Director of Philanthropic Communications

Director of Philanthropic Communications

Employee Classification: Dir Division Communications

Campus: University of North Texas, Denton

Division: UNT-Advancement

Salary: $81,792 - $83,652

The University of North Texas Division of University Advancement seeks a strategic, detail‑oriented, donor‑centered communicator and leader to serve as Director of Philanthropic Communications. Under the direction of the Executive Director & Chief Communications Strategist for Advancement, this position develops and manages content that supports major gift fundraising, donor stewardship, and philanthropic storytelling. The Director works closely with development officers, college/unit partners, and colleagues across Advancement to create high‑impact donor proposal templates, announcements, and stories that reflect UNT’s mission and the power of philanthropy.

The role leads the execution of the Advancement Gift Communications Plan, coordinates messaging and donor approvals for major gift announcements, and produces compelling materials that demonstrate donor impact. In addition to major gift communications, the Director contributes to division‑wide projects such as the Philanthropy Annual Report, donor‑focused newsletters, and presidential donor communications. The Director ensures that all philanthropic content aligns with UNT’s voice, brand, and strategic priorities, and supports meaningful engagement with alumni, donors, and friends of the university.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business Administration, Public Relations, or a related field, and six years of progressively responsible professional experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• Knowledge of the communications field.
• Ability to coordinate and supervise the work of others, work under pressure, meet deadlines, conduct multiple tasks, and establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to build and sustain strategic relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to conceptualize, write, edit and oversee the creation of strategic, accurate and concise content for internal and external audiences.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct complex, multi‑unit projects and workflows.

• Experience in higher education advancement, development communications, or nonprofit fundraising.
• Familiarity with CASE standards for donor recognition and stewardship.
• Experience working with fundraising databases, project management tools, or content management systems.

• Strategic Leadership and Oversight
  • Establish and oversee philanthropic communications strategy, editorial standards, and messaging frameworks used across Advancement and partner units.
  • Provide clear editorial direction and final content guidance for donor‑facing materials, ensuring consistency in tone, accuracy, and impact.
  • Supervise and mentor two full‑time senior communications strategists, supporting professional development, performance management, and strategic alignment across teams.
  • Contribute to oversight and coordination of division‑wide communications initiatives to ensure philanthropic messaging is aligned and cohesive.
• Major Gift Communications
  • Serve as the primary communications partner to the development team for high‑level donor engagement and solicitations.
  • Write and produce compelling campaign collateral, proposals, and donor‑facing materials that reflect institutional priorities and philanthropic impact.
  • Lead implementation and execution of the Advancement Gift Communications Plan, including coordination with CSU/UBSC partners and management of messaging, approvals, and publication processes for gifts above $1M.
  • Collaborate with college and unit partners to support and review communications for gifts below $1M, providing strategic writing, editing, and design guidance as needed.
• Donor Impact and Philanthropic Storytelling
  • Contribute to planning and writing for the Philanthropy Annual Report, donor‑focused e‑newsletters, and presidential fundraising communications.
  • Develop and refine…