Associate Director, Gift Planning - Job at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA

Associate Director, Gift Planning

Lewisburg, PA

Posted 4 days ago

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Job Description

Associate Director, Gift Planning

R0000000207
301 Market Street (Post Office)

Position Title:
Associate Director, Gift Planning

Position Type:
Full time

Location:
301 Market Street (Post Office)

Categories:
Staff Exempt

Job Summary:
Are you a visionary leader with a passion for philanthropy and a track record of driving success? Bucknell University is seeking a dynamic and strategic individual to join us as our Associate Director for Gift Planning. As we embark on an exciting new fundraising campaign, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of philanthropy at Bucknell by leading our growing team of Gift Planning Officers. With your expertise and guidance, you'll empower our team to cultivate meaningful donor relationships, craft innovative gift planning strategies, and secure transformative gifts to support our university's mission. This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our campaign from its inception. If you're ready to make a lasting impact and lead with vision and purpose, we invite you to apply and become an integral part of our Bucknell community. Join us in shaping a brighter future for Bucknell and its students. This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt, benefits eligible position based in Lewisburg, PA.

We are in the silent phase of our campaign, and this role presents the opportunity to help shape the future of the University. It will play a pivotal role in helping donors fulfill their philanthropic goals and make meaningful contributions to the University. We welcome you to consider joining University Advancement's dynamic team at the start of our growing campaign.

Job Duties:

The Associate Director supervises two regional Gift Officers and manages a portfolio of planned giving prospects and donors. They offer gift planning expertise to the Development team, cultivate donor relationships, and drive deferred gift commitments, primarily through blended gifts. Through focused Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), the Associate Director guides Gift Planning Officers to enhance team effectiveness and secure deferred gift commitments, strategically advancing the department.

Gift Planning Strategy (25%):

In consultation with the Director, and in coordination with the AVP for Strategic Philanthropy and the regional Development Directors, develop strategies to grow the planned giving pipeline and achieve campaign goals. Integrate gift planning into broader fundraising initiatives with comprehensive plans.
Implement data-driven strategies with clear metrics, monitoring and reporting team progress.

Leadership (25%):

Lead, inspire and provide strategic direction to the Gift Planning Officers to increase planned and blended gift solicitations and closures within their region. Understand development strategies within regions to effectively drive planned giving performance and achieve campaign goals
Provide guidance to Gift Planning Officers and Development Officers on gift planning options, techniques, tax implications, and offer complex gift advice.
Hold gift planning officers accountable to their defined metrics, ensure that mechanisms are in place to accurately track their activity, and identify professional development needs and opportunities.

Regional Gift Planning (50%):

Serve as regional expert in gift planning, including gifts of complex assets, gift vehicles, federal and state tax considerations surrounding charitable giving, and the financial considerations, partner with donors and their professional advisors to establish, facilitate, and close creative and complex gifts including non-liquid and alternative assets.
Drive gift planning performance in assigned region to achieve campaign goals for planned giving through individual portfolio work, partnership with regional gift officers and leveraging regional events
Consistently engage in strategic face-to-face prospect meetings within the region to move prospects through the donor continuum with a focus on blended and complex gifts.
Promote the University's fundraising priorities by developing excellent working relationships with faculty, volunteers, and UA colleagues on strategic objectives for long-term financial sustainability. This includes preparing strategic briefings prior to visits and arranging for appropriate follow up-to-visits and events.
Maintain accuracy of donor and prospect records, including ensuring that specific planned gift information is recorded, and updating opportunities, contact reports, and prospect plan steps, in a prompt and timely fashion.
Serve as integral member of regional development team participating in strategy discussions, identifying training needs and participating in team meetings

This position (and all positions in our division) requires the occasional evening and weekend work to support university events including Homecoming & Family Weekend, Reunion Weekend, and large Career events. We do ask staff to mark their calendars in advance for these events. Also required for this role is a commitment to attend, participate, facilitate or lead on-campus and off-campus meetings, events and activities outside of normal business hours as appropriate.

We are looking for someone with:

Bachelor's degree and 7 years of experience in gift planning, legal or a comparable field, OR an equivalent combination of education and work experience
3 years of demonstrated fundraising success related to complex gifts (can be concurrent with previous experience)
Demonstrated successful management and supervisory experience
Demonstrated ability to comprehend sophisticated financial and legal concepts, the ability to comprehend technical material of complex gift plans, and remain current with changing legal and tax arenas affecting planned giving
Demonstrated creativity and broad-level strategic thinking
Demonstrated maturity of judgment, high level of accuracy, and close attention to detail, with a strong ethical sense to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately
Demonstrated exceptional customer service skills with the ability to build relationships and communicate complex ideas, thoughts, and facts clearly, effectively, and persuasively both verbally and in writing
Experience that demonstrates the ability and commitment to learn how to use a variety of computer-based programs and platforms to perform essential job duties such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, CRM database functions, and other web-based tools
Commits to the responsibility of frequent travel and to organizing efficient, productive itineraries including a valid driver's license

And who also has (preferred):

Advanced degree or designation in law, finance, estate, or financial planning such as JD. CPA, CFP
Demonstrated success in securing six-figure major gifts, specifically in planned giving
Experience in higher education

Who we are

University Advancement (UA) is here to advance the mission of Bucknell University by engaging the Bucknell community. It is only through the support of alumni, parents and friends - by opening doors to career opportunities, engaging others to join the conversation and community, and entrusting us with their philanthropic commitments -- that we can further elevate Bucknell as a leader in undergraduate education.

Our team is dedicated to this mission and unified by five values:

Lead with Integrity
Embrace a Collaborative and Inclusive Spirit
Be Open and Receptive
Nurture Creativity and Innovation
Foster a Culture of Empowerment and Knowledge

These values also illustrate how we bring, as a division, the University's strategic plan to life and exercise our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on a daily basis.

As part of UA, the Office of Estate, Trust, & Gift Planning (ETGP) strengthens Bucknell University by increasing the value, size, and utility of gifts contributed to the University. These goals are achieved by working with donors and their advisors to plan and arrange bequests, life income, and other blended and complex gifts; by conducting strategy meetings with development staff for blended gift visits and proposals; by managing, in conjunction with Bucknell's finance department, all life income and trust asset investments under the control of the University; and by collaborating with University administrators to design plans for using outright and deferred gift contributions. ETGP streamlines the estate settlement for University gifts to ensure correct distributions and donor intent, and, with the support of outside charitable tax counsel, advises and counsels University staff on legal issues related to charitable contributions and plans.

Job Exempt:
Yes
Salary Range
96,800.00-121,000.00

The offer rate will be based on a review of the candidate's credentials compared to the qualifications of the position, internal equity, and our overall compensation philosophy.

This role is not budgeted for visa sponsorship at this time, all candidates must be authorized to work in the US at the time of submission of the application.

Advertised:
2024-05-08

Benefits:

Eligible full- and part-time employees are compensated beyond base salary through our total rewards package that includes (but is not limited to):

Flexible scheduling options determined by role;
Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance options
An outstanding 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan (no contribution requirement for non-exempt positions)
Generous paid time off, including vacation and sick time, a community service day, and 19 paid holidays (including two full weeks off for Winter Break!)
Full-time and part-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for themselves. Additionally, full-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for their spouse/spousal equivalent and are eligible for various tuition programs for their children. Credit for full-time benefits eligible employment at other institutions of higher education will be applied to waiting periods.
A comprehensive employee wellness program including program incentives
A myriad of other benefits, including parental leave, an employee assistance program, fitness center membership, and the power of your Bucknell ID card

To learn more about Bucknell's benefits, click here! (*Eligibility criteria and waiting periods may apply.)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
Bucknell is committed to fostering an environment that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports the growth and development of a diverse campus community. We endeavor to enhance our capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. We encourage all individuals to apply and do not discriminate in admissions, employment, educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.
E-VerifyBucknell University participates with the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) E-Verify program. We will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.For additional information regarding Bucknell's E-Verify requirements, please contact the office of Talent, Culture & Human Resources (570) 577-1631 or email hr@bucknell.edu.E-Verify Posters (sharing the link to the posters, which are also attached)

To apply, visit https://bucknell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/301-Market-Street-Post-Office/Associate-Director--Estate--Trust---Gift-Planning_R0000000207.

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Job Summary

Company

Bucknell University

Start Date

As soon as possible

Employment Term and Type

Regular, Full or Part Time

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Experience

7+ years