Philanthropy Writer. Job at Dartmouth College in Lebanon

Philanthropy Writer at Dartmouth College

Position Purpose

An integral part of the Medical & Healthcare Advancement office, the Philanthropy Writer plays a critical role in advancing fundraising goals by crafting compelling, donor‑centric content—from highly customized proposals to cases for support, campaign content, and related written materials—that support the solicitation and closure of major and principal philanthropic gifts to Dartmouth Health and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. The writer also contributes to efforts by additional teams within MHA that deepen donor engagement and demonstrate the impact of philanthropy. Reporting to the Director of Content & Creative Strategy, this position is both creative and collaborative, requiring a deep understanding of the academic medical and healthcare fundraising landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of each institution’s philanthropic priorities and strategic vision and infuse that understanding into your work.
• Create templated proposals for major and principal gift prospects that focus on specific funding priorities and inspire individuals, foundations, or organizations to invest in Dartmouth Health and/or the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.
• Partner with gift officers to gain a deep understanding of donor interests and motivations, and use these insights to build communication tools that support strategic cultivation and solicitation efforts for fundraising priorities.
• Support the development of other fundraising materials—including cases for support, campaign content, and stewardship materials—and ensure that all materials adhere to the highest standards for written content and align with Medical & Healthcare Advancement’s Editorial Style Guide.
• Communicate status of current projects to key stakeholders to prioritize and leverage work within broader engagement and fundraising strategies.
• Assist with the preparation and planning of gift proposals, including correspondence, talking points, and presentations.
• Partner with the Creative Team to maintain brand standards and professional presentation of materials.
• Maintain a robust project tracking, review, and approval process to secure stakeholder buy‑in.
• Serve as a resource for writing best practices and donor‑centric messaging across advancement teams.
• Provide editorial support for fundraising content as needed and participate in content strategy discussions to ensure consistent voice and tone.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Professional training in writing or fundraising communications is a plus.
• 5–7 or more years of professional experience in philanthropic communications work and/or grant/proposal writing.
• Demonstrated success writing and reviewing proposals, donor correspondence, or similar materials in a collaborative environment.
• Experience providing editorial oversight or coaching to colleagues customizing donor‑facing materials.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills; commitment to respectful collaboration within a diverse community.
• Exceptional editorial judgement and content development ability; ability to translate complex medical and scientific subjects into compelling, adaptable content frameworks.
• High degree of professionalism when working with faculty, colleagues, and stakeholders; ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Positive, joyful, and humor‑aided workplace presence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant professional experience (7+ years) in communications and/or philanthropy in the health and healthcare arena.
• Proven experience creating proposals that secured major or principal‑level gifts from high‑capacity donors.
• Master’s degree or equivalent in a related field.

Additional Information

Remote Work Eligibility: Hybrid

Position is full‑time, 40 hours per week, 12 months per year. Location: 35 Centerra Parkway, Lebanon, NH 03766.

Contact: Anne Holden, Director of Content & Creative Strategy, (603) 646-5116.

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.

Employment is contingent upon a pre‑employment background check, including a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history and academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant.

Driving is an essential function of this role; a vehicle is required for occasional travel.

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco‑Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco‑based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, see Tobacco‑Free Policy.

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