Athletics Advancement Writer

At the University of Cincinnati Foundation, we commit ourselves to providing a place where everyone belongs. We care deeply about those in our community, while also taking care to nurture new relationships. We have the courage to dream big, drive excellence and uphold integrity in our work.

Structure

The Athletics Advancement Writer is an exempt (salaried) position employed by the University of Cincinnati Foundation (UCF) and reports to the Vice President, Strategic Communications.

Focus

The Athletics Advancement Writer creates and implements a comprehensive communications strategy for Athletics fundraising at the University of Cincinnati (UC). The Athletics Advancement Writer cares deeply about the donor experience and understands how to effectively leverage communications tools to impact fundraising. This position is part of the Strategic Communications team and works in close partnership with the UCATS fundraising team and UC Athletics communications team.

Specific Duties

• FUNDRAISING COMMUNICATIONS: Develops engaging and impactful athletics fundraising collateral, including targeted major and principal gift proposals and cases for support.
• STORYTELLING: Develops and deploys a strong lineup of content that highlights the impact of philanthropy on the UC Athletics program. Creates compelling stories and videos. Regularly produces athletics highlights, achievements, and statistics to UC Foundation staff for use in alumni engagement, fundraising, and communications.
• OVERSIGHT of WEBSITE CONTENT: Plans and updates UCATS website content, ensuring regular updates through the development and implementation of an online content calendar. Works with UC Athletics webmaster to update pages, remove expired pages, assess effectiveness.
• EMAIL STRATEGY: Develops and executes a targeted email strategy for major and principal donors to drive engagement and stewardship. Crafts thoughtful responses to donor feedback. Ensures compliance with UC Foundation email policy.
• NEWS: Serves as lead writer for gift announcements, partnering with UC Athletics Communications on content and distribution to elevate donor recognition, strengthen alumni pride, and highlight the impact of philanthropy.
• SCRIPTING: Supports Athletics through script writing for signature events, facility openings, donor recognition, scholarship events, and more. Provides content to athletics leadership to ensure philanthropic talking points and language are incorporated into presentations and remarks.
• Contributes writing and creative expertise across the strategic communications team, flexing as needed to support enterprise-wide initiatives including major and principal gift fundraising, donor stewardship and events, and executive or presidential communications.
• Coordinates with partners on multi-channel communications strategy to share news releases, event promotions and philanthropic impact stories across print, video, and digital channels.
• Ensures that content adheres to best writing practices, branding and style standards.
• Develops a data dashboard with critical metrics related to the position. Maintains and reports on data, sharing with partners across the organization.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, electronic media, communications or a related field and 3-5 years of relevant experience, or advanced degree with 2-3 years of experience.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Creative thinker with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Team player with a collaborative mindset.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven thinking.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively. Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Strong oral presentation and written communication skills with strong proofreading, spelling, and grammar skills. Knowledge and application of AP style guidelines.
• Solid background as a website strategist. Proven skills for website development, including content strategy development, project management, planning, writing, editing, and publishing.
• Experience maintaining a web/social brand and presence in higher education and/or a non-profit organization a plus.
• Previous experience with non-profit communications is a plus.
• Has a solid understanding of HTML and is capable of developing a comprehensive understanding of our systems, including Blackbaud Internet Solutions (BBIS) and CRM, along with other software tools.
• Proficiency with MS Office, Google Analytics, HTML, CSS, Adobe Acrobat & Photoshop. Experience with QR code and Issuu software a plus.
• Strong understanding of SEO, website architecture and industry trends.

What We Offer

The anticipated starting salary range for the Athletics Advancement Writer role is $70,000 to $85,000 annually . When determining final offer amount the UC Foundation considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, external market data, as well as, market and business considerations when making compensation decisions.

At the UC Foundation, we understand the importance of providing both a desirable work environment as well as benefits that provide our employee’s peace of mind and work/life balance. We offer a total rewards package inclusive of performance based bonus, as well as, competitive health and wellness benefits, tuition remission, retirement with employer match, paid parental leave, and paid vacation, sick time and holidays, including calendar year-end closing. To learn more, visit our careers page.

Physical Demands

This Position Is Considered To Have Sedentary Work. Exerting Up To 10lbs. Of Force Occasionally And/or Negligible Amount Of Force Frequently Or Constantly To Lift, Carry, Push, Pull Or Otherwise Move Objects. This Position Requires

• Standing
• Walking
• Finger use
• Talking
• Hearing
• Repetitive motion of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, this position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).

Pre-Hire Requirements

The UC Foundation seeks talented, collaborative and mission-focused individuals to join our advancement team in driving philanthropic support for the University of Cincinnati and UC Health. All offers of full-time employment are contingent upon passing a criminal background check and drug test. Positions requiring a degree are also contingent upon education verification.