Youth Sports Alliance - Development & Communications Manager
About Youth Sports Alliance
Youth Sports Alliance (YSA) is dedicated to removing barriers so that every child has the opportunity to experience the life-changing benefits of sport. Through partnerships, programs, equipment access, and community engagement, YSA works to ensure that cost, equipment, ability, or circumstance do not prevent a young person from participating.
As YSA continues to grow across Utah, we are seeking a Development & Communications Manager to help expand funding opportunities while telling YSA's story to donors, community partners, media, families, and the broader community.
Position Summary
The Development & Communications Manager leads two closely connected areas of YSA's external engagement: grant development and organizational communications.
This position is responsible for identifying and pursuing grant opportunities; writing and managing grant proposals and reports; and working with staff to communicate YSA's impact to funders. The position also leads YSA's communications and public relations efforts, ensuring consistent and compelling messaging across social media, newsletters, the website, media, events, and other external channels.
The ideal candidate is an excellent writer and storyteller who is highly organized, proactive, collaborative, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
This position reports directly to the Executive Director.
Key Responsibilities
Grant Development & Funder Relations
- Research and identify local, regional, and national grant and foundation opportunities aligned with YSA's mission and strategic priorities.
- Maintain an active pipeline and calendar of prospective funders, applications, deadlines, reporting requirements, and grant deliverables.
- Lead the development and submission of grant applications, letters of inquiry, proposals, and funding requests.
- Draft compelling grant narratives, organizational and program descriptions, impact statements, and other proposal materials.
- Coordinate with the Executive Director, Programs Director, Business Manager, and other staff to gather programmatic, financial, and organizational information needed for proposals and reports.
- Ensure grant applications and budget requests are provided to the Executive Director for review in advance of deadlines.
- Coordinate grant reporting and track all funder commitments, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
- Prepare funder updates, impact stories, and other stewardship communications.
- Support the Executive Director in developing and maintaining relationships with current and prospective funders.
Communications & Public Relations
- Develop and implement YSA's communications strategy and content calendar.
- Ensure consistent messaging, voice, and brand identity across all external communications.
- Manage YSA's social media presence and develop engaging content that highlights programs, participants, partners, events, and organizational impact.
- Produce YSA newsletters and other email communications.
- Maintain current, accurate, and engaging website content.
- Develop press releases and media pitches and build relationships with local and regional media.
- Identify opportunities for earned media, community visibility, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to elevate YSA's profile.
- Coordinate regular media opportunities, including YSA's ongoing relationship with KPCW.
- Identify and develop compelling stories featuring participants, families, athletes, partners, volunteers, and community impact.
- Coordinate photography, video, and other storytelling projects as needed.
- Support the Executive Director with talking points, presentations, speeches, and other external-facing materials.
Event Communications & Community Engagement
- Develop communications plans and materials for YSA's major events, including invitations, programs, promotional materials, social media, email, website content, media outreach, and post-event thank-you communications.
- Work collaboratively with the staff member responsible for event logistics and operations.
- Support YSA's presence and messaging at major community events and organizational initiatives.
- Coordinate with staff and contractors to ensure high-quality and consistent event communications.
Organizational Collaboration
- Work closely with the Executive Director on organizational messaging, fundraising priorities, external relationships, and media opportunities.
- Collaborate with program staff to gather participation data, outcomes, and stories needed for grants and communications.
- Collaborate with the Business Manager on grant budgets, financial information, and reporting requirements.
- Coordinate with YSA's graphic designer and other contractors to produce high-quality, consistent communications.
- Maintain a strong understanding of YSA's programs and the experiences of the young people and families served.
General Responsibilities
As with all YSA employees, this position is responsible for submitting timesheets accurately and on schedule; coding and submitting credit-card expenses and receipts according to YSA procedures; participating in staff meetings and organizational activities; maintaining confidentiality; following YSA policies and procedures; and supporting other organizational priorities as reasonably assigned by the Executive Director.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- 3+ years of experience in grant writing, nonprofit development, communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to write compelling proposals and professional communications.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Experience creating content for social media and digital communications.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team.
Preferred:
- Nonprofit grant writing and grant management experience.
- Experience with media relations and earned media.
- Experience with nonprofit storytelling and communications.
- Familiarity with website content management and email marketing platforms.
- Experience working with youth-serving organizations.
Position Details
Title: Development & Communications Manager
Reports to: Executive Director
Employment Type: Full time, 40 hours per week
Location: Park City, Utah
Compensation: $60,000-$70,000 per year depending on experience
Benefits: YSA offers a benefits package that includes health insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, retirement benefits and wellness reimbursement. YSA also offers a flexible and collaborative work environment and opportunities to participate in and support the outdoor sports programs that are central to our mission.