Associate Director of Philanthropic Communications

UND Alumni Association & Foundation•Grand Forks, ND

30d•Onsite

About The Position

At the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, we're looking for a talented storyteller who can inspire generosity through compelling writing and meaningful connections. As the Associate Director of Philanthropic Communications, you'll help bring UND's impact to life by creating donor proposals, fundraising materials, and stories that support scholarships, groundbreaking research, and life-changing opportunities for students. If you're passionate about storytelling with purpose and want your work to make a lasting impact on students, faculty, and the future of UND, we'd love to hear from you. The Associate Director of Philanthropic Communications plays a key role in growing philanthropic support for the University of North Dakota by connecting donors to the people and programs that make UND strong. This includes telling the stories of student success, research, and community impact across the state and region. This position works closely with major gift officers and campus partners to create proposals, cases for support, and other communications that help secure major and planned gifts. The role requires a strong writer and a disciplined project manager who can move work forward, keep projects on track, and deliver high-quality materials on deadline. The ideal candidate is a proactive, self-directed professional who takes initiative, builds relationships, and is comfortable reaching out — calling colleagues, interviewing donors, and following up to get what’s needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, English, or related field
Experience writing for multiple formats (print, web, email, etc.)
Strong project management experience, including managing timelines and multiple stakeholders
Excellent writing, editing, and interviewing skills

Nice To Haves

3-5+ years of experience in communications, marketing, or public relations
Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or fundraising settings
Familiarity with major gifts, campaigns, or planned giving

Responsibilities

Partner with major gift officers to create donor proposals, briefings, and materials used in cultivation and stewardship.
Lead the development of clear, compelling cases for support for UND priorities, including colleges, programs, scholarships, faculty positions, and capital projects.
Turn complex ideas into straightforward, persuasive messaging for donors.
Develop fundraising materials across print, digital, and presentation formats.
Identify strong story ideas and follow through—interviewing sources, gathering details, and producing content that supports fundraising goals.
Create and maintain a set of core materials that gift officers can use in donor meetings.
Serve as a member of the planned giving committee.
Lead marketing for planned giving, including messaging and materials that encourage donors to make legacy gifts.
Work with stewardship and donor relations teams to produce impact reports, donor stories, and recognition materials.
Show donors how their gifts make a difference through clear and credible storytelling.
Manage content for giving and impact-related web pages, keeping information current and easy to understand.
Support communications for campaigns and special initiatives.
Work with designers and development staff to produce polished, on-brand materials.
Write alumni and donor stories for the UND Alumni Magazine and other channels.
Manage multiple projects at once, keeping work on schedule and stakeholders informed.
Take ownership of projects from start to finish, including helping shape approach, messaging, and direction.
Build strong working relationships across development, marketing, and campus partners.
Ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency in all work.