Senior Director of Communications Job at California Community Foundation in Los

About California Community Foundation (CCF)

The California Community Foundation is one of the largest and most influential philanthropic institutions in the Greater Los Angeles region, managing nearly $2.3 billion in assets across approximately 1,900 funds. With 110 years of service to Los Angeles County, CCF connects donors, nonprofits, and community partners to advance a vision where all people in LA have access to a good life. Guided by its 2025‑2035 Strategic Framework anchored in five priorities—basic needs, economic opportunity, resilient communities, civic voice, and healing and renewal—CCF operates as Los Angeles' most trusted partner in transformational philanthropy.

Opportunity

The Senior Director of Communications is a senior leader within CCF's Marketing, Communications & Storytelling team, responsible for helping shape and execute the Foundation's communications strategy at a time when the function is growing in both visibility and importance. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, this leader will bring focus, consistency, and executional excellence to CCF's internal and external communications, ensuring the Foundation communicates with clarity, discipline, and purpose across audiences. The Senior Director will translate the Foundation's mission, strategy, and priorities into compelling messages that reflect the breadth, urgency, and impact of CCF's work across Los Angeles.

Key Responsibilities

• External Communications & Media Relations
  
  
  
  • Lead CCF's earned media strategy, building and maintaining relationships with journalists, editors, and producers across local, regional, and national outlets covering philanthropy, civic affairs, and Los Angeles.
  
  
  • Serve as the primary media contact for the Foundation, coordinating interview requests, preparing spokespeople, and managing press inquiries with speed and strategic judgment.
  
  
  • Draft and edit press releases, media advisories, op‑eds, statements, and rapid‑response communications on behalf of CCF and its executive leadership.
  
  
  • Monitor the media landscape for opportunities to amplify CCF's voice on issues relevant to the Foundation's mission and strategic framework priorities.
  
  
  • Manage crisis communications in coordination with the VP of Marketing and Communications and Chief Philanthropy Officer, ensuring consistent messaging and stakeholder confidence during sensitive moments.
  
  
  
  


• Executive Communications
  
  
  
  • Develop and maintain CCF's executive communications infrastructure—standing messaging frameworks, talking points, and institutional narrative documents—for use by the CEO and senior leaders across internal and external settings.
  
  
  • Write and edit executive‑level content including keynote remarks, board presentations, op‑eds, bylined articles, stakeholder letters, and public testimonies.
  
  
  • Prepare the CEO and other senior leaders for media interviews, panel appearances, speaking engagements, and high‑stakes donor or community conversations.
  
  
  • Build a deep understanding of the CEO's voice, priorities, and communication style to serve as a trusted ghostwriter and strategic communications advisor.
  
  
  • Collaborate with the Office of Philanthropy to develop donor‑facing executive correspondence that reflects CCF's institutional voice and strengthens philanthropic relationships.
  
  
  
  


• Donor & Stakeholder Communications
  
  
  
  • Partner with the Office of Philanthropy to develop communications that support donor engagement, stewardship, and retention—including newsletters, impact updates, policy communications, and event materials.
  
  
  • Translate complex programmatic, policy, or investment‑related content into clear, accessible communications for donor audiences with varying levels of philanthropic sophistication.
  
  
  • Support the development of communications around CCF's grantmaking portfolios, including crisis response, civic engagement, and community investment narratives.
  
  
  • Collaborate on the development of the Annual Report, CCF website content, and other flagship publications.
  
  
  
  


• Brand, Content & Storytelling
  
  
  
  • Champion CCF's brand voice and storytelling standards across all communications channels—ensuring consistency, clarity, and mission alignment.
  
  
  • Work in close partnership with the MCaS team to develop content strategies that integrate communications across earned, owned, and shared media platforms.
  
  
  • Commission and edit long‑form content, community stories, and donor impact narratives that bring CCF's work to life for diverse audiences.
  
  
  • Ensure all communications reflect CCF's values of equity, inclusion, and community partnership—and are responsive to the lived realities of Los Angeles County residents.
  
  
  
  


• Marketing Strategy & Oversight
  
  
  
  • Provide strategic oversight and editorial direction for CCF's marketing function, ensuring all marketing activity is aligned with institutional priorities, brand standards, and audience needs across the donor, community, and public‑facing landscape.
  
  
  • Partner with the VP, MCaS to develop and execute integrated marketing strategies that advance CCF's visibility, donor engagement, and community awareness goals.
  
  
  • Oversee the development of marketing materials across print, digital, and event channels—campaign assets, collateral, advertising, and sponsorship materials—ensuring consistency of voice, message, and design standards.
  
  
  • Lead campaign planning and execution for key institutional moments, including year‑end giving, scholarship seasons, major convenings, and strategic framework milestones.
  
  
  • Manage and optimize CCF's digital marketing presence in coordination with the MCaS team, including email marketing, website content strategy, and paid and organic digital channels.
  
  
  • Track and report on marketing performance metrics, translating data into insights that inform future strategy and resource allocation.
  
  
  • Ensure marketing content reflects CCF's equity values and is culturally responsive to the diverse communities and donor audiences CCF serves across Los Angeles County.
  
  
  
  


• Team Leadership & Cross‑Departmental Collaboration
  
  
  
  • Supervise and develop communications team members as assigned, providing mentorship, editorial oversight, and professional growth opportunities.
  
  
  • Serve as a senior communications resource and thought partner across CCF departments—Impact, Finance, and Operations—for high‑stakes internal and external communications needs.
  
  
  • Contribute to departmental planning, goal‑setting, and performance measurement within the MCaS team.
  
  
  • Model CCF's culture of collaboration, excellence, and community accountability in all internal and external interactions.
  
  
  
  

Leadership Competencies and Qualifications

• 8‑12 years of progressive communications experience, including significant time in a senior communications, public affairs, editorial, or related leadership role, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex organizational priorities into clear, compelling, and values‑aligned communications.


• Experience in a philanthropic, nonprofit, civic, or mission‑driven institutional context is strongly preferred, along with deep familiarity with the Los Angeles media, civic, and community landscape.


• Exceptional writing, editing, and editorial judgment—an outstanding portfolio across formats such as executive speeches, op‑eds, donor correspondence, media materials, internal communications, and institutional narratives.


• Proven experience in executive communications and trusted leadership support—writing in multiple executive voices, serving as a trusted ghostwriter and communications advisor for senior leaders, distilling leadership priorities, and preparing executives for high‑visibility moments.


• Extensive media relations, public affairs, and issues‑management experience—proactive pitching, message development, spokesperson preparation, and crisis communications management.


• Strong relationship‑building and stakeholder‑engagement skills—interpersonal, emotional intelligence, listening, navigating complexity, and working across relationships.


• Committed to mission‑driven work with an understanding of how communications advance community impact, civic engagement, and institutional leadership; familiarity with community foundation models and CCF's Strategic Framework priorities is a plus.


• Previous experience managing editorial or communications teams and bilingual communication skills, particularly Spanish, are highly valued.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $207,000 – $224,000 with a generous benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Statement

California Community Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities.