• Job Description

  Req#: 534266

  Position Summary

  
  

  The Director, Donor Communications is a senior-level leader responsible for shaping and executing American Bible Society’s approach to proposal development and mid and major donor-facing content strategy. This individual leads the creation of a suite of persuasive, high-quality proposals, reports, and cultivation communications that deepen relationships with mid and major donors, advance the American Bible Society brand story, and drive philanthropic revenue.

  This role is both strategic and hands-on—requiring a gifted communicator with exceptional editorial judgment, proven leadership in donor engagement, and a deep understanding of how to tailor content to match complex programmatic initiatives with donor priorities. The Director will serve as a trusted advisor to development leadership, a collaborative partner to program and finance teams, and a thought leader within the organization.

  
  

  Minimum Spiritual and Personal Commitment:

  • Demonstrate a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
  • Identify with and participate in a Christian church and proactively seek to grow in their Christian faith.
  • Actively participate in organizational prayer, devotional times, and organization-wide events.
  • Maintain an exemplary standard of Christian ethics, behavior, and conduct within ABS and in their public and private life outside of ABS and always uphold ABS’ Standards of Conduct and Affirmation of Biblical Community.
  • Demonstrate Christian maturity in all interactions as displayed by good judgment based on biblical values and principles.
  • Actively incorporate their faith in all aspects of their daily work.

  
  

  Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the development of compelling, donor-centric proposals, stewardship reports, and high-impact communication materials that reflect both ministry priorities and donor motivations, while aligning with the newly established brand identity.
  • Serve as the strategic architect of ABS’s proposal content framework—ensuring consistency in voice, structure, message alignment, and strategic adaptability across core ministry areas and customized donor engagements.
  • Serve as a critical partner to development leadership and gift officers to design proposal strategies tailored to donor affinities, capacity, and stage of engagement. Provide writing leadership that supports long-term cultivation and trust-building.
  • Collaborate with ministry, finance, and program teams to translate complex information—including technical data, outcomes, and impact frameworks—into accessible, emotionally resonant language appropriate for high-level donors.
  • Oversee the development and refinement of reusable content modules, messaging themes, and donor narratives to support scalable proposal production.
  • Manage and supervise contract writers or creative vendors as needed, ensuring alignment with brand, mission, and messaging strategy.
  • Act as the primary internal expert and resource on donor communications—mentoring other writers, contributing to cross-team standards, and helping to elevate the culture of donor engagement across the organization.
  • Monitor and anticipate trends in donor engagement and philanthropic language to guide strategic decision-making and innovation —to ensure that ABS content remains best-in-class and donor-relevant.

  Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, English, Journalism, Non-Profit Management, or a related field; Master’s degree a plus

  • Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in professional proposal writing, development communications, or a related field with a strong donor communications focus.
  • Demonstrated excellence in persuasive writing and editorial precision, with an ability to adapt content across a range of donor profiles and giving levels.
  • Proven capacity to synthesize technical or abstract program content into accessible and compelling narratives.
  • Experience collaborating across multi-disciplinary teams and translating strategy into clear written deliverables.
  • Deep familiarity with the principles of major donor engagement, funding case development, and philanthropic relationship-building.
  • Strong project management and organizational skills with a focus on quality, clarity, and timely delivery.
  • Prior experience managing freelance writers, designers, or other creative professionals is strongly preferred.
  • Alignment with the mission and values of American Bible Society.

  All staff must demonstrate the following skills at a level fitting their role:

  Communication Skills:

  • Complex Communication: Proficient in communicating complex ideas to various stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.

  Teamwork and Collaboration:

  • Collaborative Effort: Works well with others, shares information, and contributes to team goals.

  Cultural Competence and Inclusion:

  • Cultural Awareness: Respects and values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

  Service Orientation:

  • Service Strategy: Develops service-centric strategies, drives service recipient satisfaction, and ensures organizational alignment with service expectations.

  Adaptability and Flexibility:

  • Responsive Adjustment: Adjusts strategies based on new information, remains flexible in dynamic environments.

  Time Management and Organization:

  • Efficient Coordination: Prioritizes tasks, manages multiple projects, and ensures team deadlines are met.

  Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking:

  • Analytical Problem Solving: Analyzes complex problems, develops solutions, and makes decisions independently.

  Leadership and Initiative:

  • Initiative: Takes proactive steps to complete tasks, solve problems and take on new challenges.

  List Additional job-specific skills

  All people managers must demonstrate the following skills at a level fitting their role:

  Strategic Thinking and Decision Making:

  • Strategic Alignment: Develops plans that align with team objectives and organizational goals.

  Continuous Learning and Development:

  • Self-Development: Seeks out opportunities to learn and grow own skills, while sharing development opportunities with others.

  Innovation and Creativity:

  • Creative Thinking: Suggests new ideas and approaches to tasks.

  
  

  Physical Demands/Work Environment

  For a Principal, Donor Communications, the typical physical demands and work environment generally include:

  
  

  Physical Demands:

  • Sitting for Extended Periods: The role primarily involves desk work, requiring long periods of sitting.
  • Manual Dexterity: Frequent use of hands and fingers to operate a computer, mouse, and other office equipment.
  • Visual Acuity: Prolonged periods of working on a computer screen, requiring good eyesight for detailed design work.
  • Repetitive Motions: Repetitive tasks such as typing, clicking, and using design tools.
  • Occasional Lifting: May involve lifting lightweight materials (e.g., laptops, documents) typically up to 10-15 pounds.

  
  

  Work Environment:

  • Collaborative Setting: Frequent collaboration with other team members, which might include face-to-face meetings, video conferences, or team brainstorming sessions.
  • Deadline-Driven: The role often involves working under tight deadlines, which may occasionally require extended hours or work on weekends.

  
  

  American Bible Society is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities and ensuring a workplace free from discrimination. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to participate in the application process and perform the essential functions of their job.

• About the company

  Our mission is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message.

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