About CCWA

The leading national forum, open to all, for the non-partisan discussion of public issues important to the membership, community, and nation. A non-profit membership organization, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. Each year, we bring hundreds of programs on topics ranging across politics, culture, society, and the economy to our members and the public, both in-person and via extensive online and on-air listenership and viewership. In 2023, The Commonwealth Club of California merged with the San Francisco-based World Affairs Council of Northern California, adopting the name Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California.

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Position Summary

We seek a dynamic and strategic Membership, Marketing, and Engagement Manager to spearhead the organization’s identifying, acquiring, and stewarding new, existing, and lapsed members. CCWA’s members are the organization's lifeblood, not only in terms of the dues, which provide important financial support but more importantly, in fulfilling the organization’s mission for public outreach and participation.   

This position will report to the VP for Facilities and Private Events, who manages the guest services team. It will work closely with the Donor Specialist, the Director of Membership and Technologies, and others on the staff, as well as with outside consultants and contractors providing strategic support and services. This role is instrumental in meeting membership recruitment and retention goals, cultivating member relationships, and managing annual fund campaigns.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned membership, marketing, and engagement professional with a passion for civic engagement, a proven track record of increasing and retaining membership at prior organizations, a solid working knowledge and familiarity with database software packages and CRM systems, and the warmth and interpersonal skills to cultivate relationships with members and to inspire support for our mission and organization.  Particularly helpful will be the ability to create data reports, and to take datasets that have been defined by others, refine them further and operationalize new knowledge into concrete results. 

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Key Responsibilities

• Engagement and Outreach: Develop and implement outreach initiatives to attract diverse audiences, build meaningful connections, grow the organization's visibility and brand, and expand CCWA’s reach within the Bay Area community and beyond.
• Strategic Leadership: working closely with senior management, an outside consultant, and a volunteer committee to develop and execute comprehensive membership acquisition strategies and campaigns, including primarily to individuals but as appropriate to corporations, groups, and foundations.
• Membership Acquisition, Retention, and Cultivation: Build strong relationships with current, lapsed, and new members.  Help to define and market effective member benefits and tier differentiation.
• In-Person Member Cultivation and Connection:  Personally oversee and drive membership recruitment, retention, and relationship-building on-site, especially at events.
• Membership-related Events: Working closely with the organization’s event logistics team, plan and oversee membership-centric events, such as member socials and members-only events, to enhance engagement and generate revenue.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with the Co-Presidents, the Board of Governors, the Membership and Marketing Committee, the development team, and other colleagues to align and implement membership goals within organizational priorities.
• Regular Processes: Ensure that dues bills, renewal notices, thank-you acknowledgments, calendars, email outreach, and other communications to members and member prospects have fresh and persuasive content and effectively reach their intended recipients on schedule.
• Messages and Materials:  Help to construct messages, content, and materials for member and member prospect outreach.
• Data & Reporting: Maintain membership records, analyze financial performance, and provide regular progress reports to leadership.
• Stewardship: Ensure timely and meaningful recognition of membership retention to foster long-term support.
• Grant Management: As appropriate and working closely with CCWA’s development team, identify, apply for, and manage from time-to-time grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and other funding sources to support membership-related activities.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, marketing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit membership, marketing, engagement, and fundraising, focusing on membership acquisition and retention.
• Proven success in meeting or exceeding revenue goals.
• Significant [technical skills and software – name here]
• Willingness to maintain a flexible work schedule that is not typically 9-5 but moves with attendance at CCWA events that may occur in the evenings. 
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Knowledge and extensive familiarity with constituent management software (the Club uses Salesforce-based Patron Manager).
• Passion for civic engagement, socio-political issues, and the mission of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

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Additional Qualifications (Preferred but not required)

• Experience working with regular and higher-level members and donors in the Bay Area.
• Established network within non-profit, philanthropic, corporate, or government sectors.
• Knowledge of membership recruitment and retention techniques.

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Why Join Us

At Commonwealth Club World Affairs, you’ll be part of a vibrant team dedicated to uplifting and shaping informed public discourse. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful programming and help build a sustainable future for a respected institution.

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Commonwealth Club World Affairs is committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and encourages applicants of different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences, and abilities to apply. A diverse workplace is essential to the Club’s work, and women and people of any gender or gender identification, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

The salary range for this position is $80K to $90K per year.

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and a list of three references to Trevor Higgins, thiggins@worldaffairs.org