Creative Director

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan is seeking a Creative Director to lead the organization’s creative vision and storytelling strategy. In this onsite Southfield, MI role, you will help transform wish stories, fundraising initiatives, campaigns, and events into engaging communications and experiences that feel emotionally resonant and unmistakably aligned with brand standards.

You will guide end-to-end creative development, from concept and creative frameworks to the direction needed for consistent execution across touchpoints. Working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams, you will build story strategies that strengthen awareness, trust, and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision for organizational campaigns, fundraising initiatives, mission storytelling, and engagement efforts.
• Develop original concepts and creative frameworks to enhance brand awareness, trust, and community engagement.
• Drive consistency across events, campaigns, donor communications, wish storytelling, and organizational initiatives.
• Spot opportunities to elevate the brand experience and deepen emotional connection with key audiences.
• Serve as a strategic creative partner to executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Lead creative development for signature fundraising events, donor experiences, and mission-focused experiences.
• Translate event themes into integrated experiences combining storytelling, visual direction, audience engagement, physical design concepts, and memorable experiential moments.
• Create creative briefs, concept presentations, mood boards, and experience frameworks that guide execution.
• Partner with event leadership so creative concepts advance fundraising, stewardship, and engagement objectives.
• Develop creative approaches that communicate the impact, urgency, and transformational nature of the Make-A-Wish mission.
• Partner with Mission, Development, Outreach, and Executive leadership to identify and elevate meaningful stories.
• Build storytelling frameworks for fundraising campaigns, donor engagement, corporate partnerships, and community awareness.
• Ensure stories are communicated in authentic, compelling, and mission-centered ways.
• Collaborate with Development, Mission, Outreach, Events, Operations, and Executive leadership to support organizational goals.
• Translate ideas from collaborative planning into actionable creative concepts and implementation plans.
• Support board, executive, and strategic initiatives through creative communications and experience design.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Creative Strategy, Design, Event Production, Journalism, Public Relation, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
• At least seven years of progressive experience in creative leadership, brand management, experiential marketing, communications, event design, agency leadership, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success developing creative concepts, campaigns, events, or experiences that drive audience engagement and emotional connection.
• Experience leading creative projects from concept development through implementation.
• Experience managing staff, contractors, or external creative partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Make-A-Wish Michigan.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Employee assistance programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor engagement, or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience designing large-scale events, immersive experiences, or experiential marketing initiatives.
• Experience working with creative production teams, including photography, videography, graphic design, and digital content development.
• Familiarity with Make-A-Wish America brand standards and nonprofit storytelling best practices.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Creative Vision and Innovation
• Storytelling
• Collaboration and Relationship Building
• Project Management
• Communications and Presentation
• Leadership
• Adaptability and Problem Solving
• Brand Stewardship

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Primarily operates in a professional office environment and requires regular use of computers, phones, and office equipment.
• Extended periods of sitting or computer use.
• Occasional lifting of materials up to 20 pounds.
• Occasional travel to events, partner locations, or wish-related activities.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the role.