Development Writer

Are you looking to make a difference in the world?

Looking to take the next step in your career with an impactful organization helping people?

Join AFTD, the leading organization dedicated to ending the most common dementia under 60, known as FTD. We help families affected today, and drive research to bring hope for the future. Our work to bring about a world without dementia is only missing your passion and your expertise. AFTD is growing rapidly, with a greater ability to offer help for those affected than ever before. Join us today to make a difference for families affected by FTD, across the United States and beyond. 

JOB PURPOSE

The Development Writer is responsible for developing AFTD’s fundraising-oriented writing and will deliver content in a variety of mediums – targeting donors and funding sources at all levels across various segments.

Job Summary

The Development Writer is responsible for all development communications. Under the direction of the Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager, the Development Writer will support efforts to cultivate and steward donors through donor correspondence, including standard templates and custom acknowledgement letters, to ensure consistent communication with all AFTD donors. They will lead content creation for mailed and digital appeals throughout the year. The Development Writer will assist in drafting letters of intent, funding proposals, and grant reports.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Job Functions

• Donor and Content Development: Develop targeted content for fundraising appeals and other donor-focused communications, by interviewing AFTD community members and in accordance with AFTD’s branding and style guidelines, to be shared via e-blast, mass-mail, individual donor solicitations and a variety of other channels.
• Foundation Prospect and Steward Support: Assist with prospect research to create or maintain funder profiles, including documenting interactions in Salesforce, as determined by the Development Director and CFR Manager and current data- entry protocols. Additionally, assist with translating organizational goals and priorities into letters of intent and funding proposals.

Other Job Functions

• Compose templates and custom thank you letters to ensure prompt acknowledgement of all donors, in support of Development Operations Manager-led efforts to acknowledge giving
• Create and internally distribute monthly organizational updates to convey donor impact
• Research corporate and foundation sources as directed by CFR Manager, using iWave or other prospect research tools
• Provide occasional editing support to other team members on related materials.
• Assist with maintaining AFTD’s public profiles on sites such as Charity Navigator, GuideStar and others
• Support AFTD’s participation in employee-giving programs, such as the Combined Federal Campaign and state employee- giving campaigns
• Travel for organizational meetings and events as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position is an individual contributor and does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this role:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing or a similar field or equivalent preferred. Equivalent experience may also be considered.

Experience:

• 3-5 years of professional writing experience
• 1-2 years of fundraising/development writing experience is required, with a preference for a demonstrated focus on health/science/disease-advocacy. Equivalent experience or a demonstrated aptitude for formal business writing may also be considered

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Excellent writing, proofreading, and editing skills are required
• Comfort and expertise with formal business writing is required
• Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are required
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines is required
• Comfort working with mail merges as well as an adaptability to different technologies and platforms is a plus

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Interview Process

• Submit an application, including cover letter and resume
• Phone screen with a member of AFTD’s HR department
• Interview with Hiring Manager
• Team interview with department staff
• Offer made to final candidate (contingent on reference and background checks)
• Additional interviews or assessments may be required dependent on position   

AFTD Awards

• Platinum Transparency 2024 by GuideStar, an organization that collects and publishes IRS-verified data about charitable organizations, issuing Seals of Transparency based on how much information each charity provides
• 4-star rating on Charity Navigator, an organization that assesses nonprofits’ organizational effectiveness through IRS filings and metrics such as, Impact & Results, Accountability & Finance, Culture & Community, and Leadership & Adaptability

Benefits and Perks

AFTD offers a competitive salary and is committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and their families, including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance for eligible employees regularly working 30 hours or more per week – presently AFTD covers 100% of employee individual medical coverage
• Basic Life Insurance/AD&D
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Identity Protection
• Voluntary Term Life/AD&D
• Hospital Indemnity, Accident, and Critical Illness insurance
• Pet discount program
• Employee Assistance Program
• SIMPLE IRA with company match
• Generous paid vacation and sick time
• 10 paid holidays
• 4 weeks paid parental leave
• A company culture that encourages work/life balance
• Ongoing team building opportunities, including staff retreats and days of service
• Ongoing professional development training and opportunities
• Hybrid working environment, with the opportunity to work remotely up to 3 days per week
• Business casual dress code

AFTD is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.  All of your information will be kept confidential according to EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) guidelines. 

AFTD participates in E-Verify. Learn more about applicant rights under Federal Employment Laws.