Planned Giving and Donor Engagement Officer

Perkins & Will•Fisher, MN

1d•$91,500 - $129,225

About The Position

Perkins School for the Blind is expanding its Development team and preparing for a comprehensive campaign connected to its 2029 bicentennial. The Planned Giving and Donor Engagement Officer supports the strategy, growth, and execution of planned giving and donor engagement activities. The Officer manages a portfolio of approximately 100 prospects and donors, cultivating long-term relationships and securing planned gifts such as bequests, charitable trusts, qualified charitable distributions, and other gifts. The role also develops and executes planned-giving marketing, stewards the Perkins 1829 Circle, and builds a multi-generational pipeline through targeted engagement with parents, alumni, and families. The Officer collaborates with Marketing and fundraising colleagues, supports program planning and metrics, maintains donor records, and keeps current on legal developments, gift-planning trends, and tax changes.

Requirements

5–7 years of development experience.
Proven track record of significant, high-level planned-gift solicitations and donor cultivation.
Deep and accurate knowledge of planned giving, including bequests, trusts, Qualified Charitable Distributions, and real estate.
Expert proficiency in PGCalc.
Working knowledge of Salesforce or similar fundraising CRM platforms.
Genuine appreciation of Perkins’ mission and ability to articulate a compelling case for support to diverse constituents.
Exceptional relationship-building skills with donors, colleagues, volunteers, and senior leadership.
Ability to train and empower team members.

Responsibilities

Manage the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of approximately 100 planned-giving prospects, with a goal of 10 donor visits per month.
Implement targeted engagement strategies for parents, alumni, and families to cultivate a pipeline of current and estate gifts.
Partner with the Marketing team on targeted mailings, digital campaigns, and special events for key constituencies.
Oversee stewardship for the Perkins 1829 Circle.
Serve as the planned-giving subject matter expert and educate and train Major Gift and Annual Giving team members to identify blended-gift opportunities.
Support short- and long-term strategic planning and goal-setting using data-driven metrics, marketing insights, and best practices.
Build long-term relationships with prospects and stakeholders, including Board members, Perkins families, volunteers, staff, Committee members, and Corporators.
Maintain complete and timely records in Salesforce or another CRM.
Stay current on legal developments, gift-planning trends, and tax changes to optimize gift results.