[Imc-web] UC IMC CTC/VISTA Development Adviser Position Announcement

[Mike Lehman]

Info about this position at UC IMC is below. Note that the due date for 
applicants is soon. Please forward to people and lists who may be 
interested.
Mike Lehman

Development Adviser, AmeriCorps VISTA at the Urbana Champaign 
Independent Media Center

About the UCIMC:
The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) is a grassroots 
organization committed to using media production and distribution as 
tools for promoting social and economic justice. We foster the creation 
and distribution of media, art, and narratives emphasizing 
underrepresented voices and perspectives and promote empowerment and 
expression through media and arts education.

To this end, the UCIMC owns and operates a Community Media and Arts 
Center housed in the historic downtown Urbana post office building 
located at 202 S. Broadway Ave at Elm Street. The center includes a 
stage, radio station, production studios, art studios, library, and 
meeting spaces and is home to over a dozen different volunteer projects, 
including Books to Prisoners, the Bike Project, the Public i (a monthly 
newspaper) and community radio station WRFU 104.5. Learn more at: 
www.ucimc.org.

About the Transmission Project

AmeriCorps VISTAs, or Digital Arts 
Service Corps members, are placed in organizations for one year by the 
Transmission Project. Read more: http://transmissionproject.org.


About the Development Advisor Position:

The primary tasks of a Development Advisor are a.) Work with the UCIMC 
Finance working group and Americorps Program Director to understand 
organizational needs and to develop and implement a comprehensive 
organizational funding model. b.) Train UCIMC members in fundraising and 
work with UCIMC members to implement fundraising plans. All activities 
will be accomplished in partnership with UCIMC members, volunteers, and 
other UCIMC AmeriCorps members. This includes leveraging key 
relationships and contact within and outside of the UCIMC network to 
ensure meeting site revenue goals. c.) Identify matching resources (both 
financial and material) to allow the UCIMC to implement Broadband 
Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants to the fullest extent.

UCIMC Finance-Related Responsibilities:
-Meet with the Americorps Program Director, Finance Group, Board 
Members, and UCIMC leadership to make recommendations to finance / 
support implementation of an annual development strategy
-Based on these needs and priorities, develop a grassroots campaign to 
solicit many, small donations. Deliverables: Grassroots campaign 
building documentation.
-Develop a system for building and sustaining relationships with major 
donors, in particular, engaging them in vision-planning for the UCIMC.
-Devise systems through which current and potential donors can easily 
connect to the UCIMC and it's programs that are of interest to them.
-Update CiviCRM database to reflect history of donors, their 
communication preferences, past UCIMC engagement, issues of interest, etc.
- Identify donors who can inspire other members to build the 
organization both financially and structurally. Deliverables: 
Documentation of best-practices in grass-roots fundraising for small 
organizations


BTOP-Related Responsibilities:
Serving as a free public access computer center and media production 
center, the UCIMC is an official Community Technology Center in 
Illinois. We serve as a partner on an NTIA application (UC2B) that was 
just awarded $22.5 million for broadband infrastructure. Through round 2 
granting, the UCIMC is slated to receive 20 new computer stations and/or 
a multi media studio. In relation to this opportunity, the Development 
Adviser will leverage this opportunity to build relationships with other 
community partners and to leverage BTOP funding as a source of community 
support for the UCIMC, in particular through fundraising and grant 
opportunities.


UCIMC Grant Writing Responsibilities:
-Write grant proposals and reports to corporate, foundation, and 
govenrment funders, record grants applied for, plus status of applications
-Create Funder packages with current information on UCIMC programming
- Further develop grant writing skills of UCIMC volunteers, building on 
the efforts of years one and two, with a specific focus on general 
operating support grants.
-Organize trainings for UCIMC members on building foundation 
relationships and writing letters of interest

Deliverables: Documentation on Indy Media Grantors, Letter of Interest 
Grant writing curriculum and training, financial revenue tracking, and 
enhanced grant documentation.

Qualifications:
To succeed in this project, the ideal candidate will be driven by a 
commitment to pursuing social justice, in particular through media and 
arts education, creation, and distribution for underrepresented voices 
and perspectives. S/he will be committed to the principles of 
volunteerism and community engagement, and will be enthusiastic about 
pursuing creative means to implement lasting solutions to organizational 
challenges. This position offers hands-on experience in development and 
non-profit administration. The ideal candidate will have a strong 
interest in non-profits use of technology as tools for social change.
The ideal applicant will have familiarity with development practices in 
the non-profit sector, ideally as they pertain to grant-writing, 
community outreach, and fundraising. The desired skills are as follows:
• Ability to effectively communicate and coordinate with diverse groups 
of people, through phone, email, and in-person meetings.
• Ability to express ideas and proposals clearly in writing (for both 
grant applications and fundraising appeals).
• Strong speaking skills, particularly with regard to giving 
presentations in meetings and in front of funders.
• Strong organizational skills, particularly with regard to preparing 
clear documentation of processes.
• Strong time management skills and ability to manage and meet deadlines.
• Experience with CiviCRM or similar open-source databases preferred.
• Experience with Excel or other spreadsheet software.
• Experience with web-based campaigns, email lists, and other netroots 
outreach techniques.
• Experience working with non-profit and volunteer-based organizations 
and programs.
• Knowledge of the Media Justice and Digital Justice movements preferred.

Strongly Preferred skill include:
• Experience creating and overseeing small grant budgets;
• Experience with grant writing or reviewing;
• Experience supporting fundraising campaigns;
• Track record of creating and implementing innovative solutions to meet 
pressing developmental needs;
• Demonstrated success in building creative and mutually beneficial 
partnerships within the non-profit, public and community-based 
organizations;
• A willingness to work flexible hours is also key to succeeding in this 
position, as many UCIMC members have full time jobs and are only 
available to meet in the evenings and on weekends.


Compensation:
1. $11,757/year living allowance, paid biweekly
2. $5,350 Education Award (for college tuition or loan repayment) or 
$1,500 cash stipend paid at the successful completion of service
3. Student loan deferment or forbearance on qualified loans
4. Health care coverage (catastrophic coverage, prescription drug 
coverage, and childcare allowance)
5. Relocation assistance (if moving more than 50 miles to serve)
6. Food stamp eligibility for most AmeriCorps members
7. Bus pass provided
Total compensation, including benefits and food stamps, is valued at 
~$21,900 for the year.

We encourage applications from members of communities marginalized from 
media ownership and access, including (but not limited to) people of 
color, women, transgender people, LGBT and queer identified people, 
people with disabilities, youth and seniors.

Eligibility/Restrictions:

AmeriCorps VISTA members must be U.S. citizens, U.S. national, or lawful 
permanent residents and at least 18 years of age. You must be available 
to serve full-time for one year, August 2, 2010 – August 2, 2011 in our 
office in Urbana, Illinois. Due to VISTA requirements, you may not have 
secondary employment or full-time college during your year of service.

How to Apply:

All applicants must create an account and apply through the Transmission 
Project: http://apply.digitalartscorps.org/. Make sure to check the 
Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center as the organization to which 
you applying.

In addition, please send a resume and cover letter to the UCIMC at 
Nicole at ucimc.org. Please be sure your cover letter addresses your 
qualifications and interest in this particular position and organization.

Applications are due May 5th. If you have any trouble meeting this 
deadline, please email nicole at ucimc.org. We cannot guarantee late 
applications will be accepted.



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