Head of Planned Giving

Job Description

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Head of Planned Giving will serve as Vanguard Charitable’s lead charitable planning expert—combining deep technical expertise with donor-facing engagement to structure complex gifts and build a best-in-class planned giving program. This role will actively meet with donors and their advisors to design sophisticated giving strategies while also standing up the infrastructure, processes, and marketing required to scale a high-impact legacy giving program.

The Head of Planned Giving will oversee the full lifecycle of the planned giving program, including pre-market readiness, go-to-market execution, and transition to ongoing portfolio management. This role will partner cross-functionally to drive adoption, ensure strong performance, and begin to integrate planned giving into the broader donor experience through clear positioning, internal enablement, and coordinated execution. The position is accountable for building an effective growth strategy, deepening donor engagement, and driving mid and long-term revenue.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Establish and lead a compelling vision for the planned giving program by developing deep insight into target donor segments and aligning charitable planning strategies with enterprise growth priorities; continuously refine the program to support evolving donor needs, market dynamics, and organizational strategy. (20%)
• Serve as the organization’s lead charitable planning expert by engaging directly with donors and their advisors to structure complex, tax-efficient gifts; cultivate, solicit, and close planned giving commitments while integrating charitable planning into broader donor, wealth, and DAF strategies. (25%)
• Lead program development and execution by designing and standing up a scalable planned giving program, including offer design, policy and procedure development, pipeline management, and supporting infrastructure; establish a repeatable model for prospect identification, qualification, and conversion. (20%)
• Drive go-to-market strategy and enterprise adoption by defining program positioning, developing donor and advisor-facing messaging, and partnering with Business Development, Marketing, and Client Services to execute coordinated campaigns, enable internal teams, and embed planned giving into the broader donor experience. (15%)
• Define, monitor, and report on program performance by establishing KPIs, revenue targets, pipeline metrics, and return on investment; deliver regular reporting and insights to senior leadership and Board-level audiences to inform strategic decisions and program evolution. (10%)
• Establish mechanisms to continuously gather and analyze donor, advisor, and market feedback to refine program design, improve targeting and engagement strategies, and enhance overall effectiveness and adoption. (5%)
• Partner across Risk, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Technology, Strategy, Marketing, Business Development, Consumer Experience, and Client Services to ensure program readiness, regulatory compliance, strong governance, and seamless execution across the end-to-end donor lifecycle. (5%)

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Training

• Bachelor’s degree required (Finance, Accounting, Business, Government, or Public Policy preferred)

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability

• Knowledge of planned giving vehicles (bequests, trusts, annuities, IRAs, etc.)
• Knowledge of tax implications and charitable giving regulations; ability to interpret and discuss with donors and professional advisors.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategy and donor lifecycle management, including prospect identification, qualification, and stewardship
• Skilled at managing high-value donor relationships and navigating sensitive, complex, and long-term conversations in clear, donor friendly language.
• Skilled at integrating charitable planning strategies into broader fundraising conversations, including major gifts and donor-advised fund strategies
• Skilled at cultivating, soliciting, and closing planned gifts and other complex philanthropic commitments
• Skilled in strategic planning, business case development, and financial performance tracking.
• Skilled in cross-functional leadership and stakeholder influence.
• Skilled in analyzing performance data and translating insights into strategic and operational improvements.
• Able to establish and monitor KPIs, revenue goals, and return on investment.
• Able to communicate effectively with senior leadership and board-level audiences.
• Able to manage budgets, allocate resources, and oversee dedicated program support.

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in fundraising, with significant experience in planned giving, major gifts, or complex giving strategies.
• Experience establishing and scaling revenue-generating programs required.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with measurable outcomes required.
• Experience building and managing a pipeline of high-value prospects, with a focus on long-term conversion.