Annual Giving Copywriter

Position Overview:

The Annual Giving Copywriter is responsible for creating compelling, donor-centered fundraising content that inspires engagement, retention, upgrading, and philanthropic support across the National Park Foundation's Annual Giving programs.

As a key member of the Philanthropy team, this position develops persuasive fundraising copy and content for email, direct mail, digital advertising, donor journeys, stewardship communications, landing pages, and other donor-facing channels. The role partners closely with Annual Giving, Donor Relations, Marketing, and Communications teams to ensure messaging is emotionally resonant, brand-aligned, data-informed, and optimized for fundraising performance.

The Copywriter will help build and strengthen NPF's internal fundraising engine by developing digital and direct mail content that deepens donor relationships and advances revenue goals while reinforcing the impact donors make across America's national parks. This role will leverage emerging AI tools, audience insights, testing results, and fundraising best practices to produce effective multi-channel direct response campaigns.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Tasks:

Fundraising Copy Development

• Develop persuasive fundraising copy for email, direct mail, SMS, donation pages, digital advertising, canvassing teams, and other select fundraising channels.
• Write acquisition, renewal, sustainer, reactivation, upgrade, and stewardship communications.
• Develop fundraising campaign themes, donor-centric messaging frameworks, and storytelling concepts.
• Produce high-quality content that aligns with fundraising best practices.
• Create copy that clearly communicates donor impact, urgency, and calls-to-action.
• Ensure messaging is tailored appropriately for target donor audiences and segments.
• Remain up to date on latest NPF funding priorities and projects.
• Reviews for accuracy and editing.

Donor Journey & Campaign Content

• Build and maintain donor journey messaging across acquisition, retention, upgrade, sustainer, and stewardship programs.
• Develop content for automated cultivation and stewardship series.
• Write fundraising landing pages, donation forms, confirmation pages, and digital engagement experiences.
• Support integrated campaign planning by ensuring consistency across online and offline donor touchpoints.

Optimization & Performance

• Partner with fundraising staff to develop and implement copy testing strategies.
• Analyze campaign performance and incorporate findings into future content development.
• Participate in A/B testing of subject lines, messaging approaches, creative concepts, and donor offers.
• Continuously refine copy based on fundraising outcomes, engagement trends, and audience insights.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with annual giving, donor relations, and marketing teams.
• Coordinate with designers and production staff to ensure content translates effectively across channels.
• Participate in campaign planning meetings and content reviews.
• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders while maintaining fundraising integrity and donor focus.

Brand Stewardship

• Ensure all communications reflect NPF's voice, values, and mission.
• Maintain consistency in messaging across fundraising campaigns and donor communications.
• Serve as an internal resource for donor-centered writing and fundraising storytelling.
• Help document copy standards, templates, and best practices for fundraising communications.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptional fundraising writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of direct response fundraising principles and donor psychology.
• Ability to write compelling donor-centric content that motivates action and builds loyalty.
• Strong understanding of email fundraising, direct mail fundraising, digital fundraising, and donor lifecycle communications.
• Knowledge of audience segmentation and personalization strategies.
• Ability to balance creativity with data-driven decision-making.
• Experience translating complex programmatic information into compelling donor-focused narratives.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively across departments and stakeholder groups.
• Experience utilizing AI tools responsibly to improve efficiency, content development, testing, and ideation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with CRM, email marketing, and fundraising platforms preferred.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Marketing, Fundraising, Creative Writing, or related field preferred.
• Five or more years of professional writing experience or related fields such direct marketing, and communications.
• Three or more years of fundraising, direct response, nonprofit marketing, agency, or donor communications experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success writing content that drives fundraising revenue and donor engagement.
• Experience writing across multiple fundraising channels, including email, direct mail, and digital platforms.
• Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising best practices and donor stewardship principles strongly preferred.

Application Materials:

To be considered for this position, applicants are asked to submit a cover letter and at least one writing sample along with their resume.

Salary Range: $78,000 - $83,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: NPF offers a highly competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 403(b) savings plan, professional development and tuition assistance, generous paid time-off program including primary caregiver leave.

Location: This is a hybrid role based in Washington, D.C., with three (3) days per week in the office.