Director of Planned Giving

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Development, the Director of Planned Giving will lead a comprehensive planned giving program for Carroll University. The Director has primary responsibility for the management and strategic growth of the gift planning program. The Director is responsible for the development and implementation of proactive strategies designed to aggressively market and secure planned and deferred gifts from university constituents.  The Director manages a portfolio of prospects that are inclined to make a gift in support a wide range of university initiatives.  This position works closely with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Assistant Vice President for Development, the Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations and other key members of the Institutional Advancement staff to establish and communicate the organizational vision and goals (both multi-year and annual).  

The Director must demonstrate familiarity with a variety of the field’s concepts, best practices and demonstrate a command of industry standards and procedures. The position requires sound judgment and the ability to act independently to plan and accomplish goals. 

Responsibilities: • Develop a strong working knowledge of Carroll University funding priorities and campaign objectives specifically in order to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents.  • Lead in the creation, design and execution of Carroll University planned giving strategies and goals and develop metrics to measure ongoing success and ROI. • Operationalize short and long-term planned giving goals and strategies to build upon existing commitments and expand the current donor base of support. • Manage a portfolio of 150 prospects and generate10-15 prospects visits per month leading to the growth in the number of completed major, planned, and blended gift solicitations.  Local, regional, and limited national travel are required. • Provide timely stewardship of assigned donors and prospects.   • Track mature estate expectancies to ensure the preservation and timely distribution of all estate gifts to Carroll.  • Create and lead comprehensive marketing strategies for planned giving.  Coordinate and prepare, as needed, planned giving materials including letters, newsletters, brochures, and articles for Carroll publications.   • Build and nurture strong relationships with financial, legal and tax advisors. • Oversee the gift annuity program, i.e., the marketing of gift annuities, the delivery and execution of all documents required to complete each annuity agreement and the delivery of all annuity payments and annual tax reporting documents.  • Provide personalized illustrations of planned gifts and create proposals for prospects. • Manage projects and outside consultants and vendors effectively. • Maintain PG Calc – software and Carroll website as pertaining to planned giving.  • Keep up to date and be proficient with state and federal regulations for the charitable gift program.  • Partner, coach, equip and encourage development staff to pursue planned gift opportunities, assisting them in the design and implementation of individualized strategies for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation and stewardship of planned, major and blended gifts as appropriate. • In coordination with the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, coordinate activities and strategically increase membership in the John Adams Savage Society.  • Communicate closely with advancement services staff regarding information pertaining to major and planned gift prospects, including contact reports, proposal generation, gift acknowledgement and other data important for the maintenance of donor/prospect records.  • Assist with development functions such as capital campaigns, events, screening sessions, committee meetings and volunteer activities as needed or required.  • Participate in Institutional Advancement events, including but not limited to: homecoming, reunion, donor functions (luncheons/dinners, etc.), athletic events that can be utilized as cultivation and/or stewardship activities for prospects and donors.  • Staff appropriate university officials for the purposes of prospect cultivation, solicitation and stewardship as needed.  • Perform other duties as requested, delegated, or assigned.   

Qualifications: Education and/or Experience: • Bachelor’s degree required • Minimum of five years of development experience, preferably in higher education or equivalent experience in a related field.  • Working proficiency in estate planning and other deferred giving vehicles. • Demonstrated successful track record in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and planned gifts ($50,000 and above) preferred.  • Knowledge of alumni and development data systems (Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred).

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: • Ability to clearly articulate the mission of Carroll University. • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and aptitude to work with people of different ages and temperaments. • Superior written and oral communication skills. • Proven success in closing traditional and complex planned gifts, including but not limited to, bequests, gift annuities, remainder trusts and gifts of real estate. • High energy level, self-motivated, and self-directed to design and complete complex projects.    • Ability to secure support through wills, bequests, trusts, deferred gifts, charitable gift annuities, gifts of property and other planned gifts including drafting gift agreement language involving varying degrees of complexity. • Must have skill and desire to: multi-task and meet deadlines; be a team player; work collaboratively; understand the principles and techniques relevant to major gift fundraising and; participate in evening and weekend activities as necessary.    • Ability to develop and execute a comprehensive and sophisticated plan that will launch and achieve exceptional planned giving opportunities and gifts. • Demonstration of integrity, positive attitude, diplomacy, tact, courtesy, and a sense of humor.  • Proficient in Microsoft Windows, Excel, Word, and Power Point.  • Candidate must be willing and able to support and advance the Carroll University Mission and Ethos.  

Job Number: #2021-079 Please reference job #2021-079 and submit cover letter and resume to: CUcareers@carrollu.edu Human Resources Carroll University 100 N. East Avenue Waukesha, WI 53186

Carroll University does not discriminate in any manner contrary to law or justice on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or veteran's status in administration of programs or in the employment of faculty and staff. EOE