Senior Director, Gift Planning

Position Summary:

The Senior Director, Gift Planning collaborates closely with members of Development, Executive, and Senior Leadership Teams and represents Audubon’s hemispheric fundraising interests as a senior fundraiser focused on deferred and blended gifts. This position will report to the Vice President of Gift Planning.

This newly created position will be responsible for charting a path of ambitious growth in gift planning to support Audubon’s hemispheric conservation vision, as well as collaborate with the Leadership Giving team to secure bequest intentions and non-cash asset gifts from high-net-worth individuals. They will also provide fundraising leadership for Audubon, supporting a team of gift officers and natural partners in their own fundraising work to help maximize Audubon’s philanthropic potential.

The Senior Director will manage a portfolio of planned and major gift donors and prospects; support an existing team of frontline fundraisers; and partner closely with Audubon’s State and Center Directors as well as Strategic Leads to grow an already successful fundraising operation. They will work closely with the VP of Gift Planning to deliver consistent growth in planned gift intentions, outright major gifts from donors in the gift planning pipeline, and conversations around gifts funded from non-cash assets.

Key metrics for results will include the number of new planned gifts committed annually to Audubon’s Grinnell Legacy Society, donor engagement activities (number of personal meetings), and current-year gifts secured. The successful candidate will be entrepreneurial and have demonstrated experience in creating and managing planned and blended gifts, including non-cash assets, either as an experienced fundraising professional or wealth/planning advisor. The Senior Director will excel at building and stewarding successful relationships with major donors and increasing fundraising revenue year-to-year, and will have a high EQ for managing up, down, and laterally in all levels of the organization.

This is a non-supervisory position, but with expectation to collaborate with and coach colleagues in pursuing deferred and blended gifts from Audubon’s donors.

This role is hybrid with priority for the New York City area. This position requires up to 30 percent travel with occasional evening and weekend travel.

Compensation:

$160,000 - $180,000 / year

Essential Functions

• Personally manage a portfolio of 100+ planned gift donors and prospects with potential to make planned and/or blended gifts of $100,000 and up.
• Solicit $500,000 in annual outright gifts from within the Grinnell Legacy Society pipeline.
• Participate in implementing the stewardship plan for Grinnell Legacy Society members.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert in funding gifts with non-cash assets, and understanding relevant tax, probate, trust and financial/estate planning information to apply this knowledge to individual donors needs and goals.
• Assist the VP of Gift Planning in advancing the skills of other development staff in setting and meeting gift planning goals, through 5-10 quarterly small-team and 1:1 sessions with fundraisers.
• Advance Audubon’s culture of philanthropy by engaging other Audubon development teams, program leaders, volunteers, advisory board members, and board alumni to deepen relationships with donors and secure deferred and blended gifts.
• Respond to donor inquiries and produce appropriate contracts and paperwork associated with planned gifts, including well-written request letters, donor proposals, and other correspondence.
• Manage workflow, records, and data using Audubon’s Salesforce database, creating timely reports on all donor interactions.
• Help advance a multi-year fundraising initiative built around Audubon’s Flight Plan and other conservation strategies. Be informed, engaged, and prepared to effectively communicate Audubon’s larger organizational strategic plan and how local programming across the Western Hemisphere rolls up into that plan.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards, demonstrate empathetic disposition and perseverance, reflect optimistic and positive attitude, and convey sensitivity to the needs of donors.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or specialized certifications in wealth or estate planning disciplines, such as JD, CFP, CAP, CSPG, etc.
• At least 15 years of related work experience to gift planning or an equivalent combination of education and work experience in related fields (such as estate or wealth advising).
• Experience implementing strategic fundraising plans, with proven success in securing $1,000,000 or more annually in bequest intentions, life income, and blended gifts. Priority will be given to candidates with significant experience in gifts of non-cash assets or blended gift agreements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required; experience with fundraising databases (e.g. Salesforce, Blackbaud) and specific knowledge of gift planning software (PG Calc, GiftWrap, Crescendo) is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team while coaching and inspiring others, as well to be self-directed with a high degree of accountability and attention to detail.
• Keen strategist who can effectively engage new and existing donors as well as an ability to foster strong internal and external working relationships.
• Excellent writing skills and demonstrated success in proposal development or donor/client communications. Strong planning, organization, time management, and communication abilities.
• Commitment to furthering Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
• Ability to communicate Audubon’s mission, goals, and programs effectively to people from varied backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives.

Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% of the time, including occasional weekends and evenings.