Creative Director

The Creative Director crafts the key messages that bond prospective donors to clients through Major Donor Events (MDE) and other experiences, guiding the execution of that strategy by Westfall Gold’s creative team into print, live experiences, videos, and other deliverables. If you’ve ever sifted through your distressed friend’s word salad and reflected back to them the heart of their experience… If you have a background in marketing, writing, or strategy development… if you know fundraising strategy like the back of your hand… this may be the job for you! Westfall Gold is a consulting firm focused on fundraising for non-profits. Since our founding, we have raised more than $1.7 billion through our signature major donor fundraising event. We’re all about relieving suffering and inspiring hope in communities around the world. Our clients are universities, shelters, faith-based charities, and medical care organizations. We’re passionate about what we do.

Important note: this job requires strong writing and idea generating skills.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following abilities:

• Deeply understand a client’s values. Skillfully sift through client input and make it better, supercharging the organization’s identity into written or verbal messages for a philanthropic audience
• Guide client through brand/identity workshops; pitch creative concepts to clients
• Offer clients a clear, sharp, compelling vision of who they can be in the minds of a major donor audience
• Critique and develop work product of designers, writers, and video producers, assessing the work’s alignment with agreed-upon creative strategy

1. Crafts the overall message that bonds prospective donors to the client through the Major Donor Event and other experiences. Writes creative briefs for select clients. Conducts in-depth research into a client’s mission, vision, brand, and impact. Facilitates an ideation session with the non-profit organization’s leaders to identify the core creative strategy for the client’s event. Utilizes creative talent and branding expertise to write a creative brief that describes the organization’s purpose, core messaging (“pillars”), and the intellectual, emotional, and transformational case that will drive prospective donors to fund the client’s programs. Directs and shapes client conversations regarding creative output, cultivating innovative event ideas within the context of the overall creative strategy. Owns and protects client message.
2. Partners with Production and Creative Services in ensuring messaging continuity throughout the client’s live experiences. Provides guidance to Westfall Gold’s creative team regarding the execution of the creative strategy through collateral like invitation materials, giving materials, videos, and on-screen graphics. Approves creative deliverables ensuring consistency with the creative strategy and Westfall Gold’s standards
3. Leads Westfall Gold team members (writers, video producers, designers, etc.) to deliver creative materials that align to fundraising strategy. Collaborates with the Senior Consultant, Event Producer, Event Service Manager, Project Manager, designers, video producers and vendors to deliver a unified, seamless experience. Engages with clients with integrity and professionalism. Proactively communicates with creative staffers, driving execution of creative ideas from concept to completion. Resolves concerns raised by clients with a win-win approach.
4. Promotes excellence and inspiration in design, messaging, and strategic thinking. Provides leadership in meaningful innovation of Westfall Gold’s creative work product. Helps develop the skills of existing team members and identify new talent.
5. Accomplish other objectives, as necessary or assigned. Completes other activities related to Major Donor Events or company related projects as assigned from time to time.

Experience

• 5+ years as a Creative Director in an advertising agency
• Deep experience as a copywriter or messaging expert
• Prior experience in art direction and video production
• Prior experience in non-profit branding or advertising services
• Prior experience in creating donor fundraising campaigns/communication

Skills

• Branding/messaging development expertise
• Excellent verbal/written communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Experience with office software such as Google Mail/Calendar/Meet, Word, Excel, etc.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

To apply, please send the following to careers@westfallgold.com:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Please review our website and provide a response (no more than 500 words) to the following question: Why would you love to work for Westfall Gold? (You may include this response in your cover letter).