Executive Director, Harvard Gift Planning

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Communications, Events & Donor Relations, University Development and Advancement Solutions, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and AA&D Administration.

Harvard seeks an innovative and experienced fundraising leader and strategic thinker to lead the gift planning program in University Development). Harvard’s gift planning program has a long history of leadership and expertise and the trusts under management comprise the largest program in the industry.

Harvard Gift Planning (HGP) serves as the primary planned giving strategists and front-line fundraisers for eight Schools and several non-school units, while also serving all of Harvard as a resource for policies, procedures, lead generation, industry trends, knowledge capture, marketing coordination, staff training, and convening of peers for discussion of best practices.

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director, University Development, the Executive Director, Harvard Gift Planning, will develop, implement, and oversee a proactive planned giving fundraising strategy that continues to create industry best practices and adds value to the fundraising of all of Harvard’s Schools and Units, while providing excellent donor relationship management. The Executive Director will serve as a programmatic leader, team manager, and front-facing fundraiser, serving as a point person for gifts at the principal gifts level.

The Executive Director will serve as a collegial partner to the Directors in the Harvard Schools that have planned giving teams and will lead the department’s relationship with School and unit partners to whom the team delivers services, and helping to drive activity for those units.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive plan to grow the University-wide planned giving program, including measurable goals to ensure the identification, engagement, and solicitation of donors and prospects across the university. Plans in the context of a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Oversee an integrated, coordinated, and effective communications, engagement, marketing, and recognition program.
• Convene planned giving professionals university-wide to facilitate discussions of innovations and best practices; assess how innovations in the industry could inform Harvard’s strategy; evaluate new approaches; and make informed decisions. Lead a collaborative approach to the creation and management of university policies related to planned gifts. Create forums to evaluate programmatic innovations, opportunities, and growth.
• Ensu…