The Associate Director of Gift Planning develops, implements and manages effective gift planning strategies and plans for the cultivation and solicitation in asking for, negotiating and closing outright and complex gifts of $100,000 or more from major individual donors and prospects.
The Associate Director of Gift Planning is responsible for developing and managing effective gift planning donor strategies for the California and Hawaii, that results in raising funds through outright, blended and planned gifts. S/he will serve as a technical and strategic gift planning advisor and partner to state leadership and fundraising staff in assigned chapters to determine effective strategies for identified donors and prospects to generate leads for complex gifts. S/he understands and applies complex principles of developing donor strategies and builds strong relationships with a portfolio of new and current donors and prospects. The Associate Director discusses assets proficiently and listens for opportunities for gifts of assets. S/he negotiates and closes a wide range of outright and complex gifts, including bequests and life income gifts, gifts of non-cash assets such as stock and real estate, and Donor Advised Funds. S/he will incorporate blended gifts and gifts of assets in proposals to donors. S/he is capable of articulating the global priorities of the Conservancy and working within a campaign at an advanced level. S/he involves and engages appropriate partners in the field and staff at the Worldwide Office, keeping them apprised of interactions, issues or concerns. S/he will be required to use the Conservancy’s donor database. Understands and complies with all TNC gift-related policies and procedures and ensures ethical compliance, as defined by the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning and the Association for Fundraising. They will be required to use the Conservancy’s donor database.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Decisions may have program-wide impact, affect staff in non-program areas, and bind the organization financially or legally.
- Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; be alert to ethical compliance issues.
- Financial responsibility for setting and meeting fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies.
- Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, directing work of staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.
- Maintains confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
- Maximum opportunity to act independently, resolves complex issues within scope.
- May supervise support or administrative staff.
- Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups important to the organization’s overall prosperity.
- Travel up to 50% time and on short notice, work long hours and weekends as needed.
- Participation in Legacy Club field trips with donors that includes physical activity such as hiking, kayaking and climbing
- Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.
- Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with constituents such as HNW donors and prospects and donors capable of giving noncash and complex assets.
- Experience in asking for, negotiating and closing outright, blended and planned gifts of $100,000 or more.
- Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
- Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.
- Experience using communication and presentation skills, and experience working with boards.
- Experience, coursework or other training in current and evolving trends in charitable giving, particularly in the areas of capital campaigns, major and planned gifts.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience are appreciated.
- Ability to inspire, motivate and marshal resources. Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to positively influence and persuade.
- Ability to design and implement fundraising strategies, including cultivation, solicitation and recognition strategies.
- Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping the Conservancy meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with the Conservancy’s work.
- Ability to educate and inform prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles.
- Ability to qualify donors & prepare planned gifts proposals; design cover letters for proposals; and identify options for donors.
- Advanced knowledge of complex charitable gift planning.
- Demonstrated experience using listening, diplomacy, and tact to build strong relationships and motivate donors and volunteers.
- Proven ability to negotiate complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.