Director of Gift Planning

The Hotchkiss School•Lakeville, CT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Gift Planning will be a seasoned gift officer who will bring intelligence, humor, ambition, warmth, and a persuasive understanding of planned giving to the role. Reporting to the Executive Director of Leadership Giving, the Director of Gift Planning will be a player/coach and will oversee a portfolio of current and prospective donors. Immersing themselves in ongoing education, the Director of Gift Planning will serve as the in-house expert on gift planning vehicles and the many benefits of deferred gifts, and lead a comprehensive marketing and gift planning outreach program. The Director will be a relationally motivated fundraiser, a creative thinker and problem solver, and an imaginative program builder. Finally, the Director of Gift Planning will be an outstanding colleague working closely with development colleagues, trustees, faculty, administrators, and volunteers to identify prospective donors, cultivate relationships, solicit gifts, and provide thoughtful cultivation and stewardship in support of the School’s highest goals and priorities. This position is eligible for a remote work arrangement, with the expectation of regular on-campus meetings and events as scheduled.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Seven to ten years of previous fundraising experience, preferably in secondary or higher education
Experience developing and implementing donor-centric programs, communications, and events
Experience working with wealthy, philanthropic individuals and their advisors
Experience with charitable giving mechanisms and estate planning vehicles
Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and communications skills, including prospect management, written and oral presentation, and volunteer and staff coordination
Self-motivated and possessing a demonstrated ability to articulate planned giving concepts and strategies with credibility to a diverse constituency
Must be able to travel regularly and work flexible hours, when needed, including weekends and evenings
Proficiency in G-Suite, PG Calc, Raiser’s Edge/NXT or similar fundraising software, and Microsoft Office

Responsibilities

Steward and develop Hotchkiss’ robust, proactive gift planning program to meet the philanthropic objectives of Hotchkiss’ donors and the School’s fundraising goals
Maintain personal philanthropic relationships with planned and major gift donors and manage a portfolio of 50-75 donors and donor prospects
Creatively build the School’s planned giving stewardship program
Oversee and initiate a multi-channel marketing and communications plan to increase significantly Town Hill Society membership and more closely and enthusiastically engage current membership
Manage relationships with current and future gift planning vendors to leverage marketing and analytical tools
Educate and coach development office colleagues and school colleagues about planned giving concepts, including bequests, retirement planning, life insurance, income tax planning, gifts of complex assets, life income gifts, and charitable trusts, and how these concepts can maximize philanthropy
Promote gift planning with colleagues, donors, and trustees that will lead to new life income and estate gifts
Provide support throughout complex gift conversations/solicitations, including donor visits with colleagues as needed and the writing of planned gift proposals
Provide colleagues with written materials, illustrations, etc. to support their gift conversations
Oversee one other gift officer focused on gift planning fundraising and program administration
Use gift planning software and related services to provide gift illustrations for donors and donor prospects
Provide staff and key volunteers with updates on legislative and/or legal issues that will impact charitable giving
Report to departmental leadership and the Board of Trustees on the state and progress of gift planning at Hotchkiss