Director of Planned Giving

Job Summary:

The Director of Planned Giving is responsible for securing major current and deferred gifts to EMU and stewarding long-term funding relationships of significance. The Director secures gifts from a portfolio of assigned prospects, collaborates with other gift officers to secure new legacy commitments and/or current gifts of complex assets. This position will also manage processes that build the pipeline of future support and raise awareness of legacy giving within the EMU community. Recognizing the importance of legacy giving and the procurement of non-cash assets in meeting campaign goals, the Director participates in principal gift strategies and demonstrates leadership in securing resources for EMU fundraising priorities, including the University endowment fund. This position will require working outside of the normal business hours, during evenings and weekends, frequently.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Oversee the marketing of EMUs planned giving program.
• Collaborate and participate in setting principal and major gift strategies.
• Provide planned giving technical assistance to other team members.
• Identify, cultivate and solicit major current and deferred giving prospects among EMUs pool of prospective donors.
• Develop and implement a marketing plan to identify a continuing stream of legacy prospects through mailings, research, seminars, referrals, and alumni and parent engagement.
• Manage 100-150 prospects, with 8-10 prospect visits minimum monthly with the goal for the team of confirming 25 or more planned gifts per year.
• Establish and oversee annual planned giving fundraising goals and priorities.
• Track and report on EMUSs Book of Futures (value of future deferred gift commitments).
• Develop and maintain a planned giving website.
• Send targeted donor communications such as newsletters and updates about EMU and planned giving topics.
• Ensure placement of planned giving promotional pages in EMU publications.
• Research, identify and develop prospect tools and reports for the use of directors and associate directors to conduct planned giving discovery and cultivation visits.
• Provide counsel, direction and assistance to advancement directors and vice president who have identified a planned gift prospect to close the gift by working collaboratively or independently with both the advancement director and the donor, including collaboration with donors financial and legal representation.
• Steward planned gift donors and Jubilee Friend Society members through visits and events; generate policies and practices to achieve University wide engagement of such donors.
• Build and maintain relationships with allied professionals in key markets.
• Collaboratively create, present and invite donors to workshops or other targeted events.
• Counsel directors and associate directors in the engagement of donors considering and endowment or grant proposal.
• Provide support to development staff for the creation for new endowment and grant agreements.
• Promote need for endowment funding and work collectively with the marketing department to publish articles, reports and website updates on University endowments gifts.
• Keep other members of the Advancement division abreast of key legal changes and developments; conduct training workshops on law and resulting effects for annual, major and planned giving methods.
• Assist with work pertaining to comprehensive campaigns, collaboration with the Board of Trustees, and other significant stakeholders.
• Participate in all fundraising priorities of the University including university fund, planned giving, capital projects and others as requested.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of development data systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively and professionally with all constituencies of a diverse community.
• Outstanding leadership and management skills.
• The ability to build relationships that balance the multiple, varying, and sometimes conflicting interests of diverse stakeholders around politically charged subject matter are essential.
• Ability to effectively express ideas clearly in both written and verbal communications.
• Proficiency in computer applications, specifically Microsoft Office and Google platform.
• Ability to interpret and analyze information for effective decision making.
• Attention to detail to prepare reports, correspondence, administer tests, and coordinate information.
• Ability to read, analyze, and comprehend information for interpreting policies, benefit plans, employment laws, survey instructions, and computer procedures.
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, and the ability to deal effectively with a variety of situations and constituents.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise emotional intelligence.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and materials.
• Ability to effectively supervise and motivate staff.
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and work evenings and weekends.

Education and Experience:

Bachelors degree in related field, such as accounting, law, financial or philanthropic planning, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in major and gift planning or fundraising position; or an equivalent combination of experience, education, and training. Tax law and financial planning training preferred. Experience in a higher education environment is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must occasionally travel to meetings and conferences off campus, which may include some overnight travel.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

No supervisory responsibilities.