Planned Giving Specialist

Wounded Warrior Project • San Antonio, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Planned Giving Specialist is a member of WWP’s fundraising team. The Planned Giving Specialist stewards a portfolio of planned giving donors and new prospects. This position identifies, cultivates, and solicits individuals interested in making planned gifts through ongoing personal engagement, with a strong emphasis on in-person meetings and cultivation events. The Planned Giving Specialist supports the growth of the planned giving program by helping secure planned gifts, increasing inquiries about planned giving opportunities, stewarding Honor & Empower Society donors and prospects, and supporting the Major Gifts team with planned giving solicitations and donor education.

Requirements

• Five years of experience working in fundraising.
• Five years of demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned giving and/or major donors.
• Five years of experience using customer relationship management (CRM) software, such as Salesforce or a similar database platform.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, marketing, or related field. Equivalent combination of applicable education, training, certification, and experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to develop and maintain meaningful relationships with donors, prospects, teammates, and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of planned giving strategies, estate planning concepts, charitable gift vehicles, donor stewardship practices, and relationship-based fundraising principles.
• Ability to work effectively with varying donors, families, attorneys, financial planners, accountants, and other professional advisors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to develop personalized donor communications, proposals, stewardship reports, and program updates.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through effective relationship management and strategic communication.
• Working knowledge of prospect research, wealth screening tools, donor data, and fundraising methodologies.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize work effectively while maintaining high levels of accuracy and professionalism.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when working with sensitive donor and organizational information.
• Demonstrated understanding of Wounded Warrior Project’s mission, values, programs, and services and the impact they have on wounded warriors and their families.
• High energy level. Self-starter with a willingness to take initiative.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Unequivocal commitment to the highest standards of personal and business ethics and conduct.
• Mission-driven, guided by core values, and a pleasure to work with.

Nice To Haves

• Three years of experience working in a nonprofit or philanthropic organization.
• Three years of planned giving solicitation experience.
• Experience working with estate-planning vehicles and charitable giving strategies.
• Demonstrated understanding of military service organizations (MSOs) and veteran service organizations (VSOs).
• Experience with estate planning and charitable giving strategies, including collaboration with financial advisors, attorneys, tax professionals, and other estate-planning professionals.

Responsibilities

• Drive the growth and retention of a portfolio of planned giving donors and prospective donors.
• Effectively articulate WWP’s history, mission, vision, and programs to prospective donors and funding sources, both verbally and in writing.
• Track donor communications within Salesforce CRM and utilize relationship-based fundraising strategies to align philanthropic opportunities with donor interests and passions.
• Represent WWP in meetings, events, and presentations with community audiences, organizations, existing donors, and prospective donors in support of fundraising objectives.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with teammates across the organization, including Major Gifts, Communications, Marketing, Programs, and other Resource Development teams, to identify and cultivate planned giving opportunities.
• Develop and implement donor cultivation, stewardship, and communication plans that support planned giving fundraising goals.
• Move prospective donors through the donor lifecycle in a timely and strategic manner, advancing cultivation, solicitation, and planned gift commitments.
• Develop highly personalized donor communications, including proposals, stewardship reports, planned giving illustrations, and program updates.
• Attend and actively participate in required training and/or meetings, including but not limited to New Teammate Orientation, WWP Cares, ASIST Suicide Prevention training, Leadership training, culture/team based training, or departmental huddles.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A flexible hybrid work schedule (three days in the office, two days’ work from home)
• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage for both teammates AND family members
• Competitive pay and performance incentives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level