Director of Gift Planning - Sweet Briar College : Job Details

Job Details

Level: Management

Job Location: Sweet Briar College - Sweet Briar, VA

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Salary Range: Undisclosed

Travel Percentage: Up to 50%

Job Shift: Any

Job Category: Management

Director of Gift Planning

Sweet Briar is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders. Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by the US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation. Sweet Briar College is growing rapidly, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women's leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts and its legendary equestrian program. Its finances are robust, and validated by balanced budget and positive bond ratings.

Located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 54 miles south of Charlottesville. Its campus is one of the nation's most spectacular, replete with nature sanctuaries, lakes, forests, trails, and most recently, vineyards, apiary and greenhouses.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women's colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women's leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.

When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, students lead research, ask questions and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

POSITION TITLE: DIRECTOR OF GIFT PLANNING

Classification: Exempt

Reports To: Vice President of Alumnae Relations and Development

Job Summary/Objective: The Director of Gift Planning plays a very important function in our small, fast-paced organization with a reputation for high-quality donor relations. This position is the lead relationship and fund management position at Sweet Briar, responsible for planning, implementing, and executing a strategy to attract major, planned, and legacy donors to partner with Sweet Briar to fulfill their philanthropic and financial goals.

The Director of Gift Planning works closely with the President, Vice President for Alumnae Relations and Development, Senior Director of Major Gifts and Stewardship, and the Development team to expand Sweet Briar's relationships with current and prospective donors and professional advisors, educating them about Sweet Briar's philanthropic priorities and charitable giving options.

She or he will work to move current and prospective donors through the donor cycle including identifying, engaging, evaluating, soliciting, recognizing, and stewarding current and future major donors, planned giving prospects, and legacy donors.

Essential Responsibilities:

* Develop and implement the organizational strategy for donor, fund holder and professional advisor education and engagement in partnership with the Vice President for Alumnae Relations and the Development team.

* Respond to inquiries from prospects, donor representatives and professional advisors regarding annual fund, major, planned, and legacy gifts.

* Manage the planned giving platform and website, Crescendo, including the design and delivery of a monthly eNewsletter for our Planned Giving donors, and an annual survey to key constituents.

* Work collaboratively with Sweet Briar's communication team to develop new print and online materials about charitable giving options for prospective donors and professional advisors.

* Conduct professional advisor and donor research and draft and prepare fund agreements.

* Maintain a high level of expertise regarding state and federal taxes, gift and estate giving methods and the legal aspects of charitable giving.

* Provide Professional Advisor Services-Solicit and schedule meetings with professional advisors to educate them about Sweet Briar. This will include individual sessions, small and large group meetings, and presentations.

* Promptly and accurately respond to requests for information about Sweet Briar services and charitable giving options.

* Identify new professional advisors and track contacts with advisors and client referrals.

* Employ an effective major donor prospect management system, assuming a portfolio of prospects for cultivation and engagement to encourage new charitable funds, and the development and stewardship of legacy gifts.

* In collaboration with the President, Vice President for AR&D, and Vice President for Finance, serve as the primary contact with legal counsel on unusual or complex gifts and update the gift acceptance policies as needed.

* Participate in recognition events for current donors and fund holders, professional advisors, and legacy donors.

* Help design and participate in targeted prospective donor and professional advisor educational programs.

* Participate in the creation of annual development department plans, goals and strategies.

* Attend staff meetings and serve on internal committees as appropriate.

* Contribute to Sweet Briar publications and marketing materials by providing data, reports, and content and proofreading them as needed. When appropriate, contribute to communications content.

* Represent Sweet Briar at meetings and events during or outside regular work hours.

* Collaborate with colleagues, volunteer leadership, and professional advisors (attorneys, wealth advisors, accountants, and trust officers) to cultivate and expand planned gift donors' current giving.

* Maintain a broad understanding of Sweet Briar's needs and its nonprofit community, using this knowledge to maintain relationships with current, new, and prospective donors and fund holders.

* Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Sweet Briar's ideal Director of Gift Planning is a fundraising professional who is energized by being a critical member of a team helping to increase philanthropy on our campus with the following attributes, experiences, and skills:

* Participate in all aspects of the gift cycle - initiate contacts with potential leadership and major gift donors, develop appropriate cultivation strategies, move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward fund creation, and maintain stewardship contact with donors.

* Oversee establishing new funds by assisting donors in selecting philanthropic interests that complement and enhance donors' goals.

* Deep commitment to philanthropy and the students, faculty and alumnae of Sweet Briar

* Plan, implement, and evaluate donor cultivation and stewardship events such as small gatherings, luncheons, cocktail events, and educational opportunities to build partnerships with donors

* Provide philanthropic advisory services to a portfolio of fund holders

* A bachelor's degree is required, as well as a minimum of five years of proven fundraising success with an ability to engage individuals and secure commitments at all levels. Preferred credentials include CFRE, a master's degree in nonprofit management or a related field, or a JD degree

* Knowledge of and interest in financial services and women's philanthropy

* Technical and administrative self-sufficiency and high attention to detail are required to maintain a moves management system for identified donor prospects

* Excellent organizational and time management skills

* Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Zoom; Google products and database systems unique to Gift Planning on a higher education campus; and the comfort and ability to learn new software

* Exceptional verbal, persuasive and written communications skills required

* Ability and willingness to manage multiple tasks and priorities

* Ability to work as part of a team and maintain a keen sensitivity to confidentiality

* Ability to analyze and revise operating practices to improve effectiveness and efficiency

* Belief in the importance of philanthropy to fulfill the mission of Sweet Briar College

* Experience working with administration, faculty and volunteers

* Comfortable working in a team environment, but also must be disciplined to work independently

* Ability to track contacts and moves in a database. Banner experience preferred

* Congenial personality, sense of humor, self-aware, flexible, resourceful, emotionally intelligent, confident, self-motivated, and results-oriented

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

* The work is performed primarily in an office setting, and travel is required.

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Deadline for Submission: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

To Apply: Submit your application here.

All applications should include a cover letter and resume.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences and ideas who would increase the diversity of the College.