Manager, Gift Planning

World Wildlife Fund•San Francisco, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Senior Director of Gift Planning, the Manager, Gift Planning acts as the department's deputy, leading the donor-facing part of the Gift Planning program. This includes guiding follow-up strategies for all donor inquiries and ensuring effective cultivation, qualification, and closing planned gifts. This role supervises Gift Planning Officers (GPOs) in securing bequests, life income arrangements, and other current and deferred gift commitments. The manager also oversees the Gift Planning Development Coordinator to ensure timely entry and management of all marketing leads, accurate data tracking, and smooth execution of administrative operations. In addition to team leadership responsibilities, the manager maintains a personal portfolio of donor inquiries and oversees pipeline management and reporting processes.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required, with a minimum of 8 years of demonstrated success in planned giving, including staff supervision required
Demonstrated success required in implementation of strategies and systems to substantially increase efficiency in a gift planning program; effective collaboration externally with allied professionals and internally with peers, and broader staff, and working knowledge of technical, legal, and financial requirements associated with planned giving.
Demonstrated effective collaboration skills with external allied professionals and internally with peers, and broader staff; working knowledge of technical, legal, and financial requirements associated with planned giving.
Demonstrated expertise in working with donors, volunteers, and allied professionals is required.
Expertise working with donors, volunteers, and allied professionals.
Able to conceptualize and implement qualification and solicitation strategies and pipeline management systems involving high volume of inquiries.
Knowledge of direct mail, marketing, and legal and technical aspects of planned giving.
Excellent management, supervision, and organizational skills, as well as oral and written communication skills, are required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word suite to include; Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Experience with planned gift calculation software (PG Calc, Crescendo, for example) required.
Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration

Nice To Haves

Relevant professional credential or planned giving certification preferred (e.g. CPA, JD, CFP, CAP, CGPA, CFRE.)

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the activities of Gift Planning Officers to ensure prompt follow-up on all new leads and effective progression through cultivation, qualification, and closing stages.
Review, refine, and improve processes and procedures for donor cultivation and gift tracking.
Refine and implement measurable goals for outreach calls and donor contacts as part of comprehensive pipeline management.
Monitor and evaluate team performance based on progress toward established goals and key performance indicators.
Create and implement work processes that increase efficiency and effectiveness through strategic use of tools, data, and analysis.
Manage inquiry pipeline reporting and ensure accurate forecasting of planned gift activity.
Partner with the Senior Director of Gift Planning to develop and execute annual and long-term gift planning goals.
Focus on increasing the number of documented planned gift intentions.
Ensure meaningful and personalized stewardship of Legacy Circle members within GPO portfolios.
Refine outreach strategies to engage and qualify gift planning prospects.
Manage, mentor, and motivate Gift Planning Officers to achieve individual and team goals.
Foster strong collaboration with Annual Giving and Regional Philanthropy Officers to support integrated fundraising strategies.
Provide mentoring, coaching, and cross-training opportunities across regional teams to build capacity and strengthen performance.
Maintain a balanced personal portfolio of donor inquiries and existing donors.
Provide appropriate stewardship and engagement to donors while fulfilling broader program management responsibilities.
Supervise the Gift Planning Development Coordinator to ensure: Timely entry and assignment of all marketing leads. Effective coverage of phone and email inquiries. Accurate tracking of GPO travel and expense reporting. Management of departmental data systems and administrative projects assigned.