Director, Gift Planning

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/13

The Director of Gift Planning will identify, cultivate, and solicit planned gifts by managing a portfolio of planned giving prospects and serving as a consultant to major gift officers across the organization and within Northwestern's three professional schools. This individual will collaborate with various teams (e.g., Principal Gifts, Major Gifts, Reunions, Schools/Units), as well as deans and faculty where appropriate, to develop and implement gift planning strategies. The Director will provide expert knowledge of planned giving vehicles and may participate in training sessions for teams in ARD. In addition, this individual will supervise up to two full-time fundraisers and be responsible for their coaching, professional development, and performance management. This role operates within a highly collaborative gift planning team and is expected to help foster a unified approach to fundraising through close partnership with fellow gift planning professionals.

Please note : The target budgeted salary for this position is $140,000 - $155,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

Specific Responsibilities :

• Builds and maintains a portfolio of up to 40 donor/prospect relationships and is responsible for soliciting and closing a target number of major gift ($100K+) commitments annually, as well as achieving an associated "dollars raised" goal.
• Maintains a portfolio of liaison assignments and is responsible for providing a high level of support which results in the closure of additional planned gifts for the organization, measured by solicitations, closures and dollars raised.
• Oversees and coaches team members who are also responsible for maintaining prospect portfolios and closing new gifts.
• Maintains a certain degree of knowledge and expertise about deferred giving options to support donor conversations.
• Supervises up to 2 fundraisers on the gift planning team, including the evaluation of work and tracking of progress towards individual goals, as well as supporting their long-term development and growth within the organization.
• Participates in key collaborations with fundraisers across Alumni Relations and Development and the professional school teams in support of our larger fundraising efforts by providing planned giving support; coaches team members who are also responsible for collaborating on a regular basis.
• Participates in strategic planning related to fundraising activities that will increase the number and level of planned gift donors for Northwestern University.
• Ensures compliance with prospect management guidelines for tracking & maintenance of contact & progress reporting.
• Prepares gift illustrations, sample bequest language, and/or related information to support fundraising strategies.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 7 years of development (fundraising) or equivalent experience, including some experience in the gift planning/planned giving field
• Demonstrated ability to manage donor relationships and a proven track record of fundraising success in a nonprofit organization
• Demonstrated experience managing one or more fundraising professionals
• Expertise in the area of charitable gift planning, including some knowledge of gift structures and financial planning concepts
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write and speak with precision and clarity and the ability to adjust language and tone to fit the audience
• Excellent analytical skills with the capacity to apply knowledge in new ways to unique situations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and maintain high ethical standards
• Ability to work independently to develop and implement initiatives
• Ability to collaborate appropriately and respectfully
• Ability to articulate the case for supporting Northwestern University in a convincing manner
• Ability to handle multiple projects and manage, set, and adjust priorities
• Ability to work with personal computers and proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school or Certification in Financial Planning (CFP)
• Knowledge of gift planning software such as Crescendo or PG Calc
• Ability to navigate a fundraising database/CRM such as Salesforce
• Demonstrated experience working with mature populations
• Experience in any of the following fields:
  • major gift fundraising
  • pharmaceutical sales or entrepreneurial positions
  • trust and estate planning and/or administration
  • financial planning
• Strong public speaking skills; demonstrated experience in delivering presentations to internal and external audiences.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more .