Director of Planned Giving

REPORTS TO:                     Director of Principal and Major Gifts

Salary Range:                 $163,000-173,000 . Compensation for this position is based on relevant education and experience and will be set within the listed salary range.

SCHEDULE:                         40 hours per week. Moderate travel is required as well as occasional evening and weekend work. Schedule may vary according to Academy needs.

 

Pay Group

Type

Status

Fiscal Year Weeks

Class

Department

 Location

Salaried

Regular

Full-Time

 Full year (52 weeks)

ADM

Major Gifts

Hybrid

                                               

Position Purpose

The Director of Planned Giving leads the strategy, development, and execution of a comprehensive planned giving program that supports the long-term philanthropic priorities of Phillips Exeter Academy. This role focuses on securing legacy commitments through bequests, trusts, and other deferred gift vehicles, while building meaningful, lifelong relationships with alumni, donors, and friends of the institution. The Director is responsible for developing and managing the marketing, solicitation, and stewardship of deferred gifts.

In addition, the Director manages a portfolio of prospects and integrates planned giving strategies into broader fundraising efforts. The Director also serves as the campus expert on legacy giving vehicles, supporting frontline fundraisers, administrators, and volunteers in educating Exeter alumni, parents, and friends about planned gifts. The Director also supervises the Assistant Director of Planned Giving, providing leadership, direction, and support to advance program goals.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Academy’s planned giving program while actively managing a portfolio of 75-100 planned/major giving prospects.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive program for the marketing, solicitation, and stewardship of deferred gifts, including charitable IRA rollover gifts and select gifts of real estate, tangible personal property,etc.
• Create and execute an annual marketing plan (digital and print) to promote Exeter’s legacy giving program and educate donors on the benefits of making planned gifts.
• Prepare customized planned giving proposals for prospective donors and provide donors with appropriate fund and gift administration information.
• Coordinate the work of planned giving volunteers.
• Maintain accurate bequest expectancy records.
• Serve as the campus expert on gift vehicles, e.g. Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) and Lead Trusts (CLTs), Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs), etc.
• Partner with frontline fundraisers to integrate planned giving strategies into major gift solicitations.
• Coordinate planned giving training for frontline fundraisers and volunteers, both internally and externally.
• Travel to conduct individual and group visits to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward both outright and deferred gift prospects, independently and in collaboration with advancement colleagues.
• Maintain current knowledge of tax, legal, and estate planning considerations related to charitable giving, including participation in at least one professional development conference annually.
• Oversee coordination between the Planned Giving and Finance offices in support of the Academy’s annual audit.
• Work with the Finance office and Academy counsel to negotiate new charitable trusts and affect changes to existing charitable trusts and other planned gifts.
• Brief the Finance/Investment offices on all documents requiring officer signature for estate distributions, and other legal documents related to planned gifts.
• Maintain active communication and oversight of the Academy’s third-party planned giving vendors; including its planned gift administrator and planned gift marketing partner(s).
• Supervise and direct the Assistant Director of Planned Giving.
• Perform additional duties as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Respect for diversity of identities and experiences, an orientation toward equity and inclusion, and cultural competency in all aspects of Academy life.
• High degree of organizational skills with the ability to be flexible and multi-task with accuracy.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships with colleagues, students and alumni.
• Demonstrated success in all phases of cultivating, soliciting, and steward