026
About the Role
This is a new position at newportFILM, created to strengthen the organization’s fundraising systems, donor engagement, and external communications as the organization continues to grow.
The Development and Communications Manager is responsible for donor tracking and CRM upkeep, supports fundraising events, and oversees key audience- and donor-facing communications throughout the year.
This role also supports grant development and reporting and will learn newportFILM’s full grant cycle in close coordination with the current part-time grant writer. Over time, and as organizational needs evolve, this position is expected to assume greater responsibility for grant writing and reporting, with the goal of fully owning those functions when the current grant writer departs in early 2027.
This is a dynamic, outward-facing role that requires strong emotional intelligence, comfort building relationships, and enthusiasm for being an active presence at screenings, events, and community gatherings.
Reporting & Collaboration
Supervisor: Executive Director
Communications direction: Managing Director (provides communications strategy and direction; does not supervise this role)
Key collaborators: Artistic Director, Development Committee, Community & Education Manager, external designers and vendors
What You’ll Do
Donor Tracking, CRM & Development Systems
- Own donor tracking across campaigns, events, and appeals
- Manage CRM data entry, upkeep, accuracy, and organization, ensuring all donations receive required acknowledgement letters
- Maintain clean donor records to support stewardship, reporting, and leadership decision-making
- Track fundraising event guest lists and donor participation
Fundraising Events – Communications & Donor Experience
- Project manage donor-facing communications for fundraising events, including guest lists, invitations (digital and print), RSVP tracking, and post-event thank-you letters
- For the Summer Benefit, work closely with the Artistic Director and Development Committee to support donor communications, guest experience, and follow-up
- Collaborate with the Managing Director, who oversees event logistics and execution, to ensure a smooth and thoughtful donor experience
- Coordinate with graphic designers (contractors) to develop invitations, appeals, and related materials, managing timelines, feedback, and approvals
Grants – Learning, Transition & Future Ownership
- Learn and support newportFILM’s full grant cycle, including research, writing, reporting, compliance, and deadlines
- Shadow and work closely with the current part-time grant writer to understand funder expectations and internal processes
- Assist with grant preparation and reporting by compiling narratives, budgets, timelines, and impact data
- Manage the grant calendar, deadlines, and reporting requirements
- Over time, assume increased responsibility for grant writing and reporting as organizational needs evolve
Communications & External Messaging
- Serve as the primary owner of weekly external-facing eblasts to the general audience
- Project manage key fundraising communications, including the Winter Friendraiser digital invitation, Summer Benefit digital and print invitations, and End-of-Year Appeal digital and print communications
- Work with graphic designers (contractors) on the creation of invitations, appeals, and fundraising communications
- Execute film and event eblasts in Mailchimp using established templates according to the marketing calendar
- Execute film and event social media posts via Buffer using approved templates according to the marketing calendar, ensuring timely and accurate deployment
- Track and maintain film press kits and an organized library of partner and sponsor logos
- Work closely with the Managing Director to ensure communications align with organizational voice and priorities
Development Committee Coordination
- Schedule, attend, and support monthly Development Committee meetings
- Prepare meeting agendas and materials in coordination with the Development Committee Chair and Executive Director
- Take meeting notes, track decisions and action items, and manage follow-up to ensure outcomes are completed and documented
- Serve as a consistent point of coordination between the Development Committee and staff
Community Presence & Team Support
- Attend newportFILM screenings, fundraising events, and programs as a representative of the organization
- Attend events hosted by community partners as appropriate, supporting relationship-building and visibility
- This role is especially active during the summer outdoor screening series and requires availability on Thursday evenings during that season. It also offers a front-row seat to some of Newport’s most iconic greenspaces and the opportunity to help bring large-scale community gatherings to life
- Approach challenges with curiosity, creativity, and a problem-solving mindset, seeking unexpected opportunities for connection and impact
- Support the team as needed to successfully execute programming and organizational goals
Who You Are
You are an excellent writer and editor who takes pride in clarity and getting the details right. You respect deadlines and understand that follow-through builds trust. You enjoy organizing information and building systems that make work smoother and more sustainable, and you are comfortable managing up—following through with stakeholders at all levels of the organization to ensure tasks are completed thoughtfully and on time.
You are emotionally intelligent and relationship-oriented, able to navigate donors, committee members, colleagues, and partners with professionalism and warmth. You bring an entrepreneurial spirit to your work and enjoy creative problem-solving—especially in event production, where sometimes things do go wrong and you remain calm, solutions-oriented, and steady. You are flexible, trustworthy, and comfortable in a small organization where collaboration matters and everyone occasionally pitches in.
You communicate clearly, maintain a sense of humor and perspective, and are genuinely passionate about newportFILM’s mission and the community it serves. Experience with basic graphic design tools such as Canva is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $65,000
- 80% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) option
- Retirement plan (no employer match)
- Paid week off during winter holidays
- Additional paid week off following the summer screening series
Equal Opportunity Employment
newportFILM is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
