Assistant Director of Gift Planning

Job no:

R-0000002420

Position Title:

Assistant Director of Gift Planning

Faculty or Staff:

Staff

Full Time or Part Time:

Full time

In-Person, Hybrid, or Remote:

Hybrid

Minimum Starting Rate of Pay:

$88,794.00

Rate of pay commensurate with experience

Start Date:

09/15/2025

Job Description:

I. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Assistant Director of Gift Planning is a frontline fundraiser and vital member of Mount Holyoke College’s Development Team. This individual manages a portfolio of approximately 120 alums, families, and friends, cultivating relationships that lead to impactful philanthropic commitments, including six- and seven-figure life income gifts, estate gifts and complex outright gifts. Reporting to the Director of Gift Planning, this role contributes to the success of the College’s upcoming comprehensive campaign by advancing strategic gift planning efforts and collaborating with internal and external partners. 

The Assistant Director partners across the Development team to develop customized gift strategies and provides expertise on planned giving vehicles.  Success in this role requires empathy, curiosity, technical acumen, and a commitment to inclusive donor engagement.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 120 Mount Holyoke College gift planning prospects and donors, guiding individuals through the full donor cycle: identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Conduct 100+ substantive donor interactions annually, including 25+ gift solicitations, with 35–50% domestic travel required.

• Build meaningful relationships with alums, surviving spouses, and other supporters, leading to impactful philanthropic commitments.

• Collaborate with colleagues across annual giving, leadership gifts, principal gifts, and donor relations to develop and implement integrated donor strategies.

• Provide technical expertise and consultative support on planned giving vehicles to donors and internal partners.

• Prepare and present customized proposals and gift illustrations for charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and complex outright gifts using PG Calc and TIAA Kaspick. Review and coordinate contracts for gift annuities and trusts in collaboration with College counsel, as needed.

• Conduct in-depth conversations regarding complex gift planning opportunities, including gifts of real estate and closely held stock, in partnership with the Director of Gift Planning.

• Oversee the planning and execution of regional Mary Lyon Society stewardship and cultivation events.

• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions and proposals in the College’s Salesforce-based fundraising CRM.

• Support marketing efforts for planned giving, including the creation and review of print and digital outreach materials.

• Serve as backup to the Director of Gift Planning in collaborating with the Finance Office to track and monitor estate gifts through the settlement process.

• Secure planned gifts aligned with departmental and campaign fundraising goals.

• Contribute to a team culture centered on collaboration, transparency, and data-informed decision-making.

• Participate in ongoing professional development in charitable planning, fundraising ethics, and equitable philanthropy practices.

• Actively support Mount Holyoke College’s commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

• Remote work flexibility is available, as determined by the Director of Gift Planning.

III. SKILLS/ KNOWLEDGE/ CERTIFICATIONS:

1. Required

• Bachelor’s degree

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in fundraising, financial planning, law or a related field. 

• Proven success closing five-figure or larger gifts, or comparable high-stakes client engagements.

• Strong interpersonal, organizational and written/verbal communication.

• Demonstrated ability to explain complex financial or legal concepts in a donor-friendly way.

• High level of discretion and integrity in managing confidential information.

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful eng