Position Overview #
The Civil Society Technology Foundation (CSTF) seeks a strategic Marketing Manager who understands how to authentically communicate the importance of digital self-determination to diverse audiences. This role requires balancing traditional marketing effectiveness with our principles of transparent governance, community-driven growth, and ethical technology practices.
As a volunteer-led US 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, CSTF empowers individuals and communities to reclaim control over their digital lives through open-source, self-hosted technologies. Our Marketing Manager will help us reach the people and organizations who most need our tools and educational resources.
About CSTF #
The Civil Society Technology Foundation operates on the principle that digital technology is, in its essence, a common good. We collaborate to remove barriers to creating, sharing, and using software through:
- Open software development - Building tools like our flagship Wild Cloud project
- Educational resources - Creating accessible learning materials for digital autonomy
- Community engagement - Fostering networks of technologists and civil society advocates
Our marketing philosophy emphasizes “healthy ecosystems win” - we measure success by genuine utility to communities, not vanity metrics or engagement-driven approaches that compromise user welfare.
Primary Responsibilities #
Strategic Communications #
- Develop and execute comprehensive marketing strategies aligned with CSTF’s principles and mission
- Create compelling messaging that explains digital self-determination concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Manage CSTF’s public communications across multiple channels while maintaining authentic voice and values
- Coordinate marketing efforts with community development, education, and fundraising initiatives
Content Marketing & Storytelling #
- Develop content strategies that highlight the practical benefits of digital autonomy and self-hosted technologies
- Create and coordinate production of blog posts, case studies, success stories, and educational content
- Tell authentic stories about community members achieving digital self-determination
- Produce content that demonstrates rather than merely advocates for our principles
Digital Outreach & Platform Management #
- Manage CSTF’s presence on appropriate digital platforms while respecting our self-determination principles
- Develop strategies for reaching audiences on centralized platforms without compromising our values
- Create pathways for moving audiences from centralized platforms to community-owned spaces
- Balance pragmatic outreach needs with principled technology choices
Brand Development & Messaging #
- Develop and maintain consistent brand messaging that reflects CSTF’s values of transparency and community empowerment
- Create marketing materials that are accessible to diverse audiences with varying technical backgrounds
- Ensure all marketing communications align with our principle of “critical adoption over blind use”
- Develop messaging frameworks for Wild Cloud and other CSTF initiatives
Required Qualifications #
- Marketing Experience: 3+ years of marketing experience, preferably with technology organizations, nonprofits, or mission-driven companies
- Values Alignment: Deep understanding of and commitment to digital rights, open-source principles, and community empowerment
- Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication abilities for diverse audiences and contexts
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term marketing strategies that balance effectiveness with ethical considerations
- Content Creation: Experience creating compelling content across multiple formats and platforms
Preferred Qualifications #
- Open Source Community: Experience marketing within open-source, privacy-focused, or digital rights communities
- Nonprofit Marketing: Understanding of nonprofit marketing constraints, funding communication, and mission-driven messaging
- Technical Understanding: Familiarity with self-hosted infrastructure, federated systems, and digital privacy concepts
- Community-Driven Marketing: Experience with grassroots marketing, community advocacy, and word-of-mouth strategies
- Creative Skills: Ability to create visual content, infographics, or multimedia materials
Key Success Metrics #
- Growth in awareness and understanding of digital self-determination concepts
- Increased engagement with CSTF educational resources and community platforms
- Successful outreach to target audiences including civil society organizations, educational institutions, and privacy-conscious individuals
- Quality of community growth (depth of engagement rather than just numbers)
- Effective communication of Wild Cloud benefits and adoption pathways
- Alignment between marketing messaging and actual community experience
Marketing Philosophy & Approach #
Authentic Engagement Over Manipulation #
- Focus on genuinely useful content rather than engagement-driven tactics
- Respect audience autonomy and decision-making processes
- Avoid dark patterns, manipulative design, or pressure tactics
- Prioritize informed consent over conversion optimization
Community-Driven Growth #
- Amplify community voices and success stories rather than organizational self-promotion
- Create marketing strategies that strengthen rather than extract from communities
- Develop peer-to-peer advocacy programs and word-of-mouth strategies
- Support community members in becoming effective advocates for digital self-determination
Educational Marketing #
- Use marketing as an opportunity to educate about digital rights and technological choices
- Create content that helps audiences understand trade-offs and make informed decisions
- Integrate marketing efforts with educational resources and learning pathways
- Focus on building understanding rather than just awareness
Transparent Communication #
- Practice transparent communication about CSTF’s funding, governance, and decision-making
- Be honest about limitations, challenges, and areas for improvement
- Share both successes and failures as learning opportunities for the community
- Maintain accountability to community feedback and input
Target Audiences #
Primary Audiences #
- Civil society organizations seeking digital independence and security
- Privacy-conscious individuals looking for alternatives to centralized platforms
- Open-source enthusiasts interested in contributing to community-owned infrastructure
- Educators and students seeking practical digital literacy resources
Secondary Audiences #
- Small businesses interested in reducing dependency on big tech platforms
- Community organizers needing secure, self-controlled communication tools
- Technical professionals wanting to contribute skills to meaningful projects
- Policy makers seeking to understand practical alternatives to regulatory approaches
Organizational Culture & Values #
This role requires deep alignment with CSTF’s core principles:
- Healthy Ecosystems Win: Success measured by genuine utility to communities, not popularity or funding
- Transparent Governance: All marketing decisions and strategies should be visible and accountable
- Tools Over Policy: Focus marketing on practical solutions rather than advocacy or policy positions
- Critical Adoption over Blind Use: Help audiences make informed choices about technology trade-offs
- Self-determination by Design: Ensure marketing practices respect user autonomy and consent
Compensation & Structure #
This is a volunteer leadership position with the Civil Society Technology Foundation. As we grow and secure funding, this role may transition to a paid position based on organizational capacity and marketing program success.
How to Apply #
CSTF seeks marketers who understand how to build authentic relationships and communicate complex ideas while maintaining ethical standards. We welcome applications from individuals who share our vision of technology serving communities rather than exploiting them.
To express interest in this position:
- Join our community at forum.civilsociety.dev
- Review our principles and mission to understand our values-based approach
- Introduce yourself as a reply to this forum post (or message the post’s author) and share your vision for ethical marketing in the digital rights and open-source space
We operate with transparent, distributed governance and welcome collaborative input on marketing strategy and ethical communication practices.
Contact #
For questions about this position or CSTF’s marketing initiatives, reply to this forum post.
Join us in building marketing strategies that respect human agency, strengthen communities, and advance genuine digital self-determination through authentic, transparent communication.