Director, Gift Planning

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions. Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.). Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org. NRDC is seeking a Director, Gift Planning, to work with the Development Team in any of our U.S. based offices, with a preference for New York, Washington, D.C., or Chicago. NRDC is seeking a Director, Gift Planning to secure planned gifts by identifying and building relationships with those donors who have a propensity for making future gifts for the organization and manage two additional planned giving officers. As a member of the Gift Planning team, this individual will work closely with the Senior Director, Gift Planning, gift planning team and major and membership gift officers to conduct solicitations for planned gifts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required
7+ years of previous work experience in gift planning fundraising or related experience with proven success of 6-7-figure planned gifts
3+ years of previous experience in direct supervision or management of others
Proficiency in Salesforce (or similar database) and PGCalc
Creative problem-solving skills to engage and cultivate relationships with donors
Efficient multi-tasker and flexible in working towards philanthropy goals
Familiarity with financial, legal and investment topics relating to gift planning and the ability to communicate those topics in lay person’s language
Enthusiastic, outgoing, and can handle simultaneous, ongoing projects
Ability to work independently and with a team
Excellent oral and written communication skills
A commitment to continued education regarding gift planning and fundraising in general
Ability to travel up to 50% regionally and nationally to visit donors, prospects and colleagues
Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles is essential.

Nice To Haves

Keen interest in nature and the environment is preferred

Responsibilities

Create and execute front-line comprehensive strategy and workplan in line with department goals and increase planned giving donors nationally
Strategically manage a portfolio of prospects (200-300) with capacity and interest from identification to securing planned gifts
Partner with membership gift officers to Identify, cultivate and motivate members to make significant gifts, assisting them with gift planning strategies to increase the number of planned gifts nationally
Strategize with Major Gift and Membership Gift Officers to identify planned giving prospects from their respective portfolios and increase the number of blended gifts to NRDC
Plan events that maximize donor and prospect cultivation opportunities
Cultivate prospects and current gift planning donors through in-person visits, phone calls, written correspondence
Develop a strong working knowledge of NRDC funding priorities and campaign objectives specifically to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents
Manage and mentor a gift planning team by partnering, coaching, equipping and encouraging development staff to pursue planned gift opportunities, assisting them in the design and implementation of individualized strategies for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation and stewardship of planned, major and blended gifts as appropriate