LEAD WRITER
WHO WE ARE
Thousand Currents funds, connects, and supports visionary grassroots groups and movements leading solutions in food, climate, and the economy.
We support our movement partners in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific with core, flexible, long-term grants and value-added services. We believe in the power of community-led change, and in the power of words to make change visible, credible, and irresistible to the people with resources to accelerate it.
OUR VALUES
We envision a future where community-led movements have transformed the way we grow food, generate energy, and build economies, creating a world where people and planet thrive together. To realize this vision, we embrace and practice a clear set of values:
* Courage - We confront injustice and inequality with love, strength, conviction, and integrity.
* Humility - We are part of a greater whole. We are one among many currents. We recognize our place among many forces for good and change that exist in the world.
* Experimentation - In order to take principled actions together, we prioritize learning, commit to self-reflection, embrace trial and error, and honor multiple ways of knowing.
* Creative collaboration - We share power, practices, and resources to reimagine new ways of living.
* Interdependence - With our futures intertwined, we respect all beings and build authentic relationships to move forward together.
WHO WE'RE SEEKING
We are looking for a dynamic, powerhouse writer with a sharp creative voice, and the ability to break through the noise and shape compelling narratives that strengthens donor understanding of and support for movement-led solutions. The ideal candidate brings creativity, a strong narrative instinct, and the ability to tell fresh and persuasive stories about complex issues. The Lead Writer must be able to discern what story needs to be told, for which audience, and why, and translate complex movement realities, data, and geopolitical context into persuasive, high-impact writing, tailored to audiences as needed. Experience in telling the stories of social and climate justice movements is a plus.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Working under the direction of the Director of Communications, the Lead Writer will manage organizational writing and content development to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with Thousand Currents' voice and brand. They will write high-impact, donor facing communications (one pagers, fact sheets, concept notes, educational materials and messaging for donor organizing and education); thought leadership pieces (op-eds, speeches, "Letters from the CEO," long form website posts); and other more traditional organizational materials (organizational brochures, Annual Report).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Writing and Narrative Strategy (50%)
* Write high-impact articles, op-eds, speeches, and letters that articulate Thousand Currents' vision and strategies. Produce writing that cuts through conventional narratives, sparks curiosity, and, positioning Global South movements as indispensable to solving global crises.
* Bring creativity and strong editorial judgment to narrative framing, experimenting thoughtfully with structure, tone, and storytelling approaches to help Thousand Currents reach key stakeholders.
* Serve as a thought partner and editorial collaborator to the Director of Communications, President & CEO, and senior leaders to shape and produce thought leadership that advances Thousand Currents' influence in philanthropy and climate justice spaces.
* Identify narrative opportunities and emerging conversations where Thousand Currents can contribute a unique perspective
* Provide crisis communications writing/editing support, ensuring clarity, alignment, and tight messaging under time-sensitive conditions.
* Translate data,movement realities, and strategy into writing that is accessible, fresh, and free from jargon or overly institutional language.
* Stay up to date on philanthropic trends, movement ecosystems, and geopolitical developments to inform writing and ensure timely, relevant content.
Supporters & Community Communications (35%)
* Craft stories that expand audiences' understanding of the roles, contributions, and solutions of movements, connecting local experiences with global trends, and showcasing solidarity across borders.
* Work in close cooperation across teams to develop educational materials, stories, and messaging for donor organizing and education, campaigns, website content, donor journeys, and evergreen materials.
* Create, oversee, and update key materials for donor audiences including one-pagers, fact sheets, reports, brochures, and other materials as needed.
* Serve as lead writer for major organizational products such as the Annual Report and other organizational priorities.
* Ensure all fundraising and donor communications maintain editorial excellence and align with Thousand Currents' voice, tone, and values.
Team Collaboration & Operational Support (15%)
* Work in close collaboration across the Philanthropic Partnerships and Influence Team (PPI), the Center for Transforming Philanthropy, and the Global Programs Team to strengthen storytelling systems, information flow, and success of organization wide activities and events.
* Participate in organization-wide learning, including staff meetings, retreats and training.
* Manage regular personal administration, including timely submission of receipts, reimbursement requests, scheduling, travel planning, filing HR paperwork etc.
* Provide back-up support for social media and communications operations
For complete job description and to apply, visit:
https://thousandcurrents.bamboohr.com/careers/63
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit:
* Your CV or resume
* A motivation letter (maximum one page, details below)
* Two writing samples (published or unpublished, attached as PDFs or shared as links)
Motivation Letter
We are interested in learning about your experience as a writer, and how you approach storytelling and narrative development. Tell us about a piece of writing, project, or moment that shaped how you think about telling stories, especially for mission-centered work, and what you'd bring to this role at Thousand Currents. Please limit your response to 450-500 words or fewer.
Writing Sample
Please submit two writing samples (published or unpublished). We encourage candidates to submit samples that reflect the breadth of their writing abilities. While donor facing communications, executive thought leadership, and movement centered writing are highly relevant to this role, we also welcome work that demonstrates originality, strong narrative instincts, or creative storytelling.
Please limit each sample to five pages (or provide excerpts if longer).
For each sample, include a brief context summary (3–5 bullet points) covering:
* Intended audience
* Purpose of the piece
* Your specific role (and collaborators, if applicable)
* Impact or outcomes, if known
https://thousandcurrents.bamboohr.com/careers