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Job Description:

Contact Information in order to apply:

To explore this superb career opportunity on a highly confidential basis, please send your resume and letter of interest and list of 4 references (which will only be contacted if mutual interest is determined) to:

Doug Cooney, Executive Search Consultant

DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES Executive Search, Inc.

572 Washington Street, Suite 15, Wellesley, MA 02482

Telephone: 781-237-2800.

Email: [email protected]

Reporting to Geri Derbyshire, Vice President, University Advancement, the Sr. Director of Gift Planning will plan, design, and execute a comprehensive strategy for an integrated, proactive gift planning program that is designed to maximize fundraising potential from alumni, parents and friends, increase membership in the Bellarmine Society, Fairfield’s planned gift donor society, and provide appropriate stewardship of donors. The Sr. Director will identify, cultivate, solicit, close and steward gifts, primarily planned but also major and annual, from a portfolio of prospects. This position will serve as the gift planning expert and advisor to the Advancement division, working with VP, as well as the Associate Vice President, Major and Principal Gifts, and the directors of development on high-level gift planning strategies, and other fundraisers as needed, to provide strategies for soliciting and closing planned gifts. This position will also provide legal and gift planning guidance on the documentation of planned gifts and gift acceptance policies, and will work with Fairfield’s in-house counsel on legal matters as appropriate. The Sr. Director will identify and implement, or make recommendations to the VP, on creative, new and entrepreneurial gift planning practices to maximize fundraising revenue from alumni, parents, friends and community members. This role will develop and execute gift planning marketing strategies and other lead generation plans to ensure planned gifts and Bellarmine Society membership are maximized in Fairfield’s comprehensive campaign. The Sr. Director will manage two staff members (assistant director and program manager), manage gift planning related administrative responsibilities, and meet or exceed annual goals. Ability and willingness to travel is required.

Knowledge and skill sets needed:

Knowledge of current gift planning strategies, estate planning methods, related tax laws and planned giving software is required. Knowledge of rules for securities, and personal and real property transactions for gift purposes is required.

Exemplary organizational and multitasking skills are required as well as a high degree of motivation and ability to work autonomously in a goal-oriented environment. Exceptional oral and written communication skills are required and also well-developed negotiation, fund-raising, and analytical skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of constituents, both externally and internally, including Fairfield’s president and senior leadership, are essential. Public speaking experience a must.

**Education:** A Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.

**Work Experience:** A minimum of 7 years of experience in planned giving fundraising required. Experience in a higher education setting preferred. Experience managing portfolio of planned giving prospects, and demonstrable experience closing 7 and 8 figure planned gifts. Experience promoting gift planning via marketing strategies required. Experience managing all or aspects of a Gift Planning office required. Experience managing and mentoring staff to ensure that goals and objectives are met essential.

Essential Functions:

Complete management and oversight of Gift Planning office **,** including

+ Responding to prospects and donors and their advisors on matters relating to planned gifts to the University, from the establishment of a planned gift to settlement of a bequest;

+ Drafting and editing written materials and proposals for use in connection with the solicitation, closing and stewardship of planned gifts;

+ Developing and implementing appropriate stewardship plan to recognize donors and Bellarmine Society members;

+ All administrative tasks related to the gift planning program;

+ Monitoring all planned giving related accounts and banking relationships (i.e. Charitable Gift Annuity account);

+ Serving as Liaison with the University’s Finance Office on matters relating to gift planning, as well as with other departments and divisions relating to Gifts-in-Kind;

+ Providing gift planning and legal and tax guidance (not legal or tax advice) on the documentation of planned gifts;

+ Serving as a knowledgeable advisor in gift planning and philanthropic services to Fairfield University.

+ Setting annual SMART goals for department, staff and self, and ensuring Office and staff are meeting/exceeding goals.

Designs and executes comprehensive plan in support of the identification, cultivation and solicitation of prospects for securing planned gifts **,** including

+ Managing a robust portfolio of prospects and works directly with them and/or their advisors to negotiate and close a wide range of outright and planned giving arrangements including, but not limited to charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder and lead trusts, retained life estates, gifts of real estate and bequest intentions;

+ Soliciting and closing planned gifts, as well as major and annual gifts;

+ Meeting or exceeding fundraising goals set annually, for personal and staff portfolios.

+ Achieving annual visit goal with prospects within the fiscal year and meeting other moves management metrics, including ensuring that all assigned prospects receive at least one meaningful contact (phone call, email, letter or visit) per month as part of the qualification, cultivation and solicitation process.

+ Updating prospect records in donor database with activities, such as phone calls, written communications, and visit details, as well as entering opportunities for prospects

+ Partnering and working collaboratively with other University Advancement fundraising colleagues and staff members to maximize planned gifts;

+ Designing and executing prospect strategies for planned giving prospects in support of reaching University goals, including campaign goals;

+ Working with Research staff to identify gift planning prospects for assignment into personal and staff portfolios.

+ Developing relationships with professional advisors to help facilitate planned gifts.

Serves as the gift planning expert for the Advancement division, working closely with and providing gift planning consultation and training, as needed, to the VP, AVP and fundraising staff members, including **:**

+ Working closely with VP, AVP and others on sophisticated gift planning strategies for high-level prospects, with a special focus on campaign gifts to maximize fundraising revenue.

+ Assisting in strategy-setting sessions with Development staff members to help identify and strategize on planned giving prospects within their territories;

+ Working with Development staff to respond to gift planning inquiries and prepare customized gift proposals for prospective donors;

+ Collaborating with and assisting Development staff in presenting gift planning options to prospective donors and in soliciting planned gifts through personal contact and visits.

Designs and implements, by working closely with Fairfield’s Marketing Department, a comprehensive and multipronged marketing strategy, using direct mail, email, website, social media, magazine, brochures and other tools, to maximize planned gifts to Fairfield.

Works with AVP, Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, and Reunion Giving staff, to develop strategies for integrating gift planning solicitations for the 45th and 50th Reunions.

Provides Vice President with updates on annual goals, including monthly progress reports and other reports and documentation of work to show progress towards goals.

Manages gift planning operational budget.

Assists in the planning of events to promote and celebrate planned gifts to the University **.**

An appreciation for the Fairfield University and Jesuit missions.

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Contact Information in order to apply:

To explore this superb career opportunity on a highly confidential basis, please send your resume and letter of interest and list of 4 references (which will only be contacted if mutual interest is determined) to:

Doug Cooney, Executive Search Consultant

DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES Executive Search, Inc.

572 Washington Street, Suite 15, Wellesley, MA 02482

Telephone: 781-237-2800.

Email: [email protected]

Category:

Advancement - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

_All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check._

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Load a resume or CV first, then upload supporting documents including a cover letter at the bottom of the third page under the "My Experience" section where it says to upload a** **_Resume/CV_** **. You will be able to upload up to 5 other documents in this section. You will be unable to edit your application, so please have all documents available before applying.

Faculty Positions** **: If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email the additional documents to the applicable contact in the job description.

Staff positions** **: If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email them to [email protected]