Advancement Communications Specialist in St. Paul, Minnesota at Bethel University

About Bethel University

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

Position Overview

The Advancement Communications Specialist advances Bethel University’s mission by planning and executing compelling, mission-driven communications that inspire constituent engagement, loyalty, and giving. This role serves as the primary communications partner for Advancement team members, crafting and managing multi-channel content across print, digital, email, and social platforms to support broad base giving campaigns, alumni engagement, stewardship, and fundraising initiatives.

Working in close collaboration with Bethel’s Marketing Division, this position ensures that all Advancement communications align with institutional brand standards while speaking authentically to the motivations and values of donors, alumni, parents, and friends of the University. The Specialist brings creativity, storytelling skill, and data-informed thinking to every campaign, helping Bethel build a culture of generosity that sustains long-term philanthropic support.

Primary Responsibilities

Advancement Communications & Content Strategy– 45%

1. Develop and execute integrated communication plans that support broad-based giving goals, donor stewardship, alumni engagement, and fundraising priorities across email, text, direct mail, web, social media, and print.
2. Partner with stakeholders to produce compelling donor-facing content including appeal letters, impact stories, campaign emails, stewardship reports, event materials, newsletter articles, and acknowledgement correspondence.
3. Create and manage an annual advancement communications calendar, ensuring timely delivery of messaging across all channels and audiences.
4. Build and maintain segmented donor audiences to deliver targeted, relevant messaging aligned with donor behavior, giving history, and institutional priorities.
5. Develop and refine donor-facing digital journeys — including email drip sequences, giving day experiences, and onboarding communications for new donors — to increase year-over-year engagement and retention.
6. Apply a test-and-learn approach to content, evaluating open rates, click-through rates, and conversion metrics to continuously improve communication effectiveness.
7. Identify and cultivate compelling impact stories from students, alumni, faculty, and program outcomes to humanize Bethel’s case for support and inspire donor connection.

Brand Stewardship & Marketing Division Collaboration – 25%

1. Serve as the primary liaison between University Advancement and Bethel’s Marketing Division, ensuring all donor-facing content aligns with institutional brand guidelines, voice, and visual identity.
2. Coordinate closely with Marketing on design and production of print and digital materials, including campaign collateral, impact reports, event invitations, and donor recognition pieces.
3. Attend regular cross-divisional meetings and actively contribute to shared communication workflows, project timelines, and approval processes.
4. Advise Advancement colleagues on brand-aligned messaging standards for external communications, presentations, and stakeholder correspondence.
5. Coordinate with vendors, freelancers, and campus partners to support production needs related to advancement communications projects.

Donor Engagement Communications- 20%

1. Lead the development and production of meaningful stewardship communications, including personalized thank-you letters, giving reports, impact updates, and recognition pieces for donors at all levels.
2. Support signature advancement events through promotional content, program materials, and post-event follow-up communications.
3. Collaborate with gift officers to create personalized donor correspondence and tailored materials that support cultivation and solicitation conversations for transformational gifts.
4. Partner with Advancement Operations team members in list management, segmentation, and CRM documentation for communications tracking and reporting.

Reporting, Analytics & Continuous Improvement - 10%

1. Monitor and report on the performance of communication initiatives — including email campaigns, giving day results, and stewardship touchpoints — using data to make informed recommendations.
2. Develop dashboards or summaries that highlight donor engagement trends, acquisition and retention metrics, and campaign conversion rates.
3. Stay current on industry best practices in advancement communications, digital fundraising, and email marketing, applying relevant innovations to Bethel’s approach.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in communications, marketing, journalism, English, public relations, or a related field - or equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• 2–3 years of professional experience in communications, marketing, content creation, or a related field.
• Experience managing multi-channel communication campaigns with attention to deadlines, brand consistency, and quality.
• Experience working with CRM systems, email marketing platforms, or content management systems.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional eye for quality writing and storytelling, with the ability to adapt voice and tone for diverse audiences and channels.
• Ability to translate complex or technical information into compelling, accessible donor narratives.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to balance multiple high-priority projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Understanding of digital engagement tactics, online giving pathways, and email and SMS communication journeys.
• Analytical mindset with comfort interpreting engagement data to improve campaign performance.
• Visual communication sensibility; ability to partner effectively with designers to produce polished, on-brand materials.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across teams, divisions, and with external vendors.
• Self-directed and proactive, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and professionalism.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and collaboration tools; willingness to learn Salesforce and Bethel-specific platforms.

Travel: 5-10% out-of-town travel may be required

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity in hiring .

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time