Position Summary: Reporting to the Director of Development and Campaign Manager, the Director leads the six-person Gift Planning staff as they work with a diverse prospect pool to identify, cultivate and solicit potential planned giving donors. In addition to managing the staff, the Director will oversee a broad marketing program for gift planning and maintain a prospect pool of individual donors.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Lead Gift Planning group in their efforts to secure trusts, annuities, pooled income fund gifts, bequests, and non-cash gifts to the University, providing ongoing stewardship to donors.
- Define and meet financial goals for trusts, realized bequests, and field visit and gift negotiations for the group; monitor individual staff member progress toward those goals.
- Working with Development Communications, oversee Gift Planning marketing and communications initiatives to promote gifts from alumni, parents and friends of the University through direct mail, electronic communications, seminars, and face-to-face visits.
- Oversee the three-person gift planning group as they
-provide prospective donors and their advisors with
technical and other gift information;
-complete gift arrangements for bequests, charitable
remainder trusts, lead trusts, gift annuities, pooled
income funds;
- handle negotiations for gifts of real estate and other
non-cash assets; and
-provide ongoing stewardship to donors and income
beneficiaries.
- Conduct 50 field visits a year, as above.
- Work closely with other University staff and outside organizations to ensure effective and efficient gift administration and stewardship, coordinating as required with the Offices of General Counsel, Treasurer, Real Estate, Princeton University Investment Company, and other Development staff, as well as BNY Mellon and donors' financial and legal advisors.
- Direct the work of three Gift Planning front-line staff, and three office support professionals; establish objectives, set performance standards and productivity measures and evaluate performance; provide appropriate levels of training, mentoring and professional development.
- Serve as an information resource about charitable gift planning and related tax, legal, and investment questions. Maintain awareness of Federal and State legislation and regulations affecting charitable giving.
- Lead discussions and conduct training sessions for staff and volunteers.
- Guide and support the activities of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee, composed of specialists in trust and estate planning, financial planning, and related technical areas.
- Understand fully the mission and resource needs of the University and articulate them to volunteers and potential donors.
Essential Qualifications: - Demonstrated track record of professional leadership and management of professional staff and volunteers
- Technical expertise essential to gift planning, such as estate and financial planning, law, accounting, and trust administration; the ability to think strategically, including the analytical acumen necessary to interpret financial information and manage data
- Strong interpersonal skills: good listening skills, poise when communicating with individuals and groups.
- Strong business writing and communications skills, demonstrating an ability to make the case for philanthropy and for Princeton with clarity and cogency.
- Extensive travel (10-20% of working time) in order to complete 50 field visits per year.
- At least 8-10 years of gift planning experience, and at least 3-5 years of experience managing a professional staff.
The finalist will be required to successfully pass a background check.
Please direct all inquiries, applications, and nominations in confidence to: Jill Lasman, Lois Lindauer Searches, 420 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116; email:jlasman@lllsearches.com. Electronic submission of credentials strongly encouraged.
Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree desired.
Education Required: Bachelor's Degree
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled or See Position Summary.
