About Us:

At the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF), our mission is to connect passion with possibility, inspire generosity, and support greatness at the University of Minnesota by placing donors at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. UMF is a nonprofit organization responsible for raising and managing gifts to the University of Minnesota.  

For more information about UMF, please visit https://give.umn.edu/about/about-umf.

About the role:

This position is part of the Marketing Programs and Services team which, among other charges, creates materials that development officers use in stewarding and soliciting top-level individual donors and prospects. This position focuses on customized stewardship of major University of Minnesota donors and on effectively making the case for continued giving. This involves partnering with development and communications colleagues to create the strategy behind and content for reports to top University donors.

Primarily, this position produces reports that show the impact of corporate and foundation donors’ giving and engagement with the U of M using mainly digital formats, although other writing for development purposes may also be assigned. This role involves a high level of collaboration with University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) and University of Minnesota staff and involves contact with faculty and students.

The stewardship writer will move adeptly between projects in report development and content creation—researching, writing, revising, and consulting with designers—to engage, inform, and motivate top donors. They will independently manage a schedule of multiple writing projects on deadline. Additionally, they will recognize evolving donor expectations for stewardship and recommend new types of content and platforms to meet donor needs. Because this position stewards donors who have given or have the potential to make multi-million-dollar gifts, and works closely with University and foundation leadership and other important constituents and stakeholders, the work requires superior communication, project management, and interpersonal skills.

What you’ll do:

Lead the production of custom stewardship reports—primarily digital, and some print—for top corporate and foundation donors to effectively convey impact of giving. (80%)

• Serve as the lead author and project manager of assigned impact reports for multi-million-dollar donors in the voice of UMF’s president and CEO, UMF development leaders, and the U of M president and other collegiate leaders.
• Work with people, technologies, and programs across the University to identify improvements to production processes and solve complex problems in order to keep projects on track.
• Using donor-centric strategies and tactics, recommend tailored approaches for shaping report content and for delivering the report to donors to advance stewardship and cultivation goals.

Serve as project manager of other customized stewardship projects for top corporate donors. (15%)

• Manage content plan and story production for corporate donor blog.
• Write custom gift acknowledgement letters for corporate donors.

Actively participate in other UMF Marketing and Communications initiatives. (5%)

• Participate in team-wide cause-marketing program planning
• Participate in future campaign and reporting team planning and strategy

Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment (exhibit 100% of the time)

We take care of you:

• Comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes medical, vision, dental, and pharmacy coverage; life insurance; retirement; long-term care insurance; and disability coverage.

• Come. Work. Stay. Play. The U of M is conveniently accessible by light rail, bus, and bike. And we offer discounted bus transportation through our “U-Pass” program.
• The University of Minnesota embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, or related field and at least 4 years professional writing experience, particularly in content creation
• Strong storytelling abilities, demonstrated through research and writing, including excellent interviewing skills, and the ability to explore unique angles and editorial approaches that make stories stand out
• Demonstrated ability to offer strategic communications direction
• Minimum intermediate skill level using Word, Excel, Google products, and the Internet

Diversity:

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu.

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

Please note: All employees at the University of Minnesota are required to report complete vaccination against COVID-19 or submit documentation requesting a medical or religious exemption on their first day of employment. To learn more, please visit the University’s COVID-19 Response webpage.

How to Apply:

Applications must be submitted online through the U of M Careers site.  To submit your application, please follow this link: https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/350864. If you have any difficulties or questions while applying feel free to contact Andrew Hanson, HR Generalist at [email protected].