Development Writer, University Advancement, Stewardship
Deadline: 08-06-2018
Job No.: 519425
Department: University Advancement
Type: Administrative Professional
Salary Range: Negotiable
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Description
Advancement Marketing & Communications, a unit within University Advancement, is seeking a collaborative, discreet, and diligent professional to research, write and edit content and material that support University Advancement’s mission through fundraising strategies such as: donor cultivation, solicitation and recognition.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
Directly reporting to the Director of Stewardship, and with the support of the Director of Stewardship, the Development Writer will:
Write & Edit (60%)
Produces proposals, endowment reports and stewardship documents for hard-copy or electronic submission as required by prospective donors, or private funding organizations/foundations.
Reviews, edits, and writes broad-spectrum of fundraising and stewardship tools that can be customized for individual circumstances.
Interviews faculty and students regarding their privately funded work and writes endowment reports either through hard-copy or electronic submission to inform donors of the impact of their private support and the importance of their endowment.This includes the Comprehensive Investment Fund Report.
Drafts, edits and fact-checks talking points, speeches, briefing papers, correspondence and other materials as requested to support university leadership in their advancement activities.
Assists in the preparation, production and evaluation of stewardship-related programs and activities such as the university-wide investiture.
Researches and writes donor and faculty biographies for gift recognitions, investiture program and website, award recognitions, and other purposes.
Monitors program efforts and create marketing plans in order to maintain and improve the quality, consistency and timeliness of donor communications.
Writes copy for plaques and tributes to honor benefactors as needed.
Shapes editorial assets for a variety of media platforms.
Research & Coordination (30%)
With development directors identifies pertinent topics, interviews sources and collects information to compose proposals, stewardship reports, talking points, discussion papers, graphics, and photography.
Researches and analyzes donor priorities, corresponding university priorities and strengths, and donor/university history and relationship.
Researches and compares fundraising standards among peer institutions (e.g. standards for naming a physical facility or a faculty position) and shares with other members of the Marketing and Communications team.
Publication Production (10%)
Prepares proposals and stewardship reports for production.
Reviews and or edits manuscripts, news articles and other content containing sensitive information.
Proofreads and edit materials by peers in the department.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
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; 3 year of fundraising and donor communication experience in higher education or readily transferable skills and a proven track record of working in a complex environment; 3 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.
How to apply
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Heather Worland Chen, Director of Stewardship at chenheat@msu.edu.
All candidates must submit an application and resume through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system the URL for that website is www.careers.msu.edu. Please indicate the position number 519425 when submitting your application.
Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.
MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.
MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.