Director, Gift Planning

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB•Remote, MA

4d•$110,000 - $145,000•Remote

About The Position

The Director, Gift Planning is responsible for the overall strategic leadership and management of AMC’s planned giving program. This position will report to the incoming Senior Director, Principal Gifts and will work closely with all frontline fundraising staff, including the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and AMC management team. This role is pivotal in driving strategic initiatives to maximize planned giving efforts during the organization's largest fundraising campaign in its 150-year history. The Director, Gift Planning is responsible for securing planned and complex gift assets and/or blended gifts with a particular focus on gifts of $100,000 and above. This position will collaborate with frontline funders, AMC’s management team, and Board members to identify and qualify prospects, and partner with the Development Operations team to utilize industry tools for cultivating, soliciting, administering, and stewarding planned gifts. The role aims to grow the Summit Trust legacy society membership and increase documented gifts.

Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of planned giving or major gift fundraising experience and/or experience with trusts and estates, tax accounting, financial planning or wealth management with increasing levels of responsibility.
Demonstrated track record of planned giving solicitation experience, with fundraising success in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major (six-figure) and principal gifts (seven+ figures).
Success in strategically engaging and securing gifts from previously unaffiliated constituencies.
Strong knowledge of current and evolving trends in charitable giving, particularly in the areas of complex estate planning tools, charitable tax law, estate and probate laws and personal finance.
Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
Superior verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex financial and program information clearly and concisely.
Facility with employing CRMs and reporting to inform a data-driven approach to moves management.
Experience engaging groups of diverse stakeholders, from complex organizational teams to volunteers.
Strength in developing fundraising strategies and experience working directly with the most senior levels of an organization.
Strong willingness to collaborate in a highly team-based environment; ability to build working relationships up, down, and across a large and diffuse organization.
A history of and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and confidentiality.
Willingness and ability to adhere to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards.
The ability to travel frequently in support of AMC’s philanthropic priorities (including weeknights and weekends), staffing multiday events as well as cultivation and solicitation visits with the President & CEO and CDO, Board members, and other volunteers.
The ability to travel frequently in support of AMC’s philanthropic priorities (including weeknights and weekends), staffing multi-day events as well as cultivation and solicitation visits with the President & CEO, CDO, Board members, and other volunteers.

Nice To Haves

Experience using Salesforce a plus.
Experience working with gift planning software such as PG-Calc.
Knowledge and experience working on climate and conservation policy and/or environmental issues is a plus.
JD or Master’s degree preferred although not required.
Travel may involve going to backcountry locations and staying in dormitory-style accommodation.
AMC encourages candidates to have a willingness to learn how to engage in outdoor recreational activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking in difficult terrain.
AMC encourages all interested candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every listed qualification.
If you have a passion for the outdoors and believe your skills and experiences align with this role, we welcome your application.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic program leadership and direction to AMC’s planned giving program.
Encourage, motivate, and incentivize frontline fundraisers to cultivate and secure planned or complex gifts.
Actively contribute to principal and major gift-level strategy discussions.
Bring forward blended gift solutions that help donors maximize giving.
Establish budget and activity goals for planned gifts and develop annual and multi-year strategies to reach them.
Ensure proper forecasting, handling, and crediting of revenue from planned gifts.
Enhance the existing gift planning marketing program to increase awareness, education, and interest in giving opportunities.
Identify opportunities to integrate planned gift marketing and recognition into existing appeals and stewardship efforts.
Manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors to deepen relationships and maximize lifetime giving.
Personally solicit high-value donors and prospects for outright and deferred gifts of $100,000 or more.
Ensure that Summit Trust members are well-stewarded through various approaches.
Respond to planned giving inquiries by prospective donors in a timely manner.
Identify high-level prospects for blended gift solicitation, create customized cultivation and stewardship plans, and engage donors.
Provide guidance to frontline fundraisers on planned giving approaches and opportunities through trainings and educational sessions.
Consult with and develop a network of legal and financial professionals and financial institutions.
Translate research and program activity into compelling philanthropic objectives.