Director of Gift Planning

Sweet Briar is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders.  Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by the US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation.  Sweet Briar College is growing rapidly, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women’s leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts and its legendary equestrian program. Its finances are robust, and validated by balanced budget and positive bond ratings.

Located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 54 miles south of Charlottesville. Its campus is one of the nation’s most spectacular, replete with nature sanctuaries, lakes, forests, trails, and most recently, vineyards, apiary and greenhouses.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women’s colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women’s leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.

When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, students lead research, ask questions and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

POSITION TITLE:  DIRECTOR OF GIFT PLANNING

Classification:  Exempt

Reports To:  Vice President of Alumnae Relations and Development

Job Summary/Objective:  The Director of Gift Planning plays a very important function in our small, fast-paced organization with a reputation for high-quality donor relations. This position is the lead relationship and fund management position at Sweet Briar, responsible for planning, implementing, and executing a strategy to attract major, planned, and legacy donors to partner with Sweet Briar to fulfill their philanthropic and financial goals.

The Director of Gift Planning works closely with the President, Vice President for Alumnae Relations and Development, Senior Director of Major Gifts and Stewardship, and the Development team to expand Sweet Briar’s relationships with current and prospective donors and professional advisors, educating them about Sweet Briar’s philanthropic priorities and charitable giving options.

She or he will work to move current and prospective donors through the donor cycle including identifying, engaging, evaluating, soliciting, recognizing, and stewarding current and future major donors, planned giving prospects, and legacy donors. 

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the organizational strategy for donor, fund holder and professional advisor education and engagement in partnership with the Vice President for Alumnae Relations and the Development team.
• Respond to inquiries from prospects, donor representa