Development Writer

Job Title: Development Writer
Location: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, Lafayette, LA
Position Type: Full-Time
Department: Office of Development
Reports To: Sr. Director of Development, Strategic Initiatives

Position Overview: The Development Writer works collaboratively as an important Development team member in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Advancement Division and in strong partnership with the Advancement Communications team in the Office of Communications and Marketing. The Development Writer plays a crucial role in advancing the mission of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette by crafting compelling narratives that inspire philanthropic support. This position involves writing and editing various materials, including proposals, fundraising appeals, donor reports, and stewardship communications.

Responsibilities

• Donor Communications: Develop personalized donor correspondence, including thank-you letters, impact reports, email updates, video scripts, and more.
• Fundraising Appeals: Create persuasive fundraising content for annual giving campaigns, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Proposal Writing: Collaborate with development staff to craft unique major gift proposals, proposal templates, and standard gift opportunities for self-service use by the development team.
• Storytelling: Craft compelling stories highlighting donor contributions' impact on students, faculty, and university programs.
• Collaboration: Work closely with development officers, faculty, and other Advancement staff to gather information and ensure accuracy in all communications and consistency with university themes, brand, and design.
• Editing and Proofreading: Review, edit, and polish existing materials for clarity, grammar, and adherence to university style guidelines.
• Content Management: Maintain a library of development communications resources, including templates and sample documents.
• Event Support: Attend and support university philanthropy-related events, helping to script and coordinate speakers, provide copy for collateral materials, and craft messaging in line with strategy for event.

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, or a related field

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
• Minimum of 2 years of professional writing experience, preferably in academic development
• Experience writing compelling and clear communications for diverse audiences
• Experience coordinating with team members across departments, including creating and meeting deadlines and keeping team members on schedule
• Experience co-creating and implementing communication strategies
• Experience working with project management tools

Skills:

• Proficient critical thinker and communicator with the ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging content
• Ability to work collaboratively and forge strong partnerships with Advancement colleagues, faculty, senior leadership, and administration leaders
• Exceptional creative and technical writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Strong research and analytical abilities
• Working knowledge of fundraising fundamentals, donor relations, and academia
• Knowledge of AP Style or Chicago Manual of Style
• Demonstrated ability to craft persuasive and engaging content that inspires readers to act
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management systems
• Excels at working independently, demonstrating strong self-motivation and initiative
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with donor databases and fundraising software
• Ability to work effectively with people of different backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion 

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and three writing samples to kate.durio@louisiana.edu by January 13, 2025.