Application Guide

How to Apply for Development and Communications Manager

at California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges

🏢 About California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges

The California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges is unique in its focused mission to advance early and middle college programs specifically within California, bridging high school and college to increase educational access. Working here means directly impacting educational equity and opportunity for California students through innovative programs that help students earn college credit while still in high school.

About This Role

This Development and Communications Manager role is pivotal for growing the organization's fundraising capacity through foundation grants while managing all external communications. You'll be responsible for both securing financial support and telling the story of early/middle colleges across California, making this a dual-impact position that fuels both resources and awareness for educational access.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching California-based foundations in the morning, drafting a grant proposal for an early college expansion program, then creating social media content about student success stories. You could be designing a newsletter in Canva, updating the WordPress website with new program information, and preparing for a virtual meeting with prospective donors interested in educational equity.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years of proven success securing foundation grants for educational or nonprofit organizations, with specific examples of grant amounts and funders
  • Is proficient in WordPress, Canva, Microsoft 365, Constant Contact, and Google Workspace as listed in requirements, not just familiar with them
  • Demonstrates excellent writing skills specifically for both grant proposals and social media/communications materials
  • Shows understanding of California's educational landscape and early/middle college programs specifically

📝 Tips for Applying to California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges

1

Quantify your grant success: Instead of saying 'secured grants,' specify 'secured $250,000 from XYZ Foundation for educational programming'

2

Show California education knowledge: Mention specific early/middle college programs in California you're familiar with or have researched

3

Demonstrate both hard skills: Provide examples of using WordPress for website management AND Canva for marketing collateral creation

4

Address remote work readiness: Since this is remote, mention experience with virtual donor cultivation and remote team collaboration

5

Connect to their mission: Explain why early/middle colleges specifically appeal to you, not just education nonprofits generally

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with foundation grant research and cultivation for educational organizations', 'Examples of managing both fundraising communications AND general organizational communications simultaneously', 'Proficiency with their listed tools: WordPress, Canva, Microsoft 365, Constant Contact, Google Workspace', "Why California's early/middle college programs specifically align with your professional interests"]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Specific early/middle college programs in California (like those in Oakland, Los Angeles, or San Diego)
  • → The coalition's current website, social media presence, and any recent publications or newsletters
  • → California educational policies related to dual enrollment and early college programs
  • → Foundations that currently fund educational initiatives in California (like Stuart Foundation, California Community Foundation)
Visit California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your process for researching and cultivating foundation prospects for educational programs
2 How would you develop a communications strategy to increase awareness of early/middle colleges in California?
3 Describe a time you managed multiple projects with competing deadlines in development and communications
4 What metrics would you track to measure success in both fundraising and communications for this role?
5 How would you approach telling the story of early/middle college impact to different audiences (donors, educators, parents)?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic nonprofit experience without specific examples related to education or California programs
  • Focusing only on communications OR development rather than demonstrating capability in both areas
  • Not addressing the specific technical tools listed (WordPress, Canva, Constant Contact, etc.) in application materials

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to California Coalition of Early & Middle Colleges!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →