Associate Director of Gift Planning

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Gift Planning is a centralized University of Colorado system position embedded within the CU Anschutz Office of Advancement. This role works closely with the CU Anschutz Director of Gift Planning and the broader Gift Planning team to enhance the giving experience by supporting donors and development officers as they explore blended and planned gift opportunities. The Associate Director will cultivate, advance gifts that benefit CU and provide technical gift‑planning expertise to colleagues and donors.

Hybrid work model, mostly in person at the Anschutz Medical Campus.

• Collaborates with CU System Advancement staff to develop a prospect pipeline; cultivate, solicit, negotiate, and close gifts, focusing on multi-faceted outright gifts, gifts of complex or unique assets, gifts‑in‑kind, revocable designations, and irrevocable gifts such as charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, retained life estates, or charitable lead trusts.
• Works within the CU Anschutz Advancement office to cultivate and advance gifts, providing technical gift‑planning expertise to colleagues and donors.
• Advises CU Anschutz development officers on prospect identification for planned gifts and development of solicitation strategies.
• Supports CU Anschutz development officers by adding value to the cultivation, proposal and solicitation phases of gift conversations, including in‑person and virtual meetings and development of gift agreements.
• Remains current and shares up‑to‑date information with colleagues about planned‑giving strategies, including training and updates on tax laws and regulations.
• Contributes to university system, campus and Gift Planning department goals by supporting the implementation of an annual gift‑planning workplan to achieve strategic goals and benchmark program growth.
• Contributes to system‑level advancement of gift‑planning strategies, including creating a strong pipeline, developing staff trainings, stewarding existing legacy society members, strengthening relationships with the advisor community, evaluating counting standards, gift acceptance policies and procedures.
• Works daily to ensure timely, accurate completion of discovery outreach, proposals, pledges and fund agreements.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned such as database maintenance, gifts‑in‑kind support and estate distribution efforts.

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Process‑management products (, MS Teams)
• Gift‑planning software (PGM Anywhere, TIAA Kaspick Gift Advisor)
• Donor tracking and reporting (Salesforce)

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent professional experience.
• Five years’ experience securing major and/or planned gifts, fundraising, financial planning, or comparable work.
• One year of supervisory experience, including assigning and reviewing work of others and providing guidance to team members.
• Ability to travel.

• Post‑baccalaureate degree (MBA, JD, MAr, etc.).
• Seven years’ experience securing major and/or planned gifts, fundraising, financial planning, or comparable work.
• Two years’ supervisory experience as described above.
• Professional certification such as Certified Financial Planner.
• Experience in nonprofit, higher education, or healthcare environments.
• Experience working within large, complex organizations.

• Knowledge of CU’s mission, programs, demographics, and culture.
• Knowledge of gift‑planning principles, procedures, and best practices.
• Donor‑centric customer‑service skills, including active listening, addressing needs, defusing tense situations, and maintaining a friendly demeanor.
• Interpersonal skills to facilitate communication and teamwork.
• Proficiency with computer equipment, software, and technology, including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to persuasively engage donors and articulate CU’s differentiation.
• Ability to craft persuasive verbal and written cases matching donor interests to specific programs.
• Commitment to customer service excellence.
• Effective communication with individuals…