Senior Development Writer, Donor Communications

Department
 

ARD Donor Communications

About the Department
 

Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional, and social activities on campus, around the world, and online. ARD raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

ARD Communications works with partners across ARD and the University to create fundraising and engagement materials for University of Chicago alumni, parents, and friends. Within ARD Communications, the Donor Communications team applies its creativity and expertise to the writing and editing of principal gift solicitations, annual giving appeals and event marketing, e-newsletters, stories for alumni-facing publications, including the University of Chicago Magazine, and other projects.

Job Summary
 

This position writes a variety of communications for the University. Works with moderate guidance to research, compose, and edit high-level communications, publications and/or reports with complex and specialized subject matter.

Responsibilities

• Researches and writes compelling proposals that inspire philanthropy at the highest level in support of the University's strategic initiatives and the priorities of an upcoming comprehensive campaign.
• Writes creative, engaging copy for annual giving solicitations, donor-centric websites, and other mass-market fundraising and engagement efforts, including via social media.
• Fulfills other writing, copyediting, proofreading, and editorial duties as needed.
• Contributes ideas and writing to enhance print and electronic publications, such as The University of Chicago Magazine, Short List, and The Core, donor communications, and events, including Alumni Weekend and the University’s annual Giving Day, to help ensure that they engage and delight their intended audiences.
• Collaborates with communications teams as well as fundraising officers, alumni relations staff, and communications colleagues across the University to plan and implement development communications that uphold ARD and University messaging, tone, style, and brand guidelines.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Researches, verifies, writes and edits publications, which can includes technical/scientific material for manuals or journals.
• Participates in the design and planning of communications strategies.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Writing principal gift proposals, case statements, and other fundraising communications for sophisticated general audiences.
• Writing news and feature stories for newspapers, magazines, or online outlets.
• Editing the work of others, writers and non-writers.
• Interviewing wide range of subject matter experts, including academics and scientific researchers.
• Familiarity with The Chicago Manual of Style.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including Phoenix (ARD’s next-generation fundraising technology), Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Competencies

• Exceptionally strong writing and verbal skills, including experience writing persuasively.
• High attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational skills.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Work independently on projects and events from conception to completion.
• Communicate effectively and with influence.
• Well-developed creativity, including the ability to write with humor and wit, and a sensitivity to appropriate tone depending on the audience.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence