The Content Writer for the Principal Partnerships Creative Studio collaborates with internal and external partners to equip Virginia Tech Advancement teams in LINK and Principal Gifts (PG) to secure gifts and cultivate relationships with select donor corporations, foundations, and individuals.
The Content Writer is part of a vibrant team dedicated to engaging C-suite and high-capacity donors or decision-makers through exquisite, meaningful, and innovative content. This person will highlight the impact of philanthropy with human-centered content focused on student success, faculty discoveries, emerging technologies, big ideas, successful partnerships, and more.
While embedded in the Principal Partnerships Creative Studio, the Content Writer will also be a member of Virginia Tech’s larger Communications and Marketing team. The position reports to the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing for Principal Partnerships and collaborates with myriad colleagues at all levels of the university, including senior leadership, to deliver timely, compelling, and often sensitive materials in support of the university’s major strategic objectives.
Essential duties and responsibilities include:
- Author and co-create compelling communication materials that appeal to both PG-level donors and principal corporate partners. Author stewardship materials, case studies, fundraising proposals, cases for support, or presentations to foundations, corporations, and individuals with capacity to give $5M or more.
- Work with the corporate business development team to understand portfolio objectives, key messages, and target audiences in order to inform content creation.
- Work closely with the Principal Partnerships Creative Studio leadership team and faculty stakeholders, in order to bring bold visions to life with engaging copy.
- Research strategic university initiatives and areas ripe for partnerships and/or donor investment to articulate areas of support and impact.
- Capture, shape, and synthesize information, statistics, and other supporting materials to enhance persuasive writing to inspire giving to strategic initiatives at Virginia Tech.
- Interview a variety of senior leaders, faculty, researchers, students, other members of the university community, and external stakeholders or subject matter experts with curiosity and focus to create fundraising materials.
- Translate highly technical information and academic jargon into clear, compelling, and grammatically correct content accessible to a wide variety of target audiences.
- Write, edit, copy edit, and proofread proposals or other materials in support of fundraising objectives.
- Collaborate with graphic designers, project managers, fundraisers, and other colleagues to produce content and leverage earned, owned, or paid media channels in support of fundraising objectives.
- Meet long-term and short-term deadlines, which sometimes shift on quick notice as opportunities emerge.
- Integrate visuals and statistics with words through print pieces, as well as dynamic websites, blogging, vlogging, and other electronic materials, in support of strategic fundraising objectives.
