Grassroots Enablement Specialist (Remote/Limited travel) - MPN Research Foundation

Job Title: Fundraising- Grassroots Enablement Specialist Organization: MPN Research Foundation
Location: Remote
Job Type: Full time 
Salary Range: $70,000 – $90,000 

About Us:  

The mission of the MPN Research Foundation is to stimulate original research in pursuit of new treatments – and eventually a cure – for the blood cancers polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myelofibrosis, known collectively as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). 

MPN Research Foundation focuses on:  

• Research - identify, fund, and support novel research to accelerate the discovery and development of effective MPN treatments. 

• Convene - facilitate global engagement across patient and caregiving, research and clinical, and industry stakeholders. 

• Advocate - advance patient and researcher perspectives on the development of new treatments. 
   

Job Overview  

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Grassroots Engagement Specialist to join our team. This is a vital role in advancing the MPN Research Foundation mission by optimizing grassroots fundraising, campaigns, and engagement initiatives. The position is responsible for cultivating relationships and fostering meaningful connections with donors, supporters, and advocates. This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, relationship building, and hands-on development enablement to drive fundraising efforts forward autonomously. MPN Is a small, innovative foundation seeking people with a passion for making a difference in the research industry to join our team.  

Job Duties 

Donor Engagement:  

• Develop and implement best practices in comprehensive grassroots fundraising strategies to engage individuals, businesses, and community organizations in fundraising activities to support MPN research initiatives.  

• Identify, cultivate, and engage individual donors and their families to solicit philanthropic investments in the MPN Research Foundation mission. 

• Develop plans for learning and researching donor profiles, gathering insights into interests and contribution history and capacity, and developing outreach plans for engagement. 

• Drive strategic campaigns and events to promote engagement of primary audiences of patients, caregivers, researchers, and industry partners 

• Collaborate with the communications team to develop marketing materials, social media campaigns, and outreach strategies to promote fundraising events and engage supporters online and offline.  

• Utilize various communication channels, including email, social media, and direct mail, to engage donors and supporters effectively. 

Campaign Management:  

• Plan, coordinate, and execute grassroots fundraising campaigns and events including peer-to-peer fundraising, tribute/memorial campaigns, and other community-driven initiatives. Monitor campaign performance, track key metrics, and adjust strategies as needed to maximize fundraising impact. Provide support and resources to fundraisers and board members to maximize their impact.  

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship:  

• Ensure timely acknowledgment of donations and maintain accurate donor records in the CRM system.  

Tribute & Memorial Management 

• Coordinate tribute and memorial campaigns to honor loved ones affected by MPNs and provide supporters with meaningful ways to pay tribute.  

• Draft personalized tribute pages, acknowledgement cards, and other collateral to support tribute/memorial fundraising efforts. 

Data Analysis and Reporting: 

• Analyze donor data, fundraising trends, and campaign performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement and inform strategic decision-making.  

• Evaluate reports and dashboards regularly to communicate fundraising results, donor insights, and impact metrics to internal stakeholders.  

• Identify opportunities to leverage automation tools and CRM systems to streamline donor communications, acknowledgment processes, and data management.  

• Implement automation workflows to personalize donor interactions, track donor preferences, and improve overall donor experience.  

• Implement best practices and methodologies to streamline processes. 

• Work closely with Marketing/Communications, Research, and Patient Engagement staff to capture and compile appropriate content to engage donors via most impactful mode customized email, phone, social media, and/or in-person meetings to build trusted and credible relationships for soliciting major contributions. 

Peer to Peer:  

• Provide guidance, resources, and support to peer-to-peer fundraisers, including individuals, teams, and community groups, to empower them to raise funds on behalf of the Foundation. Develop training materials, fundraising toolkits, and online platforms to facilitate peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. 

Charitable Partnership Development:  

• Identify and cultivate partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and healthcare providers to enhance fundraising opportunities, sponsorships, and collaborative initiatives. 

Continuous Learner 

• Stay abreast of advancements in cancer research and technology to inform strategic development decisions. 

 
Qualifications: 

• Proven track record leveraging data and automation to drive engagement results and can provide examples and measured impact.  

• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, related field, or equivalent experience. 

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in grassroots fundraising, community engagement, or nonprofit development. 

• Knowledge of fundraising principles, techniques, and best practices, with a focus on grassroots and peer-to-peer fundraising strategies. 

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and community leaders. 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, can convey complex information clearly and compellingly. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM software (e.g., Salesforce) for donor management and data analysis. 

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. 

• Passion for the mission of the MPN Research Foundation and a commitment to learning about MPNs and making a difference in the lives of individuals affected by MPNs.  

Additional Information: 

• This is a full-time position based at the Foundation's headquarters in Chicago, with occasional travel required for meetings, events, and community engagements.  

• The MPN Research Foundation offers competitive salary and benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement savings plans, and professional development opportunities. 

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