Advancement Content Specialist

Advancement Content Specialist at Illinois Wesleyan University

Reporting to the Associate Director of Advancement Communications, the Advancement Content Specialist is responsible for developing and managing strategic communications that support fundraising and engagement initiatives for the Office of Advancement. This role crafts compelling fundraising appeals, event communications, and marketing materials to inspire giving and strengthen donor relationships. The Advancement Content Specialist develops and executes a social media strategy for the Alumni Engagement accounts and collaborates across departments to execute creative projects, working closely with designers and videographers to produce high-quality content for email, print, social media, and web. Additionally, they manage multiple writing projects, ensure timely delivery of communications, and utilize the CRM (Slate for Advancement) and ThankView to design and schedule outreach. This is a full time, on-campus position. Generous benefits include health, retirement, considerable time off and tuition assistance.

Responsibilities

• Strategize, write, manage, and distribute communications for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement initiatives; write original content and ensure brand-consistent and strategically-targeted messaging through all distribution channels to support annual appeals, appeal stewardship, reunion, event and affinity group communications; create other marketing materials for advancement initiatives, including graphics for social content, powerpoints for fundraisers, event collateral and more; ensure digital and print marketing materials are current, engaging and relevant
• Manage the Advancement social media accounts to support both Alumni Engagement and philanthropic efforts; develop and implement a social media strategy that coordinates with flagship accounts and EAB to promote IWU and boost alumni engagement; write, create content, and monitor performance metrics for various social platforms; maintain a social media content calendar and collaborate with University Marketing Communications to maximize effective content
• Collaborate across departments to execute communications; coordinate with graphic designers, videographers, Titan Print and Mail and other creative staff to produce high-quality content; manage multiple writing projects with competing deadlines, ensuring timely delivery; Utilize the CRM and ThankView to build, design, and schedule communications for emails, direct mail, and texts.
• Participate in departmental events and activities to support overall Office of Advancement goals; attend department retreats, Homecoming, alumni events, and additional events as required

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; preference for related fields of Communications, Social Media Management, Marketing or Public Relations

• Minimum of five years relevant professional experience; two years of higher education or non-profit fundraising preferred

• Illinois Wesleyan University does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment for this position. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term.

• Illinois Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to promoting excellence through a variety of viewpoints; details at https://www.iwu.edu/about/non-discrimination.html.