Philanthropy Operations & Marketing Specialist

Step Up, a 501(c)(3) organization, began providing psychosocial rehabilitation and support in 1984 when a woman sought urgently needed mental health services for her loved one. Finding none, and dissatisfied with the status quo, Susan Dempsay took action and started a center offering services that could not be found anywhere else.

Her vision included a supportive environment with productive activities, including art therapies, supported employment training, coping skills, service coordination, and social connectedness. Family members accessed help through support groups that met every month. Initially, Step Up served approximately 10 individuals a day and offered a limited number of services.

Staff began observing that many Step Up members were experiencing homelessness, which complicated and exacerbated their already complex needs. In 1994, Step Up’s first permanent supportive housing community with 36 units was built. Some of the original tenants are still living in their units today.

Step Up is seeking a creative, detail-oriented, and mission-driven Philanthropy Operations & Marketing Specialist to support our marketing and stewardship efforts. This Los Angeles–based role is best suited for someone local, as in-person collaboration is essential for capturing stories, attending events, and engaging with members and volunteers.

The Specialist will be responsible for all graphic design, collecting social media content through photos, videos, and stories for external use, contribute to the Member Story Program, update templates and create new designs for marketing collateral as needed, refine written materials to keep content current, effectively manage gift processing and donor stewardship, assist with volunteer coordination, provide administrative support for the philanthropy department, and assist the Philanthropy Manager in sourcing agency impact data.

The ideal candidate is organized, proactive, and passionate about helping individuals experiencing severe mental health conditions and chronic homelessness.

Design & Storytelling

• Support Step Up’s Member Story Program, including identifying story leads, securing permissions, interviewing members, scheduling photo sessions, drafting narratives, and coordinating small thank-you gifts.
• Utilizing Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Photoshop, InDesign) draft and design email blasts, newsletters, and campaign communications for review and approval.
• Create digital and print collateral.
• Capture photos and short-form videos at events and service locations for marketing and donor communications.

Digital Marketing & Social Media

• Serve as the project coordinator for social media, working with Step Up’s external partners to ensure content aligns with the organization’s brand and voice.
• Route posts through the internal review and approval workflow.
• Collect and provide raw content (photos, videos, stories) from staff, members, and events for digital marketing use.
• Monitor and moderate Step Up’s social media channels, respond to comments/messages using approved responses, and escalate as needed.

Philanthropy & Volunteer Support

• Assist with donor stewardship activities, including drafting and mailing tax acknowledgment letters, birthday cards, lapsed donor letters, and other mailers.
• Provide program staff with approved marketing materials (logos, templates, flyers) to ensure brand consistency.
• Support volunteer coordination, including responding to inquiries, assisting with onboarding, and tracking activities in the CRM.

Administrative Support

• Process check requests from vendors; ensure approvals, accuracy, and timely tracking until payments are completed.
• Schedule Zoom meetings for the philanthropy team and external contacts.
• Maintain organized digital files and ensure accessibility of marketing and donor materials.
• Handle ad hoc tasks as assigned to support the philanthropy department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit development, marketing, administration, or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of marketing and/or communications experience required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of nonprofit experience required.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and meet deadlines.
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Virtuous, Salesforce).
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Photoshop, InDesign)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and comfort with online tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and interact professionally with donors and volunteers.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, car insurance, and access to a reliable vehicle to attend events, meetings, and community engagements as needed.

Skills

• Experience coordinating social media content and engagement.
• Accuracy in data entry, reporting, and financial reconciliation.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain discretion in handling confidential donor information.
• Problem-solving mindset with adaptability in fast-paced environments.
• Team-oriented with a proactive and independent work ethic.
• Professionalism, efficiency, and composure under pressure.
• Event and volunteer coordination experience (preferred).