Senior Director of Major and Planned Giving

The Senior Director, Individual and Planned Giving is responsible for securing major gifts as well as planned gifts from a portfolio of qualified prospects. He or she will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects. While working independently, he or she will work collaboratively with the development team. He or she must be energetic, ambitious, goal-oriented and creative, with the ability to build strong and productive relationships with the Edmundite Missions donors. Moreover, he or she must have passion for the Edmundite Missions’ primary goal to improve the lives of the people we serve.

Roles and Responsibilities:

 Work strategically with the Chief Development Officer & VP, Institutional Philanthropy to

identify, target, and cultivate prospective major and planned giving donors nationwide.

 Manage a portfolio of 100-150 top prospects, moving them through the donor cycle and being

accountable for metrics of quality contacts, gift proposals and closures, and create strategies to

grow our traditional and transformational programs.

 Plan and execute communications aimed at key segments including membership, long-term

givers, sustaining members and current giving society members.

 Employ a variety of marketing techniques including mail, telephone, web and digital methods to

engage and educate donors about giving opportunities to help build a robust pipeline of donors.

 Work within the Raisers Edge database to track actions, contacts, view data and assist in

analyzing data in order to inform and help prioritize individuals and strategies.

 Deepen relationships with current planned and major donors and present giving options that

benefit donors and their families and grow the Missions’ major gift revenue and endowment.

 Utilize all aspects of gift planning and estate vehicles including wills, trusts, gift annuities,

insurance, IRAs and retirement assets, and endowment giving.

 Present a highly professional image and acts as a Missions ambassador to all stakeholders,

through verbal, written, and face-to-face interactions.

 Connect with donors and track interactions in Raisers Edge. Focus performance around the

Missions’ strategic growth and transformation plan, department annual plan, and help to develop

a culture of philanthropy, with our donor partners.

 Develop solicitations, write individual proposals, stewardship and cultivation strategies to secure

major and planned gifts, including blended asks, endowments, and specific program funding in

coordination with appropriate Missions staff.

 Travel extensively nationwide for major donor visits and planned gifts solicitations.

 Keep abreast of visit goals, which will be established based on portfolio size.

 Keep current on changes to tax laws and legislation that impact planned gifts.

 Provide expertise in structuring complex gifts and working with colleagues to close new planned

gift intentions.

 Collaborate with the other members of the development team to develop a strategic,

comprehensive approach to generating planned gift support for the Missions, leveraging donors

from both the mid-level and direct mail program.

 Oversee effective handling and processing of estate gift administration to ensure appropriate

stewardship and closure of realized gifts.

 Direct and oversee stewardship and recognition programs for planned giving donors and ensure

effective regular communication and retention.

Preferred knowledge, skills & abilities:

 Proven experience cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors.

 Proven success in closing traditional and complex planned gifts, including but not limited to,

bequests, gift annuities, remainder trusts, and gifts of real estate.

 Minimum of five years’ experience in nonprofit major gifts and planned giving fundraising, or

with proven major gift experience, capacity to learn and implement a planned giving program.

 Background in major gifts and planned giving that shows leadership in development as well as

proven experience in planning, vision and goal achievement in a team-oriented environment.

 Extensive knowledge of planned giving instruments: charitable trusts, gift annuities, pooled

income contracts and life insurance.

 Working knowledge of IRS regulations, tax laws and implications for planned gifts.

 Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

 Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting.

 Effective presence to represent Edmundite Missions in a knowledgeable and professional way

and to articulate its case persuasively and enthusiastically.

 The capacity to work sympathetically with individuals possessing many different points of view

and having diverse interests.

 The capacity for putting the prospect’s interests first every time. This requires the ability to listen,

to understand, and to empathize with prospect’s interests, the interests of Edmundite Missions,

and the objective requirements of diverse planned giving choices.

 Availability for evening work and must be able to travel nationally as required.

 Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

 A bachelor’s degree and five or more years of major gift and planned giving/trust experience in a

nonprofit setting.

 An advanced degree and/or advanced training in an adjunct field such as management, law,

accounting, stocks and bonds, real estate, insurance, etc., is very desirable.

 Experience with Microsoft Office program and use of relational database such as Raisers Edge

and Planned Giving software programs.

 Successful experience in raising major gifts and planned gifts.

Interested candidates whose experience and interest align with this position should provide a resume and the names of three references to James Kopp, Vice President of Philanthropy at jamesk@edmunditemissions.org

Senior Director, Individual and Planned Giving

Reports to: Chief Development Officer & VP, Institutional Philanthropy