Climate Breakthrough Job Summary

Job Title: Philanthropic Communications Expert (Freelance)
Location: Remote (Worldwide)
Closing Date: 3 July 2026
Contract: Flat fee of $40,000-$50,000, from late August 2026 to February 2027

About Climate Breakthrough

Climate Breakthrough is a funding intermediary dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through innovative philanthropy.

The organization mobilizes global philanthropic capital via the Climate Breakthrough Award to support visionary strategists developing transformative initiatives across policy, economic, and social domains.

The program offers multimillion-dollar, multiyear, flexible funding complemented by capacity-building resources, combining the innovative spirit of DARPA and ARPA-E with the agility of venture capital.

The Opportunity

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Climate Breakthrough seeks a strategic communications firm to lead a philanthropic communications refresh.

This project aims to redefine the organization’s positioning, clarify its unique role in the climate philanthropy space, and enhance external engagement.

The firm will work with internal insights to:

Develop a refreshed brand voice and messaging framework
Create audience-specific messaging for funders, grantees, peers, and media
Revise and produce key collateral, including one- and two-pagers, fundraising materials, and website content
Design and deliver staff and board training on the new messaging
Implement a multi-year communications roadmap

Key Deliverables

Strategy and Messaging

Refresh brand guide with updated voice and principles
Develop audience-specific messaging frameworks
Refine description of Climate Breakthrough’s work and theory of change

Collateral and Copy

Produce updated public documents and fundraising materials
Audit and revise website content
Create an FAQ document tailored to stakeholders

Training

Conduct philanthropy communications training for staff
Conduct training for board members to articulate the organization’s value

Implementation

Develop a multi-year communications strategy for internal consistency and increased visibility

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal firm will be a strategic partner with senior-level expertise, capable of elevating positioning, challenging assumptions, and providing outside perspective.

Fluency in global philanthropy, high-impact climate action, and fundraising is essential.

Experience with nonprofit communications alone is insufficient.

The firm should have a proven track record of working with philanthropic organizations, delivering messaging, positioning projects, and training.

Working with Climate Breakthrough

The project will be managed primarily by the Senior Manager of Communications & Engagement, with a dedicated senior team.

The firm should be available within US time zones, especially Eastern and Pacific hours.

Existing strategy documents and brand assets will be provided prior to the project’s start.

Budget and Timeline

Budget Range: $40,000 – $50,000 (flat fee)
Project Duration: Late August 2026 – February 2027
Proposal Submission Deadline: July 3, 2026

Key Dates

June 12: RFP issued
July 3: Proposals due
July 5-10: Internal review
July 15-17: Finalist discussions
July 20–August 14: Selection and contracting
August 28: Project kickoff
February/March 2027: Project completion

Proposal Submission Requirements

Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF to Tony Bricktua at tony@climatebreakthrough.org with the subject line: RFP CB Philanthropic Communications (Your Firm Name).

The proposal should not exceed 10 pages (excluding work samples) and must include: