Development & Communications Coordinator

Company: McAlister Institute for Treatment & Education,
Location: El Cajon
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Description: Join McAlister Institute, a 48-year beacon in San Diego's Recovery Community. McAlister Institute is expanding its Development & Communications team during a pivotal period—an active capital campaign and renewed focus on strengthening annual philanthropic support. We are seeking a highly organized, creative, and mission-driven Development & Communications Coordinator to support development operations and communications initiatives that enhance donor engagement, increase visibility, and strengthen McAlister’s long-term sustainability. This role also intersects with contributed and earned income streams—including the Bingo Hall and Thrift Store—allowing for rich storytelling, exposure to participatory programs and their participants, and involvement in donor events that collectively support increased visibility, fundraising, and fee-for-service business development. Benefits for YOU : 13 paid annual holidays, including your birthday; 12 paid vacation days, paid sick leave Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility 403(b) Retirement Plan up to 6% Employer Match Health Insurance available the first of the month following 30 days of employment (Sharp) EAP Position Summary The Development & Communications Coordinator manages the daily operations of McAlister’s fundraising and communications activities. This includes gift processing, donor acknowledgments, database management, and producing compelling content across multiple platforms to cultivate relationships with individual donors, corporations, family foundations, and community partners. Key Responsibilities Communications (50%) Implement communications strategies that elevate organizational visibility and reinforce donor engagement. Produce creative, mission-centered content for the website, social media, e-newsletters, annual reports, press releases, and fundraising materials. Manage social media platforms and content calendar to increase engagement and promote initiatives. Attend programs and events to gather content—photography, video, testimonials, and interviews—for storytelling and communications needs. Support donor recognition efforts and help execute stewardship communications for annual, corporate, and foundation partners. Collaborate with the Capital Campaign Director and Events & Engagement Manager to execute development-related communications, including editorial calendars and campaign messaging. Create and maintain web content related to development initiatives and donor engagement. Monitor trends in nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and digital communications to inform strategy. Maintain brand consistency and messaging alignment across all platforms. Build and nurture relationships with media outlets; support earned media, PSAs, advisories, and coverage of key events and initiatives. Provide dependable support for materials, logistics, and communications that contribute to successful fundraising outcomes. Development Operations (40%) Manage and maintain the donor database (DonorPerfect), including data entry, gift processing, reporting, acknowledgments, and ongoing data cleanup. Ensure all donations are recorded and acknowledged within 48 hours, reinforcing donor trust and stewardship excellence. Support the planning and implementation of fundraising events, appeals, stewardship activities, and donor campaigns. Prepare fundraising materials such as proposals, donor reports, collateral, and event content. Conduct research to help identify and qualify new donor prospects. Support annual fundraising campaigns, including sponsorships, year-end appeals, targeted donor outreach, and small business/corporate engagement. Assist with volunteer coordination for events and fundraising activities. Build and maintain relationships with individual donors, small businesses, and corporations across targeted regions. Collaborate with the Events & Engagement Manager to support execution of signature events and donor stewardship activities. Provide support for special projects, cross-department initiatives, and events as assigned. Maintain accurate, timely donor records, produce gift lists, and support reporting needs for development leadership. Organizational Collaboration (10%) Serve as a partner to the Development and Communications Department and agency leadership on the organization’s overall development plan. Stay current on trends, tools, and best practices in fundraising to optimize effectiveness and innovation. Serve as a team member to help strengthen the organization’s fundraising infrastructure, supporting future initiatives and fostering cross-departmental collaboration. Requirements: Minimum 2–3 years of experience in development, communications, event planning, or related nonprofit work. Proven ability to coordinate fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and stewardship activities. Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills across digital and print platforms. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills. Proficiency with CRM systems (DonorPerfect or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to manage multiple projects with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Experience creating donor communications, email engagement, and direct mail campaigns. Ability to support membership or fundraising strategies designed to increase contributed and earned income. Commitment to McAlister Institute’s mission and values, and enthusiasm for advancing recovery-centered work across San Diego County. Ability to work effectively with diverse populations, including those we serve (those with chronic substance use and/or mental health challenges). Exceptional interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication, adaptability, and professionalism. Exudes a calm and competent manner, listens to others without interrupting; effectively regulates emotions, especially under stress; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things. Proficiency with software and/or equipment (e.g., Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint; job-related technologies). Must possess a valid and unrestricted California Driver's License, with a good driving record, free of any major infractions. On-site position. Ability to pass all pre-employment screening, including references, education verification, a criminal background check with at least one year clear of probation or parole, a drug test, and a negative TB test. Ability to travel to donor events across San Diego County. Equal Opportunity Employer: McAlister Institute is committed to creating a diverse environment and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, any other non-job-related factors, and other characteristics protected by local, state, or federal anti-discrimination law covering employment. Reasonable Accommodations : McAlister Institute is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the jobs@mcalisterinc.org., for more information. Please include your name and position you are applying for. Work Authorization Requirement: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. McAlister Institute does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas. Pre-Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from McAlister Institute employment as we are subject to County of San Diego contractual hiring requirements). A pre-employment physical examination, and post-offer background check is required. Candidates must have at least one year clear of probation or parole, a drug test, and a negative TB test. General Information & Considerations: Placement on the pay range is based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, relevant years of experience and qualifications. Current McAlister Institute employees may receive priority consideration for positions when they meet essential qualifications. To Staffing and Recruiting Agencies : We do not solicit staffing or agency contacts for our recruitment needs. Our careers site is only for individuals seeking a job at McAlister. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes. Any such submissions will be considered unsolicited and will be ignored to prioritize our own process. We are sure you do amazing work and can give us data to support your sell. We, however, are a non-profit, and are mindful agents of our resources. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to us, or email us individually. McAlister Institute is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.

Keywords: McAlister Institute for Treatment & Education,, Laguna Beach , Development & Communications Coordinator, PR / Public Relations , El Cajon, California