Communications & Alumni Engagement Associate

The Louis August Jonas Foundation (LAJF), which operates Camp Rising Sun (CRS) and The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE), seeks a creative, detail-oriented, and highly organized Communications & Alumni Engagement Associate to lead and implement the organization’s communications and marketing efforts in support of fundraising, alumni engagement, program recruitment, and community building.

Reporting to the Director of Advancement, this role will play a central part in advancing LAJF’s growth by strengthening how we communicate with and engage our global community of alumni, donors, participants, and supporters.

The Communications & Alumni Engagement Associate will be responsible for executing LAJF’s communications strategy across email, social media, digital platforms, and fundraising campaigns. This individual will work closely with the Director of Advancement, the Director of Programs, the Advancement Associate, and the Program team to translate fundraising and engagement goals into compelling messaging and integrated campaigns that drive donor participation, deepen alumni connection, support recruitment efforts, and elevate the visibility of LAJF’s programs. This is a full-time, exempt position.

This role sits at the intersection of program communications and fundraising, and will contribute to the design and execution of donor and alumni engagement strategies, ensuring that LAJF’s storytelling is consistent, data-informed, and aligned with organizational priorities.

About Us

The Louis August Jonas Foundation operates two leadership programs for young people: Camp Rising Sun (CRS) and The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE). Both programs bring together participants from countries around the world and focus on developing compassionate and responsible leadership through experiential learning, dialogue, and cross-cultural exchange.

Founded in 1930, CRS is an experiential leadership-development program that welcomes participants on a full scholarship from all over the world to the Town of Clinton, New York. Each summer, 120 to 130 participants from more than 30 countries take part in one of two four-week sessions of leadership development, cultural exchange, and collaborative learning.

TELE, LAJF’s virtual leadership program, brings together international cohorts of talented young people to explore ethical leadership, global citizenship, and cross-cultural collaboration through facilitated dialogue and interactive learning.

As LAJF enters its next phase of strategic growth, we are expanding our communications and engagement efforts to better connect our global community and amplify the impact of our programs.

Job Duties

Strategic Communications, Marketing & Brand Management

• Implement LAJF’s communications and brand strategy across programmatic, organizational, and fundraising efforts
• Ensure consistency in voice, tone, and visual identity across all communications channels
• In partnership with the Advancement and Program teams, develop and maintain LAJF’s communications calendar and coordinate communications across teams
• Partner with program and advancement staff to translate organizational priorities into clear, compelling messaging
• Monitor and evaluate communications performance, using data to refine strategies over time
• In partnership with the Program team, design and produce brand-aligned marketing and collateral materials, including flyers and brochures, for recruitment, program promotion, partnerships, and fundraising
• Lead the drafting and production of LAJF’s annual report in collaboration with staff across the organization, including managing the timeline and coordinating with outside design and print vendors to bring it to completion

Digital Communications & Content Development

• Collect and combine input from across teams to draft and distribute the organization’s quarterly Newsletter
• Develop and send targeted email communications to donors, alumni, participants, parents, and partners
• Monitor and analyze email performance metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, and engagement, to inform and improve future communications
• Own and manage LAJF’s social media presence, including content creation, scheduling, and community engagement such as responding to questions, comments, and inquiries
• Develop and execute a dynamic and engaging social media content calendar aligned with program milestones and fundraising campaigns
• Maintain and update website content to ensure timely and accurate information
• Produce written and visual storytelling content that highlights program experiences and alumni impact
• In the future, support onboarding and supervision of interns or junior staff contributing to social media content
• Collaborate with the Recent Camper Network’s social media team to provide guidance on effective social media practices, explain its impact on camp engagement, and support their content efforts

Program Storytelling & Content

• Partner with the Director of Programs and Program team to plan and create content about upcoming and ongoing programs
• Be present on site at CRS during staff training, camp sessions, and special events, and virtually during TELE and other programs, to gather stories and capture photos and video for social media, the newsletter, blogs, donor cultivation, and the annual report
• Provide real-time social media coverage at camp, alumni gatherings, and fundraising events
• Meet regularly with the Director of Programs and Program team to review the communications calendar, stay current on program events, and coordinate shared responsibility for content creation

Advancement Campaigns & Donor Engagement

• Partner with the Director of Advancement and team to plan and execute integrated fundraising campaigns across email, social media, print, and digital platforms
• Translate fundraising goals into clear messaging strategies, content plans, and campaign calendars
• Support donor segmentation and targeted communications using Neon CRM
• Develop and implement differentiated communication plans for donors at all giving levels, covering acquisition, stewardship, and re-engagement, that recognize every gift and encourage supporters to deepen their involvement
• Track and analyze campaign performance metrics (open rates, click-through rates, conversions) and refine strategies accordingly

Donor Stewardship & Acknowledgements

• Partner with the Advancement Associate to develop, manage, and execute timely and personalized donor acknowledgement processes
• Draft and refine templated and customized acknowledgement letters for donors at varying giving levels
• Ensure all donor communications reflect LAJF’s voice, values, and commitment to thoughtful stewardship
• Collaborate on improving acknowledgement workflows to strengthen timeliness, personalization, and overall donor experience
• Contribute to a cohesive donor stewardship strategy that supports retention and long-term engagement

Alumni Engagement & Community Building

• Partner with Program and Advancement team members to support the development and execution of alumni engagement strategies that deepen connection and participation
• Create targeted communications for different alumni segments and stages of engagement
• Manage alumni correspondence and support ongoing engagement initiatives
• Partner with advancement leadership to align alumni engagement with long-term donor pipeline development
• Maintain accurate alumni and engagement data within CRM
• Support storytelling efforts that highlight alumni impact and strengthen community identity

Events & Community Engagement

• Support communications and marketing for community and fundraising events
• Coordinate event promotion across email, social media, and website platforms
• Collaborate with the Advancement Associate on event registration and donation pages in CRM, including design and messaging, and provide backup support as needed
• Develop communications materials including invitations, promotional content, and follow-up messaging

Advancement Operations Support

• Assist in building and managing the communications components of fundraising campaigns in Neon CRM
• Share campaign results and impact with donors and alumni through communications
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement to align communications efforts with fundraising KPIs and revenue goals
• Contribute to fundraising reports and updates for leadership and board meetings

What Success Looks Like In This Role

During the first year in this role, the Communications & Alumni Engagement Associate will:

• Build strong working relationships with the Director of Advancement, the Director of Programs, the Advancement Associate, and the Program team to ensure alignment across communications, fundraising, and program priorities
• Successfully execute core communications functions, including the quarterly Newsletter, social media management, and targeted email campaigns, with increasing consistency and quality over time
• Strengthen and bring greater organization to LAJF’s communications systems, including communications planning, content development workflows, and campaign calendars
• Support the successful planning and execution of fundraising campaigns, contributing to increased donor engagement and participation
• Partner effectively with the Advancement Associate to ensure timely, thoughtful, and high-quality donor acknowledgement and stewardship communications
• Partner with the Program team to enhance LAJF’s storytelling by producing compelling content that elevates program impact and strengthens connection across the global community
• Identify opportunities to improve audience engagement across email, social media, and alumni communications using data and performance insights
• Contribute to building a more cohesive and strategic approach to alumni engagement, supporting long-term community connection and donor pipeline development

Required Candidate Qualifications

• Passion for LAJF’s mission, history, and commitment to developing ethical global leaders
• 1–4 years of experience in communications, nonprofit marketing, alumni relations, or community engagement
• Demonstrated experience managing email communications, newsletters, and social media platforms
• Strong writing and storytelling skills
• Experience creating graphics and visual content using design tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Experience working collaboratively across teams
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and basic photo and video editing tools
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required

Preferred Candidate Qualifications

• Experience supporting fundraising campaigns and donor communications
• Familiarity with CRM systems
• Website content management or web design experience
• Photography and video production skills

Personal Qualities

• Positive, collaborative, and relationship-oriented
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Self-motivated and entrepreneurial
• Creative and strategic thinker
• Adaptable in a dynamic, growing organization
• Strong interpersonal skills and cross-cultural competence
• Committed to fostering trust, transparency, and mutual respect
• Appreciation for diverse global communities

Commitment to Diversity

LAJF is committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us achieve our best organizational outcomes. LAJF provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, ancestry, age, disability, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, caregiver status, military status, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, reproductive health decision-making, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking or sex offenses, lawful off-duty conduct protected by law, criminal history to the extent protected by law, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, New York State or local law. This policy applies to recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, assignments, promotion, discipline, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.

We value diversity and actively strive to build an inclusive applicant pool through a thoughtful hiring process, which includes a diverse hiring committee, carefully designed interview questions, and mindfulness of unconscious biases. In addition, we are committed to inclusive fundraising that respects and reflects the diversity of our global alumni and donor community, ensuring that our advancement practices align with our mission and values.

Schedule and Location

This opportunity is open to any applicant eligible to work in the U.S. or with an existing U.S. work permit who lives (or is willing to live) near New York City or the Town of Clinton, NY. We are currently a hybrid workplace with expectations to be in person in NYC or Clinton 1–2 days per week, and to be on campus in Clinton as needed for staff retreats, organizational functions, and documenting program activities, including several days during the summer camp season.

Compensation Package

$70,000–$77,000 annually, commensurate with experience, plus a full benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, a 401(k) retirement plan, and professional development support.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $77,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Ability to Commute:

• Rhinebeck, NY 12572 (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Salary : $70,000 - $77,000