Director of Gift and Estate Planning - Grand Rapids, MI

The Salvation Army USA Central Territory • Grand Rapids, MI

108d

About The Position

The primary purpose of the position is to identify, cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward individual prospects and donors, targeting planned gifts for The Salvation Army, Great Lakes Division. Incumbents in the position actively participate in the implementation of the Divisional Headquarters (DHQ) philanthropic campaigns and plans, focusing on Planned Giving fundraising priorities and involving volunteers and other stakeholders in the realization of Great Lakes Division goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, other considerations include an advanced degree in a related field such as law, finance or non-profit management, or proven committee/board experience.
• A minimum of five years’ experience in fundraising, financial sales, insurance sales, estate and financial planning, or other related areas is preferred.
• Successful track record of fundraising with major and/or planned gift donors is a plus.
• Experience working with high-level volunteers, donors and program staff on collaborative activities.
• Experience, familiarity and/or ability to work in a complex non-profit organization with many departments, programs and fund-raising priorities.
• Familiarity with issues of fundraising and general professional and workplace ethics.

Nice To Haves

• Certification such as CFP or CAP designation.
• Experience in personal solicitation and familiarity with fundraising practices.

Responsibilities

• Helps assure that the division achieves its fundraising goals in collaboration with others within the Development Department and interdepartmentally.
• Manages a prospect portfolio of approximately 125-150 planned giving donors and prospects.
• Develops solicitation plans for new and current planned gift donors and prospects within prospect and suspect portfolio.
• Develops relationships with assigned donors and prospects through various cultivation calls, letters and handwritten notes, with an emphasis on successful face-to-face meetings.
• Completes an assigned number of significant contacts per year with donors and prospects from portfolio, ranging from 280 to 400 annually.
• Solicits and closes planned gifts in accordance with annual goals as set by the Senior Director of Philanthropy in consultation with leadership and the Territorial Planned Giving Director.
• Develops and writes donor cultivation materials, acknowledgements, volunteer solicitor briefings and reports.
• Produces personalized planned giving proposals for individual support.
• Contacts and cultivates persons identified through marketing efforts and relationships developed with Corps and Division staff, professional advisors and other referral sources.
• Coordinates and provides assistance in the design of strategies for cultivating and soliciting donors in coordination with senior staff, leadership and volunteers.
• Works with other Development staff to identify, qualify and research new planned gift prospects.
• Works with the Senior Director of Philanthropy, Executive Development Director and major gift staff as part of a team of fundraisers for the Division.
• Identifies innovative development, cultivation and stewardship activities; crafts new strategies and support planning that will strengthen the Planned Gifts Program over time.
• Assists in the organization of occasional events and small donor meetings for cultivation and stewardship purposes.
• Develops a documented plan to achieve endowment and planned gift goals from assigned portfolio.
• Prepares and submits statistics, reports and budget information to the Senior Director of Philanthropy as requested.
• Manages and executes other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health Care Benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Flexible spending accounts, AFLAC, and Voluntary life insurance benefits.
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability options.
• Pet Insurance.
• Pension contributions (currently 6.0% of your earnings) begin the first quarter after 1 year of employment.
• 403(b) voluntary retirement savings plan with approved vendors.
• Employee Discounts.
• Paid Time Off including sick days, vacation, personal days, floating holidays, and birthday off with pay.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree