Director, Gift Planning

Overview

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.  

  

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).  

  

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org 

 

NRDC is seeking a Director, Gift Planning, to work with the Development Team in any of our U.S. based offices, with a preference for New York, Washington, D.C., or Chicago.

Position Summary 

NRDC is seeking a Director, Gift Planning to secure planned gifts by identifying and building relationships with those donors who have a propensity for making future gifts for the organization and manage two additional planned giving officers. As a member of the Gift Planning team, this individual will work closely with the Senior Director, Gift Planning, gift planning team and major and membership gift officers to conduct solicitations for planned gifts.

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

• Create and execute front-line comprehensive strategy and workplan in line with department goals and increase planned giving donors nationally• Strategically manage a portfolio of prospects (200-300) with capacity and interest from• identification to securing planned gifts• Partner with membership gift officers to Identify, cultivate and motivate members to make significant gifts, assisting them with gift planning strategies to increase the number of planned gifts nationally• Strategize with Major Gift and Membership Gift Officers to identify planned giving prospects from their respective portfolios and increase the number of blended gifts to NRDC• Plan events that maximize donor and prospect cultivation opportunities• Cultivate prospects and current gift planning donors through in-person visits, phone calls, written correspondence • Develop a strong working knowledge of NRDC funding priorities and campaign objectives specifically to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents• Manage and mentor a gift planning team by partnering, coaching, equipping and encouraging 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

 

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• 7+ years of previous work experience in gift planning fundraising or related experience with proven success of 6-7-figure planned gifts
• 3+ years of previous experience in direct supervision or management of others

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• Proficiency in Salesforce (or similar database) and PGCalc
• Creative problem-solving skills to engage and cultivate relationships with donors
• Efficient multi-tasker and flexible in working towards phila