Story-driven ghostwriting for independent schools
I ghostwrite donor newsletters and alumni communications for independent and private schools across the globe. In turn, your development office stays consistent, your community stays connected, and the people who love your school never stop hearing why it matters.
Your donors and alumni want to hear from you. But your development team is stretched thin, your newsletter keeps getting pushed to next week, and when something does go out, it feels like a checkbox, not a connection.
Meanwhile, the schools that retain major donors and grow their annual fund are the ones showing up in inboxes with stories that move people. Consistently.
That’s where I come in.
I’m a longtime journalist, occasional journalism professor, and premium ghostwriter. I’ll run your donor newsletter end to end — voice capture, story sourcing, copy, send analytics — so your school stays top of mind with the people who fund its future.
Hey, there. I’m Liz.
I’ve spent 20 years in journalism and education: as a reporter, editor, and occasional professor at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Media and Journalism. I know how schools think, how educators communicate, and what it takes to tell a story that actually moves donors to act.
Now I bring that same discipline to advancement offices through my agency, The Ghostwriting Lab. I capture your school’s voice, surface stories hiding in your community, and run your donor newsletter end to end — so your development team can focus on relationships, not deadlines.
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We start with a deep-dive conversation to understand your school's mission, culture, and advancement goals. I'll review past communications, learn your tone, and build an editorial plan aligned with your giving calendar.
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I interview your development staff, faculty, students, and alumni to surface the stories that make donors want to give. Every call is recorded and transcribed so we write in your school's authentic voice, not generic nonprofit-speak.
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I deliver drafts on a clear schedule with enough lead time for your review. You give feedback in a single round: most clients spend less than 30 minutes a month on this. I handle everything else.
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Approved newsletters go out on schedule. I track open rates, clicks, and engagement, then report what's working and refine the approach so your content compounds over time and your donor relationships deepen.
My Process
Donor and alumni communication that does the work your team doesn't have time for
There are two ways to with The Ghostwriting Lab: a fast-win email sequence or a full ongoing newsletter program. I build both around your school's voice, your mission, and your giving goals.
Every engagement is interview-based — no writing required from your development team. I find the stories. I write the emails. You review and approve. This is how.
Offerings + Pricing
The Re-Engagement Sequence
Starting at $4,000
The right entry point if you have a dormant alumni base, lapsed donors, or current families who feel disconnected from the school's mission. In four weeks, I'll audit your list, learn your voice, and deliver five professionally written emails designed to warm your audience, tell compelling institutional stories, and move readers toward a specific action — annual fund gift, event attendance, or re-engagement.
Monthly Newsletter Ghostwriting
$3,000-$5,000/mo
This is for development offices ready to build a real communication program. One to four emails per month, written entirely in your school's voice, based on interviews with your faculty, administrators, alumni, and students. Your team spends about 30 minutes a month reviewing drafts. I handle everything else: story sourcing, writing, scheduling, analytics, and continuous optimization. Requires a 6-month commitment to deepen donor and alumni relationships.
Custom Engagement
Varies by project
If your school's needs don't fit neatly into one of the options above, let's talk.
The Ghostwriting Lab also works with admissions offices, university development teams, and nonprofit foundations. If you have a specific campaign, a capital giving push, or a one-time communications project, reach out and I'll let you know if I can help — and what that would look like.
Don't just take my word for it — here's what happens when you get serious about working with me↓
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Anita Rao, host of Embodied Radio Show & Podcast
“Liz is a perfect blend of creative and decisive. She's helped me hone big, expansive ideas into clear and compelling projects. She's a natural teacher and mentor who brings impressive rigor to her work!”
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Marika Lynch, communications consultant
“What has impressed me most about Liz is her willingness and ability to learn new skills and platforms for storytelling. When she became interested in radio, she taught herself new skills and landed a fellowship that led to a new and fruitful stage in her career. She has never, and will never, stop learning.”
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Natalie Dudas-Thomas, social media manager, KPBS
“Liz is an outstanding digital editor and would be an incredible asset to any team. Her attention to detail, unwavering leadership skills, and thoughtful approach to reporting on sensitive topics is unparalleled. Additionally, her creativity and flexibility to think outside the box allowed me and others on our team to further hone our digital skills.”
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Lisa Philip, higher education reporter, WBEZ Chicago
"Liz has both the vision to recognize a promising story, and the know-how to guide a reporter through its development into compelling narrative journalism. I still draw on the many lessons I learned from her editing."
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Brooke Bauman, creator, Guilty Plastics Podcast
“I took Liz’s Audio Journalism class at UNC. It was one of my favorite classes that I’ve taken. Liz provided constructive feedback with a quick turnaround time and facilitated critiquing sessions in class. Her teaching inspired me to start a podcast outside of class and she went above and beyond by editing my outline.”
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Keith Weston, retired webmaster, WUNC
“Liz is exceptionally skilled at communicating digital frameworks to non- and less-digitally focused journalists and audio creators. She’s tops at transforming complex data and concepts into ‘lay speak’. Top text editing skills are part of her complete package of digital-focused results.”
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Emma Peaslee, producer, NPR
“Liz's class was foundational to my audio journalism experience. I learned practical skills that I now use every day at work. Liz is also generous with her time. She's quick to offer valuable advice – especially about pitching, reporting, and story structure. It's a great class if you want to learn the essentials for working in a public radio newsroom.”
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Jean-Paul Renaud, executive director, Canopy
“[Liz’s] success in both print and broadcast journalism is a testament to her ability to tell engaging stories across multiple media platforms. She is dedicated, hardworking and passionate...”
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most writers focus on producing content. I focus on building donor relationships through story. There's a real difference between a newsletter that gets politely skimmed and one that prompts a reply, a phone call, or a renewed commitment to your annual fund. I write the second kind.
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It's designed to do the opposite. After our initial kickoff, most clients spend fewer than 30 minutes a month on their newsletter. I handle story sourcing, writing, scheduling, and reporting. You review, approve, and stay focused on the relationships that matter.
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A generalist writer produces content. I build an advancement communications strategy and execute it — story by story, issue by issue — aligned to your giving calendar, your donor segments, and your school's long-term goals. The difference is between someone filling an inbox and someone helping you cultivate a community.
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If I'm doing my job right, it will sound more like your school than your school sounds like itself. I spend significant time learning your mission, your culture, and the voices of your community. Donors and alumni regularly respond to ghostwritten newsletters without knowing they weren't written in-house, and that's exactly the goal.
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Better engagement and improved open rates typically show up within the first few issues. Deeper outcomes — stronger donor retention, increased annual fund participation, renewed major gift conversations — build over 6 to 12 months of consistent, strategic communication. Donor relationships don't change overnight, but consistent presence compounds.
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Always. Before I write a word, I review your existing materials, style guide (if you have one), and any communications policies. The goal is to feel seamless, like an extension of your team, not an outside vendor.
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My background is in journalism and higher education — at my station, I lead editorial teams under real deadline. At UNC, I’ve helped train the next generation of storytellers. I learn the culture of educational institutions, the language of advancement, and the donor psychology that drives giving. I also offer a complimentary sample newsletter tailored to your school so you can see the approach before committing.
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Yes. I'm bilingual in English and Spanish, and independent schools operate globally. Most of our work happens over video calls, so geography isn't a barrier.
Ready to talk about your school?
Fill out the form with a few details about your school and where donor communication has been falling short. I review every inquiry personally.Within 48 hours, you'll hear back from me. If it sounds like a good fit, we'll schedule a short call: no pressure, no pitch. Just a real conversation about your school's community, your advancement goals, and whether I'm the right person to help you reach them.I work with a small number of schools at a time so I can give each one the attention it deserves. If you're ready to stop leaving donor relationships on the table and start showing up in your community's inbox with stories worth reading, I'd love to hear from you. Note: I currently do not work with schools in the U.S. state of North Carolina.
Your donors want a reason to give.
Give them a story.
Done-for-you donor newsletters and alumni communications — story sourcing, copy, send, analytics — so your school stays top of mind with the people who fund its future.