Senior Planned Giving Officer

Job Summary 

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is actively seeking a Senior Planned Giving Officer to join its Institutional Advancement Department. This role executes the strategic planned giving vision to further RISD’s priorities by helping donors achieve their charitable and financial goals. This position participates in the management, administration, marketing and strategic direction of the Office of Planned Giving as it pursues ambitious fundraising outcomes and plays an important role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Office of Planned Giving and securing significant revenue for the College and Museum. The Senior Planned Giving Officer devises personalized engagement plans to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 75 high-potential prospects while leveraging RISD cultivation opportunities, presenting gift opportunity proposals that may include cash and creative giving vehicles, addressing a donor’s overall philanthropic goals in plain language, and supporting the mission and goals of the College. This position also completes complex gift arrangements, working with donors and their professional advisors. It may facilitate and consult on close gifts of non-liquid and alternative assets, oversees the estate administration and settlement to facilitate realized bequests in a timely and efficient manner; manages the processing and administration of RISD’s gift annuities, pooled income funds, and charitable trusts; manages the gift annuity registration process in new states and maintain compliance in existing states; and organize and conduct internal training on charitable planning tools that will assist philanthropy officers and RISD Fund Officers, volunteers, and senior staff.

In consultation with the Senior Executive Director, Major + Planned Gifts and Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and in collaboration with other Planned Giving Officers, the Senior Planned Giving Officer identifies and develops marketing strategies for Planned Giving work. It serves as an educational and consultative resource aiding frontline fundraisers, leadership and volunteers in executing planned giving techniques and strategies for their assigned prospects, as appropriate. Maintains knowledge of relevant tax law and estate consequences of complex gift vehicles and how they can be used to advance RISD’s fundraising efforts. 

Essential Functions

• Develop and manage a regional portfolio of approximately 75+ prospects within the alumni, parents, faculty/staff, and friend constituencies of RISD. Maintain a rigorous schedule of personal visits (at least 100 annually) creating moves management plans related to them that include strategies of engagement and solicitation.
• Forge relationships and collaborate with other members of the Institutional Advancement team.  Work closely with Philanthropy Officers, RISD Fund Officers, Alumni Relations staff, and other RISD representatives to identify and engage alumni, parents, and friends to secure the largest category of gift commitments for RISD through creative gift arrangements
• Work with donors and their professional advisors to facilitate, consult on and close creative and complex gifts of non-liquid and alternative assets, oversee the estate administration and settlement to facilitate realized bequests in a timely and efficient manner
• Manage the processing and administration of RISD’s gift annuities, pooled income funds, and charitable trusts; manage the gift annuity registration process in new states and maintain compliance in existing states
• Identify and develop marketing strategies for Planned Giving work.  Execute marketing strategies, and delegate as needed, to Development Associates.
• Maintain an active visit schedule to cultivate, solicit and steward donors and prospects.  Accompany other team members and volunteers on visits as needed to further solicit or provide guidance.
• Identify emerging financial and estate planning trends with special emphasis on incorporating in solicitation of leadership and major gift prospects.
• Uses understanding of technical aspects of planned gift vehicles and the relevant tax and estate consequences of these vehicles and how they can be used to enhance RISD’s fundraising efforts.
• Maintain high-quality stewardship process for planned gift donors and members of the Metcalf Society, RISD’s legacy recognition group, in partnership with the Stewardship team.
• Ensure that income payment, stewardship, and reporting requirements are met to sustain successful partnerships with planned gift donors.
• Track relationship development activities, gifts, and reporting information in Raiser’s Edge database.
• Organize and conduct internal training on charitable planning tools that will assist philanthropy officers and RISD Fund officers, volunteers, and senior staff.  Serve as an educational and consultative resource aiding frontline fundraisers, leadership, and volunteers in executing planned giving techniques and strategies for their assigned prospects, as appropriate.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Ability to work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of divisional and institutional colleagues, within an environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Program strategy development and execution experience. Individual and team success in securing and maintaining 6+ figure accounts and/or philanthropy.
• Demonstrated ability in prospect identification, relationship building, strategizing, and solicitation of charitable planned gifts or similar estate planning experience.
• Must possess an understanding of and practice in higher education industry standards, best practices, and reporting as defined by the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP), the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Voluntary Support of Education (VSE).
• Demonstrated knowledge in estate planning techniques, tax law, and the general body of statutory, regulatory, and case law regarding planned gifts. Ability to work collaboratively with RISD and external accounting, finance, and legal counsel.
• Familiarity with Planned Giving platforms such as Pentera, FreeWill, or others.
• Proven ability to manage complex organizational relationships and work effectively with executive leadership.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills. Demonstrated ability to write and present persuasively.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in outreach to volunteers and other fundraising partners.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience in fundraising or working with high-net-worth individuals through a family office, private banking, financial services, financial planning or related professions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in relevant field, (business administration, tax or law) or rigorous professional designation (Certified Financial Planner ™(CFP), CPA, securities license) and/or designation as Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy ® preferred.
• Experience in developing and marketing charitable gift arrangements and working with marketing vendors preferred.
• Interest/experience in art and design is desirable.