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Director of Gift Planning (Search Extended)

Employer
Northern Illinois University
Location
Illinois, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Closing date
Oct 4, 2021

Department, University, and Community description

The Division of University Advancement houses the Northern Illinois University Foundation, which is also an independent 501c3 fundraising organization. We have a dynamic, deeply engaged, thoughtful and fun team who are devoted to ensuring successful fundraising to benefit Northern Illinois University, and to create sustainable revenue streams ensuring the continued success of the Foundation.

At Northern Illinois University Foundation, our vision is to develop, support and encourage a culture of giving throughout the NIU community that will allow it to flourish and accomplish NIU’s goal of becoming the most student-centered public research university in the Midwest.

The Gift Planning team strives to be a high ROI team that provides the most fulfilling donor experience possible.

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, metrics driven, and has a demonstrated track record of high performance. The Director will live our value of helping donors discover the joy in making a difference through their philanthropy while making an everlasting impact at Northern Illinois University.

NIU is a university that has diversity, equity, and inclusion as one its primary core values. We seek and are strengthened by the diverse perspectives and experiences of our university community members, and we appreciate and respect every member of our community. Being a part of the NIU Huskie family means being an advocate for diversity and embracing inclusive principles.

Our Values and Professional Commitments

  • Northern Illinois University celebrates diversity in all its forms. We believe that diversity in gender, ethnicity, physical ability, religious beliefs, age, and sexuality is what makes the world an interesting place. Creating an environment in which those differences are not only acknowledged but celebrated is our goal. Diversity makes the educational experience richer and makes NIU the ideal place to learn. https://www.niu.edu/diversity/about/index.shtml 
  • The NIU Foundation and Division of University Advancement, the outward facing engagement and fundraising organization, represents NIU’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to alumni, donors and friends of the university in all interactions.  As practitioners and colleagues we infuse our interactions with a spirit that champions our students, faculty and staff who come from a wide range of backgrounds.  We confront stereotypes and injustices where they are present and embrace the intrinsic dignity of each individual.
  • As practitioners of both the art and science of professional fundraising, we represent demonstrable commitment to the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct in accordance with the CASE Statement of Ethics, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, and The Donor Bill of Rights. (Membership not required.)

Primary Function

Reporting to the Executive Director of Advancement, Director of Gift Planning directs and oversees a comprehensive program of planned giving, focused on the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual prospects with the capacity and interest in an estate gift or other planned vehicle to benefit NIU.  The Director will shape and grow a model planned giving program that reflects the size and capability of NIU.  The Director is him/herself an active fundraiser, and in close collaboration with the Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Directors, manages a portfolio of planned and major gift prospects (prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $500,000 or greater) and is responsible for closing $5m in gifts annually (combination of planned, major and blended gifts). The Director plays an important role in high level strategy and fundraising support to university leadership, especially in campaigns. 

The ideal candidate will have progressively significant and relevant development experience and a proven track record in raising planned gifts in the seven-figure range and in successfully managing and marketing planned giving programs in a higher educational environment. The candidate must have the skills and know-how to build and manage a comprehensive planned giving program while also actively and continually contributing to overall major and planned gift efforts and strategies; technical expertise and knowledge of planned giving vehicles, tax law and estate planning; a natural ability to cultivate and sustain relationships; a track record in securing major and planned gifts; and a style that shows a passion for the cause and also one that is professional, down-to-earth, enthusiastic, credible and confident.

Organizational Relationship: The Director of Gift Planning will work closely with the Gift Planning Team, the Campaign Director, the Executive Directors and the Major Gift Officers at the NIU Foundation to facilitate appropriate communication and collaboration with the Northern Illinois University system and NIU Foundation.

Duties and Responsibilities (generally)

The Director of Gift Planning directs and oversees a comprehensive program of planned giving, focused on the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual prospects with the capacity and interest in an estate gift or other planned vehicle to benefit NIU.

The Director will shape and grow a model planned giving program that reflects the size and capability of NIU.  The Director is an active fundraiser, and in close collaboration with the Vice President of University Advancement and Executive Directors of Advancement, manages a portfolio of major and planned gift prospects and is responsible for personally closing $5m annually. The Director plays an important role in high-level strategy and fundraising support to university leadership, especially in campaigns.  The Director manages the Associate Director of Gift Planning, and an Administrative Assistant/Aide who supports the Planned Giving Program.

Education and Experience Required:

  1. Bachelor’s Degree.
  2. Eight (8) to ten (10) years of successful experience in development with at least five years in planned giving fundraising.
  3. Three (3) years of experience in not-for-profit higher education.
  4. Three (3) years of experience working within a matrixed organizational structure where performance responsibilities are evaluated in different divisions.

Preferred Education and Experience

  1. Master’s Degree.
  2. Juris Doctorate Degree.
  3. CFRE and/or Series 65 certification.

List the knowledge, skills, and abilities critical to the performance of this position

  1. Demonstrable commitment to the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct in accordance with the CASE Statement of Ethics, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, and The Donor Bill of Rights. (Membership not required.)
  2. Deep, personal commitment to diversity in all forms, the recognition of all individuals to mutual respect, and the acceptance of others without biases. Demonstrable commitment to leading by example, modeling diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the university.
  3. Excellent interpersonal skills to relate to donors, volunteers, colleagues and university leadership.
  4. Self-motivated (a “self-starter”); innovative and ability to work with considerable independence within the context of a team environment and a network of relationships.
  5. Superior written and oral communication, negotiating, organizational, analytical and fundraising skills, including the ability to interpret financial information and manage data.
  6. Familiarity with financial planning, tax and charitable gift laws and planned giving vehicles and methods.
  7. Knowledge of university governance and academic administrative and financial policies and guidelines.
  8. Must be able to travel frequently; some international travel may be required.
  9. This position requires the handling of highly sensitive and confidential information and requires an exemplary track record of professionalism, maturity and discretion.
  10. Strong communication, organizational, interpersonal, administrative and managerial skills.
  11. Strong sales and closing skills.
  12. Must be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
  13. Willingness to commit to the mission and goals of Northern Illinois University and the NIU Foundation.
  14. Familiarity with donor databases and gift planning tools (e.g. Millennium, The Raiser’s Edge, PG Calc).

Salary range: $8,750 monthly ($105,000 annually); Actual hiring rate is commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity; position includes a robust benefits package to eligible applicants.

Application Materials and Process:

  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • Cover Letter that speaks to the following aspects of experience, as listed in the education and experience requirements:
    1. Years of experience with successful planned giving fundraising.
    2. Years of experience in not-for-profit higher education.
    3. Developing diverse engagement strategies, populations and philanthropic planning.
    4. Working within a matrixed organizational structure.
  • List of three references
  • Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)

For full consideration, please upload and submit application materials at https://employment.niu.edu/postings/58010 by October 17, 2021. Interviews may occur before the priority review date, however all applications received by the priority review date will receive full consideration. Applications received after the priority review date will be considered as needed. For questions, please contact Melissa Nigro, mnigro@niu.edu.

Northern Illinois University is an AA/EEO institution. Pre-employment background check and verification of eligibility to work in the United States is required.

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