Sr. Writer, Principal and Planned Giving - American Heart Association

Overview

As we celebrate our Centennial year, we invite you to join us in shaping the next century of impact. Be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives as we remain devoted to a future of health and hope for everyone, everywhere. At the American Heart Association, your contribution matters, and so does your career.

The American Heart Association has an excellent opportunity for a Sr. Principal and Planned Gift Writer in our Mission Advancement department!

This position can be home-based.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

#TheAHALife is our company culture, our way of life, reflecting our diversity, equity & inclusion, our focus on work-life harmonization and our Guiding Values. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued™ at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and at heart.jobs.

Responsibilities

The Sr. Principal and Planned Giving Writer is a highly-skilled, self-driven and polished member of the Mission Advancement department's fast-paced operations team, which supports philanthropic revenue success related to major, principal and estate giving.  The role is accountable for developing new and updating existing proposal templates, as well as other writing as assigned.  The individual will be responsible for the intake, structure, high-quality development and creation of highly compelling and competitive template proposals with corresponding budgets and supporting narratives, including report templates; as well as for creation of proposal-related boilerplate language for use across a variety of opportunities. 

This is a player-coach position which supervises one proposal writer and collaborates with a large group of staff members who may contribute written elements, as well as provide insights; as well as those who produce staff trainings and lead dissemination of the products. The role independently organizes, manages and drives all projects, ensuring a high volume of productivity, with work products requiring minimal editing or direction. 

• Writes targeted, compelling content that reaches tactical and strategic objectives. Examples of daily work includes: gather program information from interview subject matter experts, clarifying purpose, goals, project details, and work plans; guide budget development, develop and write proposal and report templates, guide and coach Proposal Writer.
• Collaborates with leaders, relationship managers, and others to gather information and ensure alignment with strategies. Develop outlines, writing project plans, and timelines to meet both short- and long-term assignments. Collaborates with other team members to ensure timely and quality production of the full suite of funding opportunity materials.
• Manages the inventory and status of funding opportunity proposals, provides proactive, regular status updates and reports to management on the progress of both work products and opportunity results. 
• Ensures written and developed content aligns with the Association’s branding and science standards, obtaining reviews and approvals as needed. 
• Develops a deep understanding of the priorities, initiatives, and programs of the American Heart Association, implementation departments, and leadership teams, and demonstrates an ability to provide critical thinking for the development of new funding opportunities in context of the full scope of the Association.
• Develops a deep understanding Mission Advancement's donor engagement vision and strategies, as well as an understanding of the various audiences and trends within the scope of the Association's major/principal+ and estate giving program, understanding giving motivations, influences, and levels of affinity.
• This position coaches, oversees, and evaluates the performance of one Proposal Writer, ensuring critical thinking, depth of understanding, quality writing, polished work product, production pace and timely delivery.
• Contributes to team projects and department objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience.
• 8 to 12 years (top specialist / management).
• Proposal development and proposal writing experience required.
• Top quality writing in a variety of styles to connect with distinctly different audiences and segments.
• Self-directed organization skills, to plan and manage work assignments.
• Experience in writing to a high touch audience demanding impact.
• Experience in science writing or lay writing on complex topics.
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally with internal and external stakeholders to gather required information, including planning, structuring and conducting interviews as needed; and representing the Mission Advancement team with polish, poise and professionalism.
• Strong command of standard workplace technology applications, including MS Word.
• Ability to plan and complete projects at the highest level of quality without direction or active oversight.
• Ability to travel up to 2% overnight stay.

Compensation & Benefits

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package.  Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary.  That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success by merit increases and incentive programs, based on the type of position.
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution.  As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program.  HeartU is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.  The number of days will increase based on seniority level.  You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees.  This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2024 Goal: Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. As champions for health equity, by 2024, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities. We're committed to ensuring our workforce, workplace culture and mission have a shared impact across a diverse set of backgrounds.This position not a match with your skills?  Click here to see other opportunities.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities