Development Writer

What We Can Achieve Together

The Development Writer (DW) is primarily responsible for leading the development and production of external facing communications materials for The Nature Conservancy in NY’s individual, foundation, and corporate major and principal gifts donors, and writing and editing materials in support of the organization’s and division’s conservation priorities. The DW will also be responsible for ghost writing for members of the division’s executive team.

The Development Writer is primarily responsible for writing and editing a variety of communications materials to engage, solicit and steward individual and institutional donors with the capacity to give at the $100,000+ level. The DW collaborates with fundraisers, conservation, program, and finance teams to craft successful letters of intent, fundraising proposals and impact reports for the Conservancy’s work in the NY Division and globally.

They may provide editorial advice and expertise to team members around donor communications. They will support the donor communications and donor messaging needs of Division conservation leads, as requested. The DW will serve as a ghost writer for members of the division’s executive team. The DW helps achieve the strategic priorities of New York development communications by collaborating closely with other team members and by helping to craft and implement an annual communication strategy.

They write, edit, design, and produce donor communications (often in collaboration with the NY Marketing team). Products may include donor thank you letters and templates, event invitations, outreach emails, presentations, and proposal/report templates. The DW works in close cooperation with any or all of the following members of the NY Division; development and conservation teams, and division leadership, legal and finance, individual donors and foundation program officers, freelance writers and designers, vendors and others, as needed.

The DW will keep up-to-date on market trends, best practices, and knowledge of centrally produced donor communications tools and practices and global campaign resources, and applies that knowledge to the organization’s fundraising goals. They are responsible for maintaining close relationships with teams in marketing and conservation to ensure consistency of messaging and materials and to foster greater organizational collaboration.

• Act independently within broad program goals to prioritize tasks in the absence of specific instructions and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
• Responsible for writing, editing, and designing proposals and other materials for donors giving at the $100,000+ level as well as proposals and letters for smaller donors.
• Manage multiple projects at the same time and serve as team lead on assigned communication initiatives.
• Accurately interpret and represent budgets and financial reports at the project, program, state, and global levels.
• Ghost write as needed for members of the executive team.
• Use a sophisticated understanding of TNC strategies, programs, partnerships and funding needs to inform work.
• Build relationships with fundraisers, finance, and conservation staff, and may engage directly with external partners and funders.
• Demonstrate sensitivity in handling confidential information.
• Does not supervise any staff but may take a leadership role in interdepartmental teams to coordinate the work of peers.
• Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures, and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements.
• Work within scope of program’s strategic goals.
• Travel and work overtime as needed.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.
• Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years related experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience, coursework or other training in principles and practices of donor communications or related fields, such as journalism or marketing communications.
• Experience writing one of the following: newsletter,…