Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning

Children's Hospital Boston•Boston, MA

56d

About The Position

As a member of the senior leadership team of the Development & Campaign group, the AVP, Gift Planning will lead and manage the Gift Planning program to build the pipeline for future revenue growth and ensure targeted goals are met, using industry best practices alongside innovative, collaborative strategies. The role provides technical and strategic guidance to the development team to increase planned and blended gifts closed by the Trust, focusing on maximizing donor philanthropy across planned, outright, estate, and illiquid gifts, as well as gifts from IRA accounts and donor-advised funds. This position integrates gift planning throughout all development programs and develops a robust training program for fundraisers to increase philanthropic resources for the Trust. It also emphasizes expanding the Children's Legacy Circle, increasing bequests and other irrevocable gifts, and providing high-level stewardship to members through direct contact, special communications, and a signature event, while cultivating Circle leaders to serve as ambassadors for the program.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in legal or accounting field preferred.
At least 10 years of gift planning experience, including staff management.
Strong analytical skills to address complex financial, legal, or operational challenges.
Deep knowledge of tax laws and evolving strategies in gift planning.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills with donors, advisors, and senior leaders.
Demonstrated judgment, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential donor information.

Nice To Haves

Hospital fundraising or major gifts experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the Gift Planning team to cultivate donor relationships, solicit and close planned gifts, and secure new members for the Children's Legacy Circle.
Manage a portfolio of 30+ major prospects ($500k+), conducting donor visits, solicitations, and stewardship.
Build and maintain relationships with third-party advisors (estate attorneys, financial planners, CPAs) to expand support for BCH.
Partner with Principal & Major Gifts colleagues to grow complex, blended, and transformational gifts.
Provide expertise on gifts of unusual assets and guide staff through gift acceptance processes.
Collaborate with Finance, General Counsel, and outside counsel to ensure compliance with tax laws and high accountability standards.
Develop and implement marketing, communications, and e-philanthropy strategies to integrate gift planning into overall development initiatives.
Oversee tracking, acknowledgment, and stewardship of bequests and other planned gifts.
Engage hospital leadership, faculty, and volunteers to identify funding priorities, prepare cases for support, and solicit gifts.
Stay informed on hospital programs and broader health care trends to inform donor engagement strategies.