Senior Copywriter for Fundraising

About the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation
Founded in 2003, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to generating philanthropic support for the University of Massachusetts Amherst's mission and aspirations. Based on the Amherst campus, UMAF operates independently, providing its own health, wellness, and retirement benefits, while serving as a vital resource for best practices in fundraising strategy and execution.

Position Overview
Reporting to the Senior Director of Content Development, the Senior Content Writer is responsible for crafting and enhancing alumni and donor communications across various platforms, ensuring alignment with UMAF's strategic fundraising and engagement objectives.

Key Responsibilities
1. Collaborate with the Senior Director and Marketing Communications team to implement effective communication strategies that promote campaign priorities, alumni engagement, and fundraising goals.
2. Create and refine engaging digital and print materials that highlight UMass Amherst's academic strengths and vibrant student life, encouraging alumni participation and increased donations.
3. Generate impactful stories and donor profiles for the UMAF Newsletter and campaign website; conduct interviews and write compelling narratives while coordinating with the MarCom team to disseminate these stories effectively.
4. Acquire in-depth knowledge of the upcoming campaign's foundational commitments and fundraising priorities to develop messaging, templates, and proposals for fundraisers.
5. Research and draft suggested remarks for university administration and high-level volunteers, focusing on fundraising and volunteer engagement.
6. Assist the MarCom team in ensuring all communications adhere to the university's branding, editorial style, and grammatical standards.

Additional Responsibilities
As UMAF continues to grow, this role will also involve supporting various projects and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, English, communications, or a related field.
- Minimum of five years of writing experience in journalism, communications, marketing, or a similar area, preferably in higher education.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to write persuasively.
- Experience in creating content for diverse audiences across multiple channels.
- Strong collaboration skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at various levels and convey key messages in line with the overall communication strategy.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining high quality standards.
- Effective problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate challenging situations diplomatically.

Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in writing donor proposals or producing grant applications is a plus.

Benefits
- Generous vacation and sick leave policies.
- Flexible summer work schedule.
- 401(k) plan with employer matching.
- Comprehensive health insurance options.
- Paid parental leave with additional support for new parents.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
UMAF values diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, recognizing that diverse teams enhance our decision-making and effectiveness.

Our Values
UMAF is dedicated to building a team that embodies our core values: Service, Trust, Transparency, Teamwork, Excellence, Wellness, Accountability, Respect, Donor-Centricity, and Synergy.

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