Director of Philanthropic Communications

University of North Texas System•Denton, TX

7d•$81,792 - $83,652•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of North Texas Division of University Advancement seeks a strategic, detail oriented, and 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 in close collaboration 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. This includes leading the execution of the Advancement Gift Communications Plan, coordinating messaging and donor approvals for major gift announcements, and producing compelling materials that demonstrate donor impact. The Director also contributes to division-wide projects such as the Philanthropy Annual Report, donor-focused newsletters, and presidential donor communications. As part of the Advancement Communications team, 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. In addition to leading all major gift communications, the Director will supervise two senior communications strategists, ensuring strategic alignment and consistent messaging across annual giving, donor relations, and alumni engagement — strengthening the division’s voice and amplifying the impact of UNT’s philanthropic storytelling.

Requirements

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 communications field.
Ability to coordinate and supervise the work of others.
Ability to 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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
Contribute to planning and writing for the Philanthropy Annual Report, donor-focused e-newsletters, and presidential fundraising communications.
Develop and refine donor-centered narratives that highlight philanthropic impact, student success, and UNT’s long-term vision.
Proactively identify storytelling opportunities connected to campaign priorities, donor interests, and institutional momentum.
Partner with the creative team to develop testimonials, stories, and print and digital materials that reflect UNT’s philanthropic brand and values.
Manage timelines and workflows for major gift proposals, donor communications, and key fundraising initiatives.
Coordinate internal reviews and approvals, including donor approvals when required, ensuring accuracy and adherence to policy.
Maintain organized archives of proposals, donor stories, and philanthropic content to support efficiency and reuse.
Develop reports that evaluate reach, effectiveness, and opportunities for improvement.
Apply data-informed insights to refine strategy, strengthen storytelling, and support fundraising outcomes over time.
Work closely with Advancement leadership, fundraisers, UBSC, CSUs, and communications colleagues to align donor messaging with strategic priorities.
Provide strategic communications guidance for planned giving and corporate/foundation relations efforts.
Offer writing consultation, messaging input, and best-practice guidance to development officers and fundraising teams across colleges and units.