Director of Planned Giving

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY • Forest Grove, OR

1d • $100,000 - $135,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people to think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world. We embrace discovery in a close and nurturing environment that leads to genuine transformation. Our community is diverse, sustainable, and dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship, and practice. At Pacific University, we thrive in an extraordinary environment, surrounded by the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest, with campus locations in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. We humbly acknowledge and thank the original caretakers of the lands on which we live, work, teach, and acquire and share knowledge. The Director of Planned Giving is responsible for leading Pacific University’s planned giving strategy and personally securing major, planned, and blended gifts in support of the university’s philanthropic priorities. This role manages a portfolio of donors and prospects, advances major gift and gift planning conversations across the donor continuum, and partners closely with major gift officers to integrate planned giving into comprehensive fundraising strategies. The Director provides technical expertise in gift planning and helps grow long-term, sustainable philanthropic support for the university.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in planned giving, major gifts, or related advancement work.
• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of planned giving vehicles and gift planning strategies.
• Strong relationship-building skills with donors, professional advisors, and campus partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage complex donor relationships with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Highly collaborative and able to work effectively across a development team.
• Comfort with CRM systems and fundraising data tools.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven environment.
• Familiarity with project management, event management, or CRM tools (e.g., Airtable, Asana, Trello, Cvent, or similar systems).
• Experience planning and executing events of varying sizes and formats, from small gatherings and lectures to large-scale ceremonies and signature events.
• Demonstrated experience working with people across a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and cultures.
• Prior training or professional experience in hospitality, customer experience, or guest services, with a strong commitment to creating welcoming, inclusive, and high-quality event experiences.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major gift, planned giving, and blended-gift prospects and donors, securing new major gifts, documented planned gifts, and blended commitments in alignment with university priorities.
• Proactively identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and planned giving prospects through meaningful donor engagement, including personal visits, calls, and written communications.
• Serve as the university’s subject-matter expert on planned giving vehicles (e.g., bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, beneficiary designations, and complex assets) and provide guidance to donors, colleagues, and professional advisors.
• Institutional Policy Leadership: Author and maintain the University’s Gift Acceptance Policies, ensuring all deferred and complex gift instruments comply with state and federal regulations, IRS guidelines, and CASE standards.
• Strategic Growth & Forecasting: Develop long-term revenue projections and maturity pipelines for the University’s expectancy pool; provide executive-level briefings to the VP of Advancement and the Board of Trustees on the health of the planned giving portfolio.
• Risk Management: Serve as the primary liaison to University Legal Counsel and the Business Office to oversee the settlement of estates and the liquidation of complex assets (e.g., real estate, closely-held stock, or partnership interests).
• Fiduciary Oversight: Oversee the administration of the University’s Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) program and Pooled Income Funds, ensuring appropriate reserve levels and timely payments to beneficiaries.
• Programmatic Leadership: Lead the design and expansion of the Legacy Society, creating a high-level stewardship ecosystem that secures the University’s long-term endowment.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Direct the "Blended Gift" training program for all frontline fundraisers, establishing the protocols for how deferred gifts are valued and credited during comprehensive campaigns.
• Develop and implement strategies to integrate planned giving into major gift fundraising, partnering with frontline gift officers to advance blended gift opportunities.
• Monitor, steward, and administer planned gifts and expectancies in coordination with Advancement Services, Finance, and legal counsel as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions, plans, and gift intentions in the CRM/prospect management system.
• Contribute to the strategic direction and annual goals of the major gifs and planned giving program, including pipeline development and long-term revenue projections.
• Support the development and execution of planned giving marketing, communications, and donor education initiatives.
• Serve as a resource to campus partners and leadership on gift planning opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
• Participate as a collaborative member of the University Advancement team, supporting campus-wide engagement efforts as needed.
• Follow budget guidelines related to donor engagement and gift planning activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off (for vacation, holidays—including winter break—and sick leave)
• Medical coverage with alternative care options (with in-network services covered at 100% after payroll deduction)
• Comprehensive dental and vision plans
• Generous retirement contribution after one year of service with no match required
• Free mental health appointments
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependent child(ren) who meet eligibility requirements
• On-campus benefits, including free access to our sports facility and library
• Discounts on campus food, bookstore purchases, clinic services, and outdoor program gear rentals (including kayaks, snowshoes, and bikes)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees