| Job Description: |
The Wilderness Society seeks an experienced Senior Planned Giving Officer to join a long-established Planned Giving program within the Membership and Development Department. This is a wonderful opportunity for a professional fundraiser to join a dedicated team at a premier conservation organization based in the Washington, DC, headquarters office.
The ideal candidate will develop and maintain personal contacts with a portfolio of donors and prospects located throughout the United States, including all aspects of closing irrevocable and revocable planned gifts through identification, discovery, cultivation and stewardship contacts to maximize revenue to TWS. This person will be an experienced professional with the skills and diligence to implement all fundraising aspects of a comprehensive planned giving program.
Duties include: calling prospects, responding to inquiries, preparing planned giving illustrations and proposals, assisting with written materials for marketing materials and other related literature, assisting and advising staff with planned giving strategies, including developing gift strategies.
Must be a team player, have exceptional verbal communication skills and have the ability to share our core values and mission with prospects and donors.
REPORTING STRUCTURE
The Senior Planned Giving Officer reports directly to the Senior Director of Planning Giving.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and manage a portfolio of 150-200 planned giving donors and prospects through a moves management system to increase funding capacity, maximize donor relationships and close new gift commitments.
- Create and implement planned gift strategies through written proposals, personalized visits and other contacts to engage prospects in establishing a planned gift in compliance with TWS Gift Acceptance Policies and Procedures.
- In collaboration with the Major Gift Officers, create and implement combination gifting strategies that present the donor with an overall coordinated fundraising effort to maximize the gift opportunity.
- Acts as resource to development staff and volunteers on the techniques of planned giving, and when appropriate, advises best gift strategy to orchestrate the stewardship and cultivation of a planned gift.
- Assists in the development and contribution of the planned giving marketing pieces including donor testimonials, Echo newsletter articles, advertisements, solicitations and brochures.
- Remains current in philanthropic developments and planned giving by attending meetings, training and conferences, as well as staying current on changes in tax and gift laws as they pertain to charitable giving and the administration of planned gifts.
- Maintain sufficient records, contact reports and background data to facilitate periodic reports, costs and results.
- Develop and maintain strong collaborative working relationships with TWS staff and assume other responsibilities as they arise.
- Seek the advice of tax, legal and other advisors on complex matters when appropriate.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree and three years’ work experience in planned giving or a related field (legal training or financial planning) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Working knowledge of planned giving techniques, current trends in philanthropy, and basic estate and financial planning for individuals, including tax implications of charitable giving.
- Ability to work with donors at all levels.
- Excellent listening skills and telephone manners.
- Proven success in securing gifts through face-to-face solicitations.
- Familiarity with the conservation environment and a commitment to the mission and values of The Wilderness Society.
- Demonstrated ability to organize time, manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, be self-motivated and be able to participate effectively in a team.
- Possess general computer proficiency in Word, Excel, and planned giving software, preferably PG Calc Manager and PG Calc Giftwrap.
- Ability to travel 25% of the time.
- Excellent organizational and analytic skills; creativity, energy, drive and an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Submit resume, cover letter, and references to: staffing@tws.org
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