Nonprofit Jobs for Retirees

3. Marketing/communications manager

The nitty-gritty: Consider yourself the "cause" messenger. You're the voice of the nonprofit in many ways. Duties can range from drafting press releases about upcoming events or capital campaigns to media outreach for coverage in print, broadcast and social media streams. You might be writing compelling blast emails, or mass snail mail letters requesting donations, or producing content for quarterly newsletters. Under the public relations guise, you may be asked to give speeches, or set up speaking engagements and prepare speeches for the executive director and board members. A note of caution: Nonprofits are collaborative places and anything that reflects the face of the organization to the outside world will come under close scrutiny. Higher-ups will want to put their fingerprints on anything you write. Learn to let it go.
The hours: Part-time and full-time positions.
Median pay: The pay scale is $14.69 to $45.77 an hour, but depending on experience can be far higher.
Qualifications: In general, experience in media relations, writing, editing and marketing are the prerequisites. A background in journalism can help. Bring a deep understanding of a nonprofit's specific field — environment, medical, social issues — plus more extensive knowledge of the core issue at the forefront of the group's mission. A bottomless basket of media contacts is a vital. A working knowledge of the ways of social media — Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, GooglePlus and other Internet platforms is expected. The Public Relations Society of America offers seminars, webinars and boot camps on a range of topics you need to know now, such as social media, green marketing, crisis communication and branding. There's a good job board there, too, plus an accreditation for public relations if you want to add to your credentials.

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