The Division of Advancement and External Engagement is seeking a collaborative and diligent professional to research, write, and edit content and material that supports the Division of Advancements mission through fundraising strategies such as donor cultivation, solicitation and recognition.  The Advancement Writer is responsible for writing a variety of high-quality written material for donor audiences, including fundraising emails, reports, proposals, letters, and marketing collateral.  Reports to the Vice President for Advancement and External Engagement. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plans, writes, edits, and proofreads proposals for use by fundraising professionals and university leaders to solicit gifts often of seven figures or more. Prepares solicitation materials, such as appeal letters and emails, proposal templates, and case statements for targeted fundraising initiatives. These efforts include offering input on and implementing strategies for major gift asks and annual giving communications.

• The position is responsible for researching, writing, and producing highly personalized communications pieces, including major gift proposals, often of seven figures or more. The incumbent also will produce collateral such as brochures, one-sheets, and solicitation letters and emails required for fundraising activities.

• Approximately 50% of the position will be dedicated to writing support for Advancement team, submit first-time proposals and LOI’s, as well as seek out and identify opportunities for non-traditional funding/partnership requests which raises funds for the various funding priorities and initiatives.   

• Work closely with the Development Team to develop and translate Hampton’s work into appealing messaging for a wide variety of audiences including impact pieces, appeals, and cases for support.

• Helps manage Advancements pipeline and cross-team collaboration to gather insights and report to funders on progress toward grant objectives. Ensure that deliverables are being met through project management tools such as Smartsheet. 

• Helps program staff find their roles in the grantseeking and storytelling process, coach staff members in improving their writing, and provide excellent editing and proofreading for all grant materials.

• Drafts and send personalized acknowledgement letters to funders.

• Reviews edits, and writes broad-spectrum of fundraising and stewardship tools that can be customized for individual circumstances.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in English, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or related field.

• Five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in publications design and editing or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

•  Valid driver’s license required.

Desired Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree; three years of fundraising and donor communication experience in higher education or readily transferable skills and a proven track record of working in a complex environment.

• Three years of writing/editing high-quality publications with significant visibility; experiences with word processing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software; working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite software.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, organizational skills and intellectual curiosity; collaborative team-oriented style.

• Ability to work with a variety of personality types; experience with all levels of fundraising communications – annual giving through principal giving; ability to meet tight deadlines.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.