Donor Relations Writer

Key Accountabilities

• Writes, edits, and manages the creation of compelling written and digital collateral designed to steward, recognize, and engage donors across all giving levels.
• Researches and develops creative, impactful narratives that clearly communicate the real-world impact of philanthropy for donor stewardship reports, milestones, and specific funds.
• Develops and implements customized communication strategies, selecting the most appropriate digital or traditional platforms to effectively reach and resonate with targeted audiences.
• Collaborates with donor relations team members to repurpose and repackage content, while conducting benchmarking research to integrate industry best practices and innovative stewardship materials.
• Develops, implements, and regularly evaluates efficient processes for gathering timely information from University collaborators, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, and fundraisers.
• Liaises with faculty, staff, and students to address questions and verify content accuracy, while staying current on and implementing the latest technology trends to optimize stewardship objectives.
• Writes high-level acknowledgment letters on behalf of the Vice President, President, and Chair of the Board of Trustees for gifts made to the University.
• Collaborates with donor relations writers and gift officers to create personalized letter templates, secure necessary approvals for assigned prospects, and ensure all correspondence is coordinated and mailed within best-practice timeframes.
• Edits and proofs final donor relations materials to ensure strict compliance with the University style guide, branding, and highest editorial standards, while directly addressing any copy questions or concerns with authors.
• Utilizes strong interpersonal skills to manage collaborator expectations and maintain productive partnerships with designers, photographers, and vendors, while staying current on donor relations best practices to foster a culture of high performance and quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in English, Journalism, Marketing, Communications or a related field
• Master's Degree preferred
• Three to five years of related work experience
• Demonstrated experience in professional writing — fundraising, higher education, journalism, or a related field
• The ability to translate complex academic or research content into accessible, engaging prose for a donor audience
• Comfort working within a collaborative advancement operation, where accuracy and discretion are non-negotiable
• Familiarity with donor relations or gift stewardship practice in a university or nonprofit context
• Exceptional editing skills and a consistent, polished writing voice across formats and channels