Communications and Development Coordinator

I write for the Benzie Conservation District, an organization that works directly with the community to preserve and enhance the natural resources of Benzie County, Michigan. Environmental stewardship doesn’t happen without people, so public outreach is essential for inspiring people to take an active role in caring for the environment in their everyday lives.

In a nutshell, my job is about public engagement and outreach. Sometimes that means telling compelling stories about the impact that donors make, or promoting ways people can make a difference for the environment in their own lives. A quick way to sum it up is that I get people aware of and excited about what Benzie Conservation District does, and how they can get involved to make a positive difference. 

Writing is a major part of my current position and takes a lot of forms: direct mail, social media, email blasts, print publications, and more. I’m also in charge of designing the layout of these pieces. As far as messaging goes, this content usually has a blend of professional writing, persuasive writing, and creative (nonfiction) storytelling. 

After graduating, I started at the Benzie Conservation District as the Communications and Administrative Coordinator. This role was a bit of a “jack of all trades” position, because it included everything from social media management, writing opinion columns and press releases, overseeing the storytelling and design of our annual report, as well as administrative tasks like answering phones and public inquiries. Those administrative tasks were vital for my communications work because they presented daily opportunities to get to know who I write for and what matters most to them.

In the past year, I’ve changed positions and am now the Communications and Development Coordinator. Much of my work has stayed the same, but I’ve stepped more fully into the fundraising world. I have a more hands-on role in writing appeals, creating core fundraising materials, and improving the donor experience. 

In writing courses at GVSU, students are encouraged to use a wide variety of communication techniques—like storytelling, business communications, and visual design—rather than treating them as isolated skills. This wasn’t just helpful for evaluating a range of career paths; knowing how to apply and blend various techniques has been essential for balancing multiple kinds of writing in my professional life. 

I strongly encourage current or upcoming writing majors to get plenty of writing-related work or volunteer experience while you’re still in college. Even if the job isn’t identical to the type of writing you want to do for your career, you’ll gain proof of transferable skills. You might even discover you really love a type of writing you didn’t expect to enjoy!