Transformational Gifts Writer, Development

Department: Dell Medical School · Location: UT Main Campus · Full-time (40 hrs/week), FLSA Exempt · Expected start: Oct 26, 2026 · Ongoing position

About the role

The Transformational Gifts Writer provides strategic communications consultation for donor-focused communications that directly support fundraising priorities and outcomes. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development Communications, this role serves as a lead editor and writer for external content and high-level internal communications. The position collaborates with faculty, institutional communications, and marketing teams to create compelling proposals, cases for support, campaign materials, and digital content. This role ensures alignment with brand standards, best practices, and donor engagement goals, strengthening relationships with donors and stakeholders through innovative storytelling and integrated communications.

Responsibilities

Develops donor-focused communications strategy

• Advises internal clients on communications needs across the cycle of giving, aligned with approved institutional fundraising priorities
• Partners with internal clients and communications and marketing teams to ensure message alignment
• Establishes annual communications goals and evaluates effectiveness through qualitative and quantitative measures

Oversees content creation and campaign materials

• Partners directly with faculty and physicians to build fundraising priority-specific cases for support, articulate gift concepts, and ensure brand-aligned language
• Translates complex academic, clinical, and research priorities into compelling donor-ready narratives
• Serves as a lead writer and strategist for a full range of externally facing content across the cycle of giving, under tight deadlines and evolving priorities
• Inputs content into designed templates and collaborates with graphic designers on custom pieces
• Guides scripting and messaging for donor-focused events, campaigns, and leadership presentations

Proposal and case development

• Leads development of fundraising priority-aligned cases for support and gift opportunities in collaboration with administrators, faculty, and development officers
• Maintains methods and standards for tracking proposals-in-process (proposal log) using development systems or new platforms as needed
• Serves as a project lead for transformational proposals and campaign-related materials
• Ensures consistency and adaptability of campaign messaging across audiences and timelines

Collaborates with institutional partners

• Works with communications and marketing teams to integrate donor messaging into broader campaigns
• Develops internal communications strategies for the development community, keeping them informed of key related developments to inform their work and strengthen their outreach to donors and prospects
• Liaises with campus development teams for cohesive health communications
• Provides content and tools to support in-house and campus-wide fundraisers
• Participates in planning sessions for major campaigns and events

Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure; performs related duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience developing and leading fundraising or marketing communications strategy for a large institution of higher education, nonprofit, or corporate office within the health sciences
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of critical infrastructure (per Texas Executive Order GA-48)

Qualifications

Preferred

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field with at least 6 years of experience in healthcare or higher education fundraising communications

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

None required or preferred.

Skills

• Fundraising strategy and donor lifecycle
• Strategic communications, branding, and storytelling
• Academic/healthcare environment concepts
• Editorial standards and persuasive writing
• Performance measurement and CRM tools
• Strategic communications planning
• Advanced writing and editing
• Translating complex concepts into clear narratives
• Project and proposal management
• Stakeholder collaboration and influence
• Campaign and content development
• Data analysis and evaluation
• Think strategically and align with fundraising goals
• Manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines
• Build relationships and influence stakeholders
• Drive measurable results
• Maintain brand consistency
• Lead projects independently and adapt messaging

Pay

$82,329+ annually, depending on qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week; FLSA Exempt.

Working Environment

• Standard office equipment and environment
• Repetitive use of a keyboard
• For healthcare jobs, may be exposed to occupational hazards such as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications, and disoriented or combative patients