Associate Vice President of Communications

Title:                                      Associate Vice President of Communications

Unit:                                      Development & Communications

Reports to:                           Chief Development & Communications Officer

Status:                                   FT; Regular; Exempt

Salary Range:                      $150,000 to $165,000

Location:                              Long Island City, Queens

Days/Hours:                         Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (35 hours per week)

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has worked for nearly 60 years to support successful reentry from incarceration, promote alternatives to incarceration, and build a more just criminal legal system, strengthening both individuals and communities in the process. Founded in 1967 by David Rothenberg as an advocacy organization committed to educating the public about injustice within the criminal legal system, Fortune has remained steadfast in its belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and the chance to build a productive future.

Today, Fortune is recognized as one of the nation’s leading reentry organizations and advocates for criminal legal system reform. With an annual operating budget of more than $100 million and approximately 600 staff, Fortune now serves over 20,000 people annually across New York City. The organization provides a comprehensive continuum of services, including alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning, behavioral health treatment, housing, employment and education services, benefits assistance, care management, food and nutrition, and arts programming. These services are informed by the lived experiences and needs of the people we serve and strengthen Fortune’s advocacy for systemic change.

Alongside its direct services, Fortune is a recognized leader in policy and legislative advocacy. Working in partnership with directly impacted people, community organizations, and government leaders, Fortune has helped shape legislation and public policy that expand opportunity, remove barriers to successful reentry, and advance fairness within the criminal legal system. The organization continues to play a leading role in efforts to safely close Rikers Island, improve conditions of confinement, expand alternatives to incarceration, and promote policies that strengthen communities across New York and beyond.

Position Summary:

The Associate Vice President of Communications provides strategic leadership for The Fortune Society’s communications, branding, public relations, digital engagement, and executive communications efforts. The position is responsible for ensuring that Fortune’s mission, impact, and expertise are communicated with clarity, consistency, and authenticity across all internal and external audiences. Reporting to the Chief Development & Communications Officer, the Associate Vice President develops and implements the organization’s communications strategy, oversees communications staff and consultants, and works closely with the President & CEO and senior leadership to strengthen and expand Fortune’s public voice, reputation, and thought leadership. The Associate Vice President also partners closely with the Chief Development & Communications Officer and the President & CEO to support the organization’s individual giving strategy. Through participation in major donor cultivation, stewardship, donor communications, and fundraising initiatives, this position plays an important supporting role in growing philanthropic support while developing increasing responsibility for individual giving over time.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Communications Leadership

• Develop, lead, and implement Fortune’s comprehensive communications strategy to strengthen the organization’s visibility, reputation, and public engagement.

• Provide strategic leadership for all organizational communications, ensuring Fortune’s story is told timely with clarity, consistency, and impact across all platforms.

• Supervise the Communications Manager and consultants responsible for website management, publications, social media, branding, graphic design, and digital communications.

• Oversee the development of the Annual Report, Fortune Weekly, Fortune News, policy publications, executive communications, speeches, presentations, and organizational messaging.

• Partner closely with the President & CEO and senior leadership to shape executive communications, public statements, thought leadership, and strategic messaging. 

• Work with the President and CEO, Chief Development & Communications Officer, and Fortune’s public relations firm to increase media visibility and strengthen Fortune’s public profile.

• Ensure consistent branding and messaging across all institutional platforms and stakeholder audiences.

• Develop communications strategies that strengthen donor engagement, volunteer engagement, advocacy, and public awareness.

Individual Giving and Donor Engagement

• Partner closely with the Chief Development & Communications Officer and the President & CEO to support Fortune’s individual giving strategy and the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors and prospective supporters.

• Participate in donor meetings, site visits, cultivation events, stewardship activities, and relationship-building opportunities alongside senior leadership.

• Manage and grow an assigned portfolio of individual donors and prospects through thoughtful cultivation and stewardship strategies.

• Collaborate on fundraising campaigns, donor appeals, stewardship communications, and engagement initiatives that strengthen philanthropic support.

• Assist in planning and executing donor engagement events, including the annual Gala, the NYC Marathon, and other cultivation opportunities.

• Work closely with Development staff to ensure effective donor stewardship, acknowledgments, accurate database management, and coordinated donor engagement.

• Cultivate relationships with volunteers and community partners to expand Fortune’s network of supporters and future donors.

• Develop increasing expertise and leadership in individual giving, assuming greater responsibility for donor strategy and relationship management as the program continues to grow.

• Take on other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• At least eight years of progressively responsible leadership experience in communications, nonprofit marketing, development, public affairs, or a related field. Experience with donor engagement, individual giving, or philanthropy is preferred;
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and public speaking skills;
• Experience managing staff, consultants, and cross-functional initiatives;
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or a comparable donor database is preferred
• Strong organizational and project management skills;
• Creative, collaborative leadership style with excellent relationship-building skills; 
• Knowledge of and commitment to issues affecting justice-involved individuals and a strong passion for The Fortune Society’s mission;
• Strong ability to set priorities, manage projects and meet deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively around generating new fundraising opportunities;
• We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission.  Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Travel Requirements: 

Will require travel to program sites, meetings throughout and sometimes outside New York City, and evening and occasional weekend events.

Physical Demands:  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.