ABOUT CRADLES TO CRAYONS:

Cradles to Crayons (C2C), founded in 2002, provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive at home, at school, and at play. We supply clothing, shoes, diapers, school supplies, and more, free of charge. Our vision is that one day all children will have the essentials they need to thrive.

Two in 5 kids in the United States are currently facing Clothing Insecurity, going without basic essentials like pants, shoes, diapers, and school supplies during their critical development years. Three of the top 10 reasons kids miss school are rooted in Clothing Insecurityjust one example of the significant short- and long-term social and economic costs when these needs go unmet. Cradles to Crayons keeps Clothing Insecurity at the core of our mission and is the only large-scale nonprofit organization to focus on this resource gap. Since its founding, Cradles to Crayons has distributed more than three million customized packages of essentials to children in Massachusetts, Greater Philadelphia, Chicagoland, and nationally, through Giving Factory Directa first-in-kind online product donation platform launched in 2021.

Cradles to Crayons takes a three-pronged approach to mitigating Clothing Insecurity:

Cradles to Crayons has earned the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator for 13 consecutive years. Only 2% of charities nationwide have received this distinction. C2C has a budget of $12.9M for FY22.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

This position is an opportunity to become an expert on motivating and empowering community members to act to directly impact the lives of thousands of children served by Cradles to Crayons each year. The Community Engagement Coordinator is responsible for organizing and supporting volunteer engagement and product collection opportunities in the community.

They will use community donation drop off locations as resources for acquiring recycled product and providing community-based engagement opportunities. The coordinator will provide meaning and direction to their community networkers, as well as tools to lead efforts in their community (i.e. marketing and communication resources, successful collection models, and ways to build upon strengthens). They will be working on multiple projects at the same time, so attention to detail and organizational skills are critical.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Community Organizing and Volunteer Management

• Expand Cradles to Crayons presence and engagement level in targeted communities by establishing new partnerships, placing donation bins, executing annual events, growing volunteer networks, and supporting donation drives.
• Coordinate and execute Collect & Sorts (community-wide volunteer events) including logistics, invitation lists, program planning, site visits, and follow-up. Includes frequent weekend and evening events in the spring and fall.
• Organize and unite Community Champions under a common goal of achieving full Cradles to Crayons engagement in target communities.
• Support in the maintenance of positive donor relationships through positive interaction, timely follow-up and excellent customer service skills.
• Driving our Cradles to Crayons Van to support donation pickups or to transport supplies for volunteer events.

Communications & Event Promotion

• Create communication materials to support initiatives and programs in line with Cradles to Crayons branding standards in collaboration with the Marketing Team.
• Create and manage email blasts to promote community events to targeted audiences.
• Represent Cradles to Crayons in public-facing meetings and presentations.

Data Management

• Record all community engagement events in Salesforce.
• Track personal donation acquisition and community networking goals.

Team and Organizational Support

• Serve as a member of the Community Engagement Team and support efforts to reach recycled donation acquisition goals.
• Update Manager of Community Engagement on progress of assigned projects. Identify challenges to help redirect strategic approach.
• Assist with general Cradles to Crayons operations and signature events as necessary.
• Model and lead a positive One Cradles culture, underpinned by Cradles Cultural Values and related behaviors.

Project Management

• Provide support for annual collection initiatives by identifying groups to participate and managing logistics
• Create and promote Amazon Wish Lists to help target our most needed items.
• Collaborate with Operations Associate to engage community groups in offsite collection events as alternative form of volunteering onsite at the Giving Factory.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• 1-2 years experience working with non-profit, political campaign, or other grassroots organizing efforts.
• Proven networking and relationship-building skills.
• Proven written, verbal and communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills including the ability to communicate with external stakeholders in a courteous and professional manner.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills; Self-motivated, resourceful, and the ability to multi-task and be highly attentive to detail.
• Weekend and evening hours required.
• Strong commitment to Cradles to Crayons mission and a passion for non-profit work.
• Must have a valid drivers license and proof of insurance, access to a vehicle, and a clear driving record.
• Easily walk up and down stairs, bend down, reach, push and pull and lift up to 40 lbs.
• Bachelors degree (or equivalent experience) in Communications, Business, Organizational Development or any other relevant field.

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH:

Diversity and Inclusiveness are core values at Cradles to Crayons, and we continuously strive to be a team where everyone feels welcome and supported. It is the policy of Cradles to Crayons to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Working Conditions:

This is a warehouse environment and normal changes in temperature are to be expected while working inside the warehouse or outside, on or around the loading dock. There are no hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions.

Accommodation:

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made by Cradles to Crayons which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others, or which impose undue hardships on the organization.