Communications Associate

ABOUT TED TED is on a mission to discover and spread ideas that spark imagination, embrace possibility and catalyze impact. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community. About The Audacious Project The Audacious Project is a collaborative funding initiative catalyzing social impact on a grand scale. Every year, we select and nurture a group of big, bold solutions to the world's most urgent challenges — and with the support of an inspiring community of donors, come together to get them launched. Housed at TED, the nonprofit with a long track record of surfacing ideas worth spreading, Audacious has helped catalyze nearly $9B in support of 70 bold projects spanning health, climate and community-led innovation. The Opportunity We are seeking a creative, driven Communications Associate with experience in philanthropy and social impact, to join the Audacious team in uplifting the brand and telling the stories that matter most. This is a full-time role for someone who is energized by the intersection of big ideas, philanthropic impact and powerful storytelling. You will work with the Director of Brand & Communications and across the Audacious team to surface and shape compelling narratives about the work that Audacious grantees are leading, extend awareness and visibility for Audacious as a collaborative and develop creative ideas to share our work and learnings across the sector. From media pitching to social content, grantee storytelling to newsletter writing, this role will be a key part of how Audacious shows up in the world. This is a role for someone who is eager to be at the forefront of the growing collaborative philanthropy space, a creative thinking and storyteller who loves working as part of a team, who loves writing, ideation and content creation and who brings genuine enthusiasm for working alongside nonprofits and philanthropic organizations to strengthen how they communicate their work. And you will have a front-row seat — and an active hand — in shaping how the world understands what bold, collaborative philanthropy can do and what stories are told. Media Relations & Pitching Support the development and execution of proactive media outreach, including drafting pitches, thought leadership support, building and maintaining media lists and coordinating reporter relationships Work across the Audacious team to identify timely, pitchworthy stories across the portfolio and content calendar Help draft media materials including press releases, backgrounders and talking points for internal and external partners Support on media outreach and engagement, media reporting and press outcomes Content Creation & Writing Ideate, write and edit a range of content — including grantee stories, blog posts, impact updates, newsletter updates, web copy and donor communications Develop strong, accessible narratives that translate complex global issues into stories that resonate with core audiences Work closely with the Director of Brand and Comms to develop new ways to develop storytelling and connect with donors, grantees and partners Maintain and evolve editorial calendars and content workflows Social Media Support Work with the social media lead to support social media planning, content creation and community management across Audacious channels Storytelling & Communications Support Partner with grantees to understand their work and surface compelling stories that illustrate progress and impact Develop content and tools that showcase the breadth and depth of Audacious and the impact of its grantee community more powerfully and consistently Cross-Team Collaboration Serve as an embedded comms partner for Audacious teams to identify communications opportunities and support broader organizational needs, track milestones and news Contribute to overall communications planning, ensuring a cohesive, consistent brand voice across all channels and audiences Support the Director of Brand & Communications on special projects, content creation, campaigns and initiatives as they arise Required 3–5 years of communications experience, with a strong background in or meaningful exposure to philanthropy, collaboratives, nonprofit or social impact organizations Exceptional writing and editing skills across formats — from punchy social copy to long-form narrative storytelling Experience with media relations, including developing pitch angles, pitching journalists and managing press outreach Strong collaboration skills and a genuine enjoyment of working across teams and with external partners Highly organized and proactive, able to manage a fast pace of work, multiple workstreams, deadlines and priorities with care and attention to detail A creative thinker who brings fresh ideas and follow through Deep curiosity about and commitment to the issues Audacious grantees are working to solve — from climate to global health to social justice Preferred Direct experience working with or supporting philanthropic organizations or family offices on communications and storytelling Familiarity with social media platforms (YouTube, IG, LI) and analytics tools Experience crafting communications for or in partnership with grantee or partner organizations, with an eye towards about voice and narrative Comfort navigating a small, fast-moving, mission-driven team Who You Are You don't wait to be told what the story is, you find it. You write clearly, think creatively, and care deeply about your work. You're as energized by work that changes the world and want to be part of sharing those stories and wins with the world. You want your work to matter, and you're excited to bring that energy to the Audacious community and au