Senior Associate Director of Gift Planning

External Relations at the University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the role of Senior Associate Director of Gift Planning. The University of Virginia has a strong and reputable advancement community, boasting effective, results-oriented, and resourceful professionals. Our community comprises a robust central advancement organization, 12 University schools, and more than 25 University-related programs. We offer a wide variety of career opportunities, as well as an outstanding environment for professional growth and development.

The Senior Associate Director will be responsible for managing a portfolio of planned giving prospects and developing a comprehensive solicitation and stewardship strategy for the portfolio and any assigned liaison relationships. The Senior Associate Director will increase the University’s ability to accept deferred and outright gifts of non-cash assets in a timely and professional manner. They will help donors and their advisors consider and understand charitable gift options that involve some level of tax, legal, or financial planning.

The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of planned giving vehicles and strategies, as well as knowledge of charitable gift and tax laws and experience with deferred and outright gifts of non-cash assets. The individual holding this position will partner with planned giving fundraisers and major and principal gift fundraisers across UVA to increase philanthropic support for the University of Virginia at the highest levels.

This partnership will include integrating gift planning programs with other development functions by educating development colleagues about planned giving, coordinating with colleagues on planned and blended giving strategies, and conducting joint donor visits. This position reports to the Executive Director of Gift Planning.

• Work with fundraisers across Grounds on all types of planned gifts, including bequests, beneficiary designations, life income gifts, and outright gifts of non-cash assets.
• Provide timely, accurate advice and expertise to the University’s fundraising community, its donors, and professional advisors. Perform research and analysis on questions relating to planned giving and advise colleagues of relevant issues. Work closely with donors and their advisors to structure lifetime and testamentary plans to benefit the University.
• Develop prospect portfolios of potential individual donors, cultivating and soliciting gifts primarily for $100,000 and above.
• Cultivate relationships and assist in planning major outright and deferred gifts to the University.
• Create and implement cultivation structures that include prospect strategies, development and preparation of written materials, design and implementation of cultivation events, direct solicitation, and solicitation in tandem with volunteers and other staff.
• Travel as needed to assist with and carry forward new and existing gift conversations.
• Mentor and develop Gift Planning and other development officers in gift planning knowledge.
• Periodic in-office presence to conduct in-person meetings and educational programming for the University’s fundraising community.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree
• Experience:
  
  Some experience in finance, law, or estate planning.
• Valid driver’s license

• Experience:
  
  Eight years of fundraising experience, including five years of direct planned giving experience.
• Track record of demonstrating a high degree of initiative, flexibility and the skills to shape and be shaped by an evolving position.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, a high degree of personal integrity, and attention to detail.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with major gifts prospects, fundraising colleagues, academic leaders, faculty, alumni, and volunteers.
• Prior experience in legal practice and/or higher education gift planning fundraising.

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. This position requires the ability to…