Associate Copywriter

Responsibilities

• Fundraising & Campaign Copywriting: Draft persuasive direct response and donor engagement copy, including email marketing campaigns, direct mail appeals, donor thank-you letters, and seasonal giving initiatives.
• Digital & Social Media Content: Create highly engaging, short-form copy for United Way’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), paid digital ads, and monthly community e-newsletters.
• Website & Blog Management: Write long- and short-form blog posts, impact stories, landing pages, and website updates using basic SEO guidelines to maximize reach and community visibility.
• Impact Storytelling: Conduct interviews with community partners, program participants, and volunteers to extract and write powerful, dignified narratives showcasing the tangible outcomes of United Way’s investments.
• Collaboration & Alignment: Work cross-functionally with resource development (fundraising) and community impact teams to interpret creative briefs and align copy with organizational goals.
• Proofreading & Brand Stewardship: Fact-check, edit, and meticulously proofread all materials to maintain high quality, accuracy, and adherence to United Way’s global and local brand style guidelines.
• Write, edit and proofread high-priority communications, presentations, talking points, donor materials and other content as needed.
• Support coordination of vendors and external partners, ensuring alignment with timelines, quality expectations, scope and budget.
• Own and manage the integrated editorial and marketing calendar in partnership with Development, the Office of the President, Impact and other teams.
• Storytelling & Content Creation: Write, edit, and curate high-impact content—including donor stories, web articles, newsletters, annual reports, social media, direct mail and direct response campaigns, and marketing materials.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience: 1–3 years of professional copywriting or content writing experience; internships or writing for a nonprofit/advocacy organization is highly preferred.
• Adaptable Voice: Demonstrated ability to alter tone and messaging styles, seamlessly shifting from urgent crisis-response messaging to warm, celebratory stewardship content.
• Digital Tools: Basic familiarity with Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress) and mass email platforms (e.g., Hubspot, Mailchimp, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud).
• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to accept constructive feedback and implement edits quickly.
• Portfolio Required: A digital portfolio or writing samples showcasing diverse work (e.g., email campaigns, social media posts, or article features).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• The candidate must possess the following core competencies, which are required of all United Way NCA staff regardless of role. These core competencies represent the foundation and are an integral part of every position. These core competencies are in addition to the functional competencies of this position.
• Mission-Focused : The candidate must demonstrate how his/her performance and professional development can create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities within the National Capital Area.
• Relationship-Oriented : The candidate must demonstrate his/her ability to put people before process and capability to cultivate and manage relationships toward a common goal.

Preferred

• internships or writing for a nonprofit/advocacy organization is highly preferred.

Benefits

• COMPENSATION & BENEFITS United Way NCA offers competitive compensation and benefits including substantial paid leave, healthcare benefits, a matching retirement plan, and a great work environment.