Associate Director, Principal Gifts Communications

 Associate Director, Principal Gifts Communications

Main focus:  Reporting to the Director, Strategic Communications, Principal Gifts on the Donor Relations team, you will serve as a strategic thought partner and bring your persuasive writing skills and expertise in communications strategy to build and further relationships with the Foundation’s principally rated donors.

Location: Local candidates are preferred for a hybrid schedule, and fully remote candidates will be considered. Please note, if a remote candidate is selected for the position, compensation will be adjusted for their geographic location. 

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, in partnership with Stanford Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, unlocks philanthropy to transform health for children and families in Northern California – and around the world.  Through fundraising and grantmaking, the Foundation drives scientific research, innovation, and policy change that will improve care, advance cures, and reform healthcare systems for this and future generations.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

As the Associate Director, Principal Gifts Communications, you will partner closely with Principal Gift Officers and faculty to translate their research ideas into compelling philanthropic communications including proposals, case statements, vision documents, impact reports, talking points for faculty and leaders, stewardship letters, and other communications.

The compensation range for the role is $120k-$127k annually.

YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR…

• Partnering with gift officers in shaping the communication strategy for principal gift donors.
• Consistently developing and producing inspiring, custom communication pieces to build relationships with principal gift donors. This includes interviewing faculty and translating their research into a compelling vision, writing proposals, whitepapers, stewardship impact reports, and other materials.
• Effectively crafting talking points, briefings, and messaging for faculty and hospital leadership for donor meetings, events, etc.
• Managing the production of various communication projects at the same time. Coordinating reviews by internal and external partners and incorporating feedback.
• Independently tracking and managing project timelines while adhering to deadlines.
• Serving as a trusted source of information about maternal and child health care programs, and pediatric research at Stanford.
• Collaborating across internal and external teams of communicators to share resources and ensure consistency of messaging.
• While this position is primarily focused on communications and writing, an ability to work with designers and help guide the development of compelling visuals is preferred.
• Ensuring all communications are consistent with the Lucile Packard Foundation and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health brand and platform.
• Leading projects with freelance writers, consultants, designers, and other outside vendors.
• Recommending new approaches, procedures, and processes to effect continual improvements in efficiencies across the Foundation.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

YOU MUST HAVE…

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 7 years’ related experience demonstrating progressively increasing responsibilities.
• Interest in and basic knowledge of science and medicine.
• Experience creating donor-facing writing in similarly complex contexts (e.g., creating donor-facing materials in service of medical research or higher education fundraising, managing a complex donor communications strategy for a national organization, etc.)
• Experience translating scientific/medical (or otherwise highly complicated/technical) concepts into lay language and synthesizing material from multiple sources to produce materials for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing multiple tasks simultaneously, coordinating the roles of various project contributors, setting priorities, and prioritizing deadlines with a minimum of supervision.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

IT’S AN ADDED PLUS IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH

• A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or writing.
• Education or professional experience in writing about medicine, biology, or scientific research.
• Experience working in fundraising or a nonprofit environment.
• Prior experience with Raiser's Edge or other nonprofit database software.
• Prior experience using project management software/tools such as Monday.com.
• Proficiency with Adobe InDesign.

YOU’LL BE SUCCESSFUL IF…

You are an exceptional writer and communicator.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with proven ability to present, write, edit, and organize thoughts in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner for print, online, and other media.
• Demonstrated ability to write copy that not only explains complex concepts but persuades audiences to take action.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills; the ability to quickly grasp complex and technical information—especially about medicine—and synthesize it into clear, accurate, and compelling prose.
• Ability to bring imagination, ingenuity, and creativity to solving complex problems and developing strategic communications, including the ability to lead strategic discussions and the problem-solving process.
• Ability to change voice and writing style to fit different audiences, purposes, and media.
• High attention to detail with strong copyediting and proofing skills.

You have strong organizational and project management skills.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously; coordinate the roles of various project contributors; set priorities and schedules; and meet, prioritize, and execute on multiple deadlines.
• Thrive in an environment characterized by deadlines, urgency, and shifting priorities.
• Ability to work independently in a team environment.

You are highly collaborative.

• Ability to work closely with gift officers, designers, and other team members and effectively collaborate with a diverse array of people, including senior leaders and faculty/physicians.
• Willingness to accept and incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders.
• Experience partnering with designers or communications agencies.

You are adaptable and flexible.

• Ability to listen to, understand, and meet gift officer needs and goals.
• Possesses a high tolerance for ambiguity in a complex and matrixed work environment.

You possess sound judgment.

• Ability to operate diplomatically while balancing and meeting multiple organizational and client needs; successfully navigate conflicting needs as they arise.
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information, maintaining the highest level of confidentiality and complying with HIPAA regulations at all times.

Working at the Foundation

WE OFFER EXCELLENT BENEFITS & PERKS, INCLUDING…

• Generous leave, including PTO, holidays, Summer Fridays, and a sabbatical (after 7 years of employment)
•  Annual bonus
• Retirement plan + employer match
• Premium Medical and Dental coverage
• FSA + dependent care FSA
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Legal services plan
• Commuter Benefits, including CalTrain “Go Pass” Program
• 4-week paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents
• Stipend for home office and mobile phone
• If remote, frequent opportunities to visit our beautiful HQ in Palo Alto

WE’RE DYNAMIC…

The Foundation is a dynamic organization in a rapidly changing industry. Therefore, the responsibilities associated with this position will evolve and grow in accordance with LPFCH's business needs and growth plans. More specifically, the incumbent may be required to perform additional and/or different responsibilities based on the future growth plans for the Foundation.

WE STRIVE TO EMBODY OUR CULTURAL TOUCHSTONES…

Mission-first - We can never lose sight of why we exist and who we are here to serve.

Good of the whole - We share responsibility for overall results, think of what’s best for the team and organization, and act as responsible stewards of resources.

Bold and bendy - We’re unapologetically ambitious for our mission, creative, and take risks by trying new things. 

Sweat the big stuff - We’re clear on our priorities, calibrating effort and resources to audience and impact: the higher the return, the greater the investment.

Make it happen - We’re focused on outcomes; only as much process as necessary to make good decisions and take action.  Prepared with ideas and solutions for every challenge.

Community matters - We embrace diversity and practice inclusion.

WE’RE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING…

Our Foundation embraces all individuals and celebrates the unique differences each of us bring to our team and community. Our approach to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is rooted in our cultural touchstones and inherent in our work to encourage every employee to bring their best, most authentic self to work and to provide each of them the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

We envision a world where race, gender, resources, and other factors do not serve as barriers to attaining optimal health. We recognize that this vision requires the commitment and actions of everyone. 

To support this goal, we pledge to:  

·       Conduct ourselves in a manner that garners trust and respect from others.

·       Foster a welcoming and supportive environment for our team members and community. 

·       Acknowledge and appreciate the dignity, expertise, experiences, and contributions of each other.

·       Approach others with an open mind, compassionate heart, actively listening to their perspectives.

·       Foster effective teamwork and encourage collaboration amongst our team and constituents. 

Apply online by submitting a cover letter and resume.