Philanthropy Manager - Legacy & Major Gifts

United Way British Columbia•Burnaby, BC

8d•CA$0 - CA$91,970•Hybrid

About The Position

United Way BC is seeking a Philanthropy Manager, Legacy & Major Gifts to drive the growth and stewardship of a blended portfolio of planned (legacy) gifts and major gifts. This role involves identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of making transformative gifts through various planned giving vehicles, while also actively managing a select portfolio of major donors. Success in this role requires face-to-face engagement with prospective donors, prospecting, and working from an existing donor portfolio. The Manager will partner closely with senior leadership, professional advisors, external vendors, and internal teams to maximize philanthropic impact and position United Way BC as the charity of choice.

Requirements

Post-secondary degree (Bachelor’s); specialization in fundraising, business administration, marketing, public relations, or communications preferred.
Minimum five years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in both major gift solicitation and planned giving.
Proven track record of identifying, cultivating, and closing major and planned gifts in partnership with donors and professional advisors.
Experience managing a relationship-based donor portfolio with measurable revenue outcomes.
Knowledge of planned giving vehicles including bequests, Donor Advised Funds, life insurance, charitable remainder trusts, and endowments.
Strong analytical ability to identify gift potential and match donor interests to organizational priorities.
Excellent skills with Microsoft Office tools.
Exposure / experience working with direct marketing platforms, email fundraising tools, and CRM data analytics.
Exceptional communication and active listening skills; able to navigate sensitive financial and estate planning conversations with confidence and empathy.
Ability to craft compelling, donor-centric written proposals and gift illustrations.
Strong organizational and planning skills; able to manage a complex portfolio while balancing simultaneous priorities.
Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential donor information.
Mature, relationship-driven presence with the stature and diplomacy to engage senior volunteers, donors, and professional advisors.
Proficiency with CRM or relationship management systems.
Comfortable working independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
Valid Class 5 driver’s license and access to a vehicle during working hours required.
Must be available to travel within the province for donor meetings; off-site events; conferences; working group meetings, etc.
Candidates must live within 80 KMs (commuting distance) from our office as this position is currently a hybrid role and office attendance is required.

Nice To Haves

CFRE designation or planned giving certification (e.g., CAGP coursework) considered a strong asset.
A combination of relevant experience and education will be considered.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements a comprehensive planned giving program, including leading identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of legacy giving prospects and donors across various planned gift vehicles.
Develops and implements tailored, relationship-centered strategies for each legacy prospect.
Stews confirmed legacy donors to deepen engagement, recognize their commitment, and ensure fulfillment of their gift intent.
Partners with professional advisors (estate lawyers, financial planners, accountants) to facilitate planned gift discussions and closures.
Maintains current knowledge of planned giving vehicles, tax legislation, and best practices.
Develops and implements a comprehensive major giving program, managing a focused portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.
Conducts face-to-face visits with donors and prospects.
Develops and presents compelling solicitation proposals aligned to donor interests and organizational priorities.
Identifies and qualifies new major gift prospects.
Implements blended gift strategies that integrate major and planned giving.
Works across UWBC teams and with external vendors to design and implement donor recognition strategies, stewardship touchpoints, and engagement plans.
Maintains accurate and timely records of all donor interactions, strategies, and pipeline activity in the relationship management system.
Produces high-quality written materials including proposals, stewardship reports, and donor correspondence.
Attends and represents United Way at external events to identify, cultivate, and steward relationships.
Contributes to team operational planning, prospecting strategies, and portfolio reviews.
Delivers reports to monitor the success of the Legacy Giving Program and existing KPIs.
Analyzes data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for growth, making recommendations for adjustments to strategies.
Shares planned giving expertise across the Resource Development team to build internal capacity.
Stays informed on emerging trends in legacy giving by engaging with industry associations and thought leaders.
Performs other duties related to the qualifications and requirements of the role.
Works across UWBC teams and with external vendors to execute direct marketing campaigns including lead generation and email donor journeys.
Produces reports, and supports data analytics to monitor and evaluate the performance of email / various marketing campaigns.