Associate Director of Development (Grants & Communications)
Mainspring – The Seacoast Social Services Collective
About Mainspring
Mainspring is a collaborative social service hub designed to make it easier for individuals and families to access the resources they need to thrive. Through co-location, centralized intake, and coordinated care, Mainspring connects community members to critical services while building a stronger, more resilient Seacoast. Mainspring opened in early 2025 as a joint project of Fair Tide and Footprints and is experiencing rapid growth as demand for coordinated services increases and interest in this innovative model expands. It's a very exciting time to join our team and help shape the future of Mainspring!
Position Summary
The Associate Director of Development leads Mainspring’s grant writing, institutional fundraising, and communications efforts. This role is responsible for securing grant revenue, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring consistent, high-quality communications that deepen engagement with donors, funders, and the broader community.
Key Responsibilities
Grants & Institutional Giving
Work alongside the Development Director to manage the full grant lifecycle, including research, proposal development, submission, and reporting
Maintain and execute a grant calendar, ensuring timely and high-quality submissions
Collaborate with program staff to gather data, outcomes, and stories for proposals and reports
Support identification and research of new institutional funding opportunities
Develop and maintain strong grant materials and templates
Communications Strategy & Content
Digital Presence
Oversee website content and updates
Manage and guide social media strategy and content
Track and evaluate engagement metrics to inform strategy
Events & Donor Engagement Support
Lead events in collaboration with the development team, volunteer coordinator and leadership team.
Develop messaging, materials, and communications for fundraising events
Support donor engagement through compelling storytelling and follow-up communications
Ideal Qualifications & Skills
The perfect candidate will fulfill the requirements below. But, hey, no one is perfect, so don’t hesitate to apply if you can’t check ALL the boxes.
Experience: Experience in nonprofit development, with a strong track record in grant writing, institutional fundraising, and/or communications
Grant Writing Expertise: Demonstrated success securing foundation, corporate, and/or government grants; ability to manage the full grant lifecycle independently
Exceptional Writing Skills: Clear, compelling storyteller with the ability to translate complex programs, data, and impact into persuasive narratives tailored to different audiences
Strategic Communicator: Experience developing and executing communications strategies that support fundraising and organizational goals
Project Management: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, prioritize effectively, and maintain strong systems (e.g., grant calendars, communications plans)
Collaboration & Relationship Building: Skilled at working cross-functionally with program staff, leadership, and external partners to gather information and align messaging
Digital & Content Skills: Experience managing websites, email platforms, and social media; familiarity with engagement metrics and content performance
Data-Informed Mindset: Comfortable using program data and outcomes to strengthen proposals, reports, and communications
Mission Alignment: Passion for Mainspring’s mission and a strong commitment to equity, access, and community-centered approaches to addressing poverty
Adaptability: Comfortable in a fast-paced, growing organization; able to build systems while executing day-to-day work
Hours, Compensation & Benefits
Full time (35-40 hrs/week), salaried, exempt, with a flexible work environment, including remote work.
$65,000/year
Benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, and retirement contributions.
Opportunities for professional development and training.
To inquire about the position and/or apply:
Cover letter, resume and writing sample required to be considered.
Send all three to hiring@mainspringcollective.org
