Director of Development, Gift Planning

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The Director for Gift Planning is a skilled development officer role, focused on maximizing donor potential through creative planned giving strategies including cash and non-liquid assets. This is a frontline fundraising position that also collaborates widely with others to develop and execute joint strategies that drive donor-centric fundraising. In addition to these responsibilities, this position is a part of a five-person gift planning team and is the designated team lead to work across Development and Alumni Relations to develop and execute gift planning marketing activities. 

This is a new role that joins a growing gift planning team on a growing development team that has generated traditional growth across all giving bands in recent years. This growth is a part of a reimagined gift planning strategy that prioritizes donor centricity, creative gift structures, and consistent collaboration across all fundraising teams to maximize donor support. The ideal candidate has strong frontline fundraising track record, experience in gift planning, and has some experience with closing creative or complex gifts. 

About the Work Unit:

The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals.  The Department is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt University’s teaching and research programs.  You can find more information here:  https://www.vanderbilt.edu/dar/

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Manages a Portfolio and Closes Six and Seven Figure Gifts

• Achieves success based on balanced performance indicators including new commitments received, solicitations made, and team goals. 

• Drives prospect engagement throughout the donor cycle from qualification to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship by maintaining active portfolio management alongside identifying new potential prospects and enhancing the pipeline. 

• Directly and indirectly solicits 6 and 7-figure gifts as the primary fundraiser or in direct support of another fundraiser by providing gift planning expertise and securing philanthropic support for all schools, athletics, and university priorities. 

• Actively participates in joint strategy sessions with other teams and other individual fundraisers to ensure an emphasis on gift-maximizing strategies via gift planning. 

• Maintains a robust travel schedule and ongoing coverage of a set of regional assignments; also maintains ongoing collaboration with a designated school/unit liaison area. 

• Individually stewards planned giving donors as members of the Sarratt Society through visits, outreach, and small gatherings. 

Collaborates Widely and Facilitates Gift Planning Marketing Efforts

• Supports gift planning team efforts to provide resources, training, and strategy coaching for all levels of fundraisers to close traditional estate gifts and creative or illiquid gifts. 

• Specializes within the gift planning team as the team leader responsible for coordination and planning with other functions including DAR communications, VU Marketing, and external vendors, to execute a full calendar of marketing opportunities.  

• Consultatively builds out an overarching marketing effort to generate new gift planning leads, communicate financial strategies to prospects, and market Vanderbilt-specific giving opportunities. 

• Serves as the point person on the team to facilitate gift planning website updates and other communication needs, streamlining gift planning connectivity to other teams. 

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have any direct reports.  It reports administratively and functionally to the Executive Director of Gift Planning.

Work Environment:

There is a preference that this position be located in the Nashville, TN area.  However, open to remote employees. 

If located in the Nashville area, t