Herc-Higher Education Recruitment Consortium

The Donor Relations Writer is responsible for researching and developing narratives that communicate the impact of a donor's philanthropy including gift acknowledgement letters, stewardship reports and other written and digital materials. The Donor Relations Writer reports to the Director of Donor Relations and Principal Gift Stewardship in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. The Lehigh community takes seriously our commitment to antiracism and The Principles of our Equitable Community.

1.Write, edit and manage the creation of compelling collateral to steward donors of all giving levels
*Research and develop compelling and creative narratives that communicate the impact of a donor’s philanthropy for stewardship reports, recognition and other written and digital materials
*Develop and implement strategies utilizing the platform most appropriate for the audience
*Ensure timely and appropriate impact reporting for initiatives, milestones and individual donors and funds as needed
*Work with other donor relations team members to develop opportunities to repackage content in other written and digital materials
*Conduct research and benchmarking to incorporate best practices and innovations in stewardship to offer new and creative materials for donors

2. Develop, implement and regularly evaluate processes for effective content collection from University collaborators, including students, faculty, staff, administrators and fundraisers
*Develop, implement and regularly evaluate a process for gathering information in a timely and efficient manner
*Liaise with faculty, staff, and students to address questions and ensure accuracy of content
*Remain current with and understand how to implement the latest technology trends in order to employ the best strategies and tools to meet stewardship objectives

3. Write acknowledgment letters from the Vice President, President and Chair of the Board of Trustees for gifts to the University
*Collaborate with other Donor Relations Writers to create template letters and suggested options for personalization
*Write individual letters and work in conjunction with gift officers to obtain input and approval on acknowledgements for their assigned prospects
*Ensure that acknowledgements are coordinated with correspondence from other areas and mailed within a best practice timeframe

4. Edit and proof final donor relations materials, ensuring that the best editorial standards are met
*Address questions or concerns with authors
*Edit and proof copy to ensure that it is in line with University style guide and branding

5. Utilize strong interpersonal skills to manage collaborator and client expectations
*Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external designers, photographers, printers and vendors for various stewardship projects
*Stay abreast of best practices in donor relations communications
*Contribute to a culture of high performance, excellence and quality

Grade: 9 - 40

Position Number: S80800

Special Considerations

The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by the supervisor

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism, Marketing, Communications or a related field; Master’s Degree preferred

Three to five years of related work experience

Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills

Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, time management and sound judgment

Solid analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills

Ability to build, foster and maintain positive professional relationships

Solid computer skills with experience using word processing, spreadsheet and database software

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position

All Lehigh faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated and receive a booster shot six months after their second vaccine; unless they receive an approved medical or religious exemption from the requirement.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety.  Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.