Marie Deaconu-Baylon

Chicago-based communications specialist skilled in digital marketing, storytelling, and outreach. Experience includes email campaigns, public relations, and donor cultivation. Driven by a shared mission to build community and support vulnerable people.

EDUCATION

Certificate of Digital Marketing, Columbia Business School ✦ 4/2026
Master of Social Service Administration (MSW), University of Chicago ✦ 9/2014-6/2016 Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Stanford University ✦ 6/2008-6/2012 

RELEVANT WORK HISTORY

Development and Communications Manager, Blanket Gravity Magazine 5/2023-Present ​✦ ​Chicago, IL  

  • Built base of paid newsletter subscribers for recurring annual donations. Tracked and individually acknowledged donations with personalized outreach.

  • Cultivated ongoing relationships with individual donors, updating on nonprofit milestones.

  • Responsible for donation bookkeeping, including tax filings.

  • Managed communications across email, website, and social media channels, increasing visibility and attracting recurring supporter subscriptions.

  • Designed social media posts and outreach flyers using Canva. Created and maintained Squarespace website.

  • Strengthened recruitment and audience engagement through focused media placements.

  • Led a team of 5–7 in content creation for the digital magazine and social media.

Regular Contributor, The Mighty 4/2020 – 4/2022​ ✦ Chicago, IL 

  • Wrote health narratives reaching large digital audiences, drawing upon storytelling ability and creative writing background.

  • Met with editorial teams to brainstorm and generate content ideas.

Writer and Freelance Editor 1/2017– Present ✦ Chicago, IL 

  • Completed developmental and copy editing for authors of fiction and nonfiction.

  • Trained under a competitive yearlong creative writing program with Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebecca Makkai.

  • Worked on a book-length project involving mental health narratives.

Co-Founder, Heart and Home Collaborative 7/2010-11/2013 ✦ Palo Alto, CA

  • Co-founded a women’s shelter that continues to operate.

  • Led communications to recruit volunteers, fund an operating budget of $20,000, and maintain community partnerships.

  • Wrote program proposals, an op-ed, and fundraising appeals to engage supporters.

  • Represented the organization at community and partner events.