Copywriter

Our higher education client is looking for a Copywriter starting this month and going into the New Year; this is a 40 hour a week contract role that is onsite in Cambridge 1-2 times a week. Previous experience writing for higher education clients a must and any donor writing samples are a bonus, and a journalist background is also beneficial for this role.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Copywriter/Copyeditor will focus on writing and editing support for the Resource Development program and related activities to major and principal gift donors. The Writer/Editor will complete the following tasks according to project schedules

• Participate in training and orientation to the systems and processes that support the Presidential Correspondence program, including, but not limited to, review of documentation for presidential correspondence, documentation for acknowledgements, and the Editorial Style Guide.

• Prepare, assemble, and produce written materials for RD donors and prospects on behalf of the President.

o Assure consistency in formatting and adherence with the Editorial Style Guide

o Verify donor information, assuring accuracy of salutations, addresses, and delivery methods. Preview report packets to confirm that all report components are present and in correct sequence.

• Draft correspondence from the President while working closely with colleagues within Resource Development to coordinate review and approval of drafts.

o New Year’s greetings for select current and prospective donors and volunteers, as recommended by relationship managers, in the form of either a printed and mailedNew Year’s card (which can include handwritten notes) or a Lunar New Year’s email.

o Follow-up notes regarding events, meetings, and business travel

o Special outreach about key announcements and achievements, select news articles, and certain crises and natural disasters

o Replies to select incoming presidential correspondence

o Congratulatory notes recognizing professional accomplishments, personal news, receipt of awards, transformative gifts to other institutions

• Create personalized vice-presidential and presidential acknowledgement letters for donors and volunteers who make commitments during the end-of-the-calendar year period. Research donor records, analyze commitments, and perform thorough review of terms of gifts and donor’s relationships using internal and external resources.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years professional writing experience. Experience in donor relations and stewardship preferred.

• Must have exceptional writing skills, a proven ability to write in another person’s voice, and a proven ability to perform copyediting work for grammar, spelling, accuracy, format, and tone to maintain the highest standards at all times.

• Must have planning and project management abilities, including developing and maintaining project schedules and managing review processes.

• Skilled in working both collaboratively and independently; detail oriented and organized.

• Analytic and research skills to gather and determine essential data from a variety of written sources

• An understanding of higher education and fundraising preferred.

• Proficiency with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Facility with fundraising databases like Advance and FileMaker highly desirable. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign), content management systems, and software in a Mac environment is a plus.