Contract Storyteller & Newsletter Writer

About the Neighborhood Food Project The Neighborhood Food Project (NFP) is a national nonprofit organization supporting a network of approximately 50 locally operated Food Projects across the country. Each Food Project is an independent, community-run, volunteer-powered organization. A Food Project is an invitation into a system built around neighborhoods: neighbors commit to donating food on a bimonthly schedule, volunteers collect those donations from doorsteps, and all of it goes to local pantries and food banks. The NFP provides the software, training, and coordination that help these groups operate reliably year after year. NFP began in 2009 as a local project in Ashland, Oregon, and grew organically from town to town and state to state. To date, much of the organization's impact has occurred outside the media spotlight. The Role Across the network, over 27,000 volunteers have remarkable stories and years of impact that often go untold. The Contract Storyteller & Newsletter Writer will bring those stories to life by interviewing Food Project leaders, Neighborhood Coordinators, and food donors. These stories should inspire, not simply explain. The strongest ones capture what is hard to see from the outside like the friendships between neighbors who had never spoken before, the pride of a volunteer on their tenth year of pickups, and steadiness of a system that holds together because people keep showing up for their community. We are looking for each story to be a complete feature of approximately 250 words for the website and newsletter, with a strong lede that can be adapted for social media and email with a "read more" link. NFP will provide training on its model, network structure, and communications approach, as well as the background needed before conducting interviews. NFP will also provide the support and tools needed to do this work well. What the Storyteller Will Do This is a contract engagement built around a defined monthly deliverable rather than a set number of hours. Each month, the storyteller delivers: Interviews and articles — three per month Interview Food Project leaders, Neighborhood Coordinators, and food donors by video. Write three newsworthy articles per month, approximately 250 words each with a strong lede, for the website and newsletter. Share each article on NFP's social media channels with concise copy that encourages readers to continue to the full story. Each story will be published to the NFP website and then shared across social media, so the storyteller is responsible not only for writing well but for making sure each piece reaches the people it was written for. Account access is provided so the storyteller can publish their own work. Newsletter — one per month Write and assemble a monthly newsletter featuring that month's three stories and an update from the Neighborhood Food Project on recent work. Distribute by email, to the website, and across social media. Long-term goals Help shape NFP's brand and approach to storytelling in a way that helps us expand the network. Build a library of stories, quotations, and photos that local Food Projects can reuse in their outreach. The storyteller sets their own schedule and works independently, with two standing check-ins each month and editorial review before publication. Interviews are scheduled directly with the interviewee and generally fall during business hours in that person's time zone, primarily Pacific and Central. In the beginning, the NFP will make sure the storyteller has everything they need: access to the tools and accounts, a working knowledge of the Food Project model and the network, an interview calendar built out, a practice interview or two, and a plan sketched for growing the newsletter’s reach. Qualifications NFP places the greatest value on curiosity, kindness, patience, and a genuine willingness to learn. These qualities are essential to success in the role. Required qualifications Background in writing, journalism, or a closely related field. Curiosity about people and the patience to allow conversations to unfold naturally. Ability to identify the heart of a conversation and shape it into a compelling story. Comfort learning new tools and working independently against a monthly deadline. Preferred qualifications Experience with newsletters, Canva, or basic photo editing. Familiarity with food insecurity, volunteer engagement, or community organizing. NFP Provides A Neighborhood Food Project email address. Training on the Food Project model, the structure of the network, and NFP's approach to storytelling, led by the Executive Director alongside experienced Food Project leaders. Google Meet access for hosting and recording interviews. Access to the newsletter platform and website. Direct access to the Executive Director and Food Project leaders across the network Details Compensation: $1,200 per month. This is a flat monthly fee for the deliverables described above, invoiced and paid monthly. Engagement: Independent contractor (1099). The storyteller is responsible for their own taxes and works from their own equipment and workspace. Location: Remote within the United States. Term: An initial three-month engagement, continuing month to month after that. Scope and compensation are reviewed at six months. The engagement may grow as the work and the network grow. How to Apply Apply using this link: https://tally.so/r/o96981 The application asks for: Name, location, and contact information. A brief note explaining your interest in the role. A résumé. Contact information for personal or professional references (one required, up to three). Two writing samples. Samples may be pieces previously written for an audience or something new created for this application. All applications received by October 30, 2026 will be reviewed and considered. We may begin reaching out to applicants before the deadline, but every application received by that date will be given full consideration. The Neighborhood Food Project welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experience levels.