About this role

The Nature Conservancy Midwest Division Development Writer: Job Overview

The Nature Conservancy Midwest Division Development Writer: Job Overview
About the Role
Key Responsibilities
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Qualifications and Experience
Desired Skills and Additional Experience
Salary and Employee Benefits

About the Role

The Development Writer will play an important role in helping The Nature Conservancy communicate its conservation work to potential and existing donors. The position will focus on developing high-quality fundraising and donor communication materials that explain the organisation’s projects, financial needs and conservation achievements.

Typical assignments will include writing letters of intent, fundraising proposals and impact reports. Other responsibilities may involve preparing donor acknowledgement letters, annual appeals, donor profiles, outreach emails, presentations, talking points and reusable proposal and reporting templates.

The successful candidate will need to understand how to present complex conservation information in clear, engaging language that appeals to different donor audiences. Experience preparing private grant proposals and impact reports while following strict funder guidelines will be particularly valuable.

Although the role primarily supports internal fundraising teams, the Development Writer may occasionally have opportunities to interact with individual and institutional donors.

Key Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be expected to manage several writing and editing assignments while ensuring that all materials meet organisational standards and donor requirements.

Key responsibilities will include:

Writing and editing fundraising proposals and other communications for donors capable of giving $100,000 or more.
Preparing donor reports, letters of intent and other materials that communicate conservation outcomes.
Managing multiple projects, setting realistic deadlines and ensuring that deliverables are completed on time.
Working independently to prioritise assignments, identify challenges and develop practical solutions.
Interpreting budgets and financial reports at project, programme, state and global levels.
Developing a strong understanding of TNC’s conservation strategies, partnerships and funding priorities.
Collaborating with fundraising, finance, conservation, legal and marketing teams.
Providing editorial guidance to help translate scientific and technical information into accessible donor communications.
Maintaining confidentiality when handling sensitive organisational and donor information.
Ensuring that all communications comply with organisational policies and relevant donor, legal and regulatory requirements.
The role may also involve coordinating activities across departments, contributing to new initiatives and improving existing communication programmes. Some travel and overtime may be required depending on organisational needs and fundraising deadlines.

Qualifications and Experience

The Nature Conservancy is seeking candidates with strong writing, editing and communication abilities, alongside an interest in conservation and philanthropy.
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Candidates should also demonstrate experience or training in donor communications, journalism, marketing and communications, or a related field. Previous experience working across different departments will be important.
Applicants should have experience writing or editing materials such as newsletters, annual reports, website articles, donor profiles, funding proposals, campaign brochures, fact sheets and presentations.
Knowledge of graphic design software is also required, including experience using Canva and/or Adobe InDesign.

Desired Skills and Additional Experience

The organisation would particularly value candidates with excellent writing and proofreading skills and the ability to create compelling content for specific audiences.

Experience translating scientific concepts into language that donors can easily understand will be an advantage. Candidates with knowledge of major and principal gift fundraising, nonprofit communications trends and document management systems may also be well suited to the position.

Additional desirable qualities include:

Strong organisational and time-management skills.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to manage competing assignments under tight deadlines.
Experience working in multicultural or cross-cultural environments.
Multilingual communication skills.
Understanding of basic accounting practices.
Ability to interpret guidelines and apply them to organisational objectives.

Salary and Employee Benefits

The Nature Conservancy has indicated a starting salary range of $65,500 to $83,000 for candidates whose country of employment is the United States.

The final salary will depend on factors such as the successful candidate’s geographical location, qualifications, professional experience and relevant skills.

The organisation also provides a comprehensive benefits package, which includes healthcare benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) retirement plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage and an employee assistance programme.

Additional benefits and wellbeing support are available as part of the organisation’s commitment to providing a flexible and supportive working environment.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global nonprofit organisation whose mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all l

Midwest Division Development Writer