Development Writer

Development Writer

Salary Range: $45,000.00 To 65,000.00 Annually  

Position Summary

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring a Development Writer to join our team. This position will play an important role in advancing our mission through innovative and quality donor communications and will be responsible for developing persuasive content that articulates the impact of philanthropy and our organizational goals to engage donors and prospects. The Development Writer will harness storytelling to enhance donor understanding and will support and craft messages that connect emotionally and intellectually with diverse audiences. 

Additionally, this role will be responsible for planning and executing donor communications and will use storytelling strategies, to write, edit, and design a variety of materials, including donor reports, fact sheets, annual reports, website copy, acknowledgment letters, event talking points, and other collateral. This role is designed for a flexible, dynamic individual who is adept at managing complex projects under tight deadlines, who is skilled in both independent and collaborative work settings and committed to using communication as a tool to impact change and drive philanthropy.

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. We respect the different needs of diverse people and partner with them to develop a shared vision for progress—one that advances communities while protecting biodiversity.

Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and holding decision makers accountable. This on-the-ground-work with policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife—and sustains the lives and livelihoods of the West.

Location

This position may work remotely in our seven-state region, in one of our six offices, or a hybrid of the two. Our seven-state region includes Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. WRA has offices located in Boulder, CO; Carson City, NV; Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; and Santa Fe, NM. 

Responsibilities 

DONOR ENGAGEMENT

• Develop and execute creative and strategic communications to engage prospects and donors in advancing WRA’s mission
• Use content and communications to help make connections, build relationships, and raise critical funding.
• Develop compelling solicitations and pitches for strategic initiatives in partnership with the Principal Gifts Team.
• Draft compelling and persuasive content that increases the understanding of our work and the impact of philanthropy.
• Work with fundraising officers to write and edit complex solicitation proposals for prospects and donors.

RESEARCH & CONTENT CREATION

• Research, write, and edit various print and digital materials, including case statements, gift proposals, impact statements, presentations, brochures, feature stories, donor profiles, solicitation and stewardship letters, speeches, and other donor communication materials as needed.
• Develop relevant information and stories with the ability to translate technical information for a variety of audiences, an aptitude for creating multiple types of content, and a talent for researching and writing compelling content to be shared with donors and prospects.
• Independently incorporate changes, comments, and critiques from multiple reviewers using exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Conduct interviews with internal stakeholders to gather and craft informative and accurate materials.
• In collaboration with team members, identify topics with visual and audio elements to create stories that exploit those qualities for use in videos, podcasts, infographics, slideshows, and other media as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure consistency with theme, brand, design, and content.

COLLABORATION

• Develop content in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure consistency with theme, brand, design, and content.
• Work closely with the Marketing and Communications department to highlight WRA’s work, create a high-profile presence, and reach new donor audiences.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Flexible and deadline-driven, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Collaborate as needed to produce print, online, and video collateral and assist in writing and editing reports and related materials for other donor audiences as assigned.
• Develop and manage a calendar of forward-looking donor communications to ensure a pipeline of relevant and timely content for key donor audiences.
• Manage editorial projects from conception to completion, including brainstorming ideas, research, setting and meeting deadlines, getting feedback, making revisions, proofreading, and copy editing.

QUALIFCATIONS & COMPENTENCIES

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position, will be considered.  For example, the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities would include:

• At least 3 years as a writer and content creator in fundraising, nonprofit, public relations, or related field.
• Experience implementing and co-creating communication strategies.
• Experience writing compelling and clear communications for diverse audiences.
• Highly detail-oriented with excellent organizational and project management abilities.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent writing, editorial, and communications skills, including the ability to prepare materials for different audiences and purposes.
• History of progressive experience in fundraising, journalism, and/or programmatic writing.
• Experience researching, analyzing, interpreting, and compiling technical information from divergent sources, and translating that information for different audiences.
• Research, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Experience coordinating team members across departments, including creating and meeting deadlines and keeping team members on schedule.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
• Experience working with project management tools such as Asana.
• Demonstrated sensitivity in handling confidential information.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some travel is required.

Salary And Benefits

The salary range is $45,000-$65,000 annually, salary depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the top of the range. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k)-retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive seventeen days paid vacation leave, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day, twelve paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off. Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. Colorado staff receive an RTD EcoPass. Position is full-time exempt.

Deadline To Apply: Open Until Filled with priority review beginning on Monday, July 22, 2024.

Diversity and inclusion are a critical component of our business strategy, mission and vision. We welcome candidates from an array of backgrounds and experiences to join our team. Learn more about our commitment here: https://wraoldsite.wpengine.com/#commitment-to-diversity.

Western Resource Advocates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

Apply To Be WRA’s Development Writer!