Director, Complex Gifts

Position Title: Director, Complex Gifts

Department: University Advancement

Reports to: Senior Associate Vice President, University Advancement

FLSA Status: Exempt

Time Type: Full-Time 

Employee Type: Regular

Summary:

The Director of Complex Gifts provides expert counsel regarding non-cash gifts to University Advancement staff, current and potential donors, and their professional advisors. The Director will lead efforts in identifying, cultivating, and securing non-cash gifts such as real estate, artwork, closely held business interests, restricted securities, and other complex assets.

Essential Functions:

• Becomes Wake Forest’s subject matter expert on complex assets, evaluate potential gifts for feasibility including income potential and risk, and ensure alignment with the University’s Gift Acceptance Policy.
• Working across teams, partners with gift officers to educate potential donors about giving opportunities using non-cash assets.
• Provides training and ongoing education to development staff on non-cash assets and donor conversations about complex gifts.
• Develops an internal library of material about charitable giving vehicles, giving trends, and state and federal tax legislative matters.
• Develops and executes marketing plans to educate Wake Forest constituents about non-cash giving and complex gift opportunities.
• Facilitates due diligence of potentially viable non-cash gifts.
• Assists fundraising staff in University Advancement, Athletic Advancement, Reynolda House, and WFDD with non-standard donor inquiries and requests.
• Participates in joint solicitations and strategy sessions with gift officers for high-capacity donors.
• Partners with donors and their professional advisors to structure gifts effectively.
• Proactively provides guidance and technical support to gift officers.
• Helps gift officers identify complex gift opportunities within their portfolios and develop strategies for solicitation.
• Serves as a liaison to the Finance and Accounting Services Office and the Office of the General Counsel on issues of complex assets, asset liquidation, and recording and reporting.
• Ensures complex gift compliance with IRS regulations and the University’s Gift Acceptance Policy.
• Manages relationships with life-income gift donors.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of seven years of experience in higher education fundraising, non-profit fundraising, or financial services with a focus on complex, non-cash assets.
• Strong understanding of tax implications and legal considerations relative to non-cash gifts
• Strong understanding of complex gift types including, but not limited to, real estate, trusts, bequests, annuities, art, closely held business interests, and restricted stock.
• Excellent relationship-building skills
• Ability to work effectively across a variety of teams and functions.
• Broad understanding of and experience with customer relationship management and project management tools.
• Strong customer service orientation, experience and follow through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people and skill levels.
• Excellent logical, negotiation, and analytical skills. 
• High degree of self-motivation.
• Respect for the dignity and abilities of all people.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• JD, CPA, or CFP designation
• Familiarity and facility with PG Calc, Blackbaud CRM, GiveCampus Gift Officer
• Familiarity with CASE International Reporting Standards.

Accountabilities:

• Directly supervises the following positions:
  • Complex Gift Administrator
• Responsible for own work.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:

Sedentary work primarily involving sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned. No adverse environmental conditions expected.