Planned Giving Officer - Animal Welfare Organization

Compensation

$73,500–$81,000 annually (commensurate with experience and equity)

Denver, CO (occasional evenings/weekends; limited in-state travel)

At Humane Colorado, every legacy gift tells a story of compassion that lasts for generations.

We’re seeking a relationship-driven Planned Giving Officer to lead and grow our Founders Society, a community of nearly 1,000 dedicated legacy donors, while building a strong pipeline of future supporters who believe in lifelong impact for animals.

In this role, you’ll cultivate meaningful donor relationships, steward transformational legacy commitments, and help secure the long‑term financial strength of our organization. You’ll manage a dynamic portfolio of current and prospective donors, collaborate across Development and Marketing, and design thoughtful engagement strategies that inspire generosity for years to come.

This is an ideal opportunity for a fundraiser with experience in planned giving or mid‑to‑major gifts who thrives on personal connection, strategic growth, and mission‑driven work.

If you’re energized by building lasting relationships and creating sustainable impact in animal welfare, we’d love to meet you.

The Planned Giving Officer is responsible for managing the Planned Giving program, engaging with members of the Founders Society, and cultivating and stewarding relationships with mid‑level donors as a pipeline to the Founders Society and Major Gifts. The officer will focus on renewing and increasing annual gifts, as well as tracking and reporting progress. The role also serves as an integral member of our organization's Development Department.

• Support the overall long‑term financial strength and support of our organization by visiting donors and prospective donors about a variety of gift possibilities, particularly deferred and planned gifts.
• In collaboration with the Manager of Philanthropy and Planned Giving, develop and implement a strategy to identify opportunities for major gifts and additional planned gifts. Recommend annual goals and budget projections for the planned giving program.
• Manage a rated prospect list of prospective donors and a portfolio of active donors, including donors not currently members of the Founders Society. Develop and implement a reactivation strategy to re‑engage lapsed donors within this pool.
• Cultivate relationships with donors to renew and increase annual giving, with a particular focus on Founders Society members who are not giving.
• Foster personal relationships with top‑tier donors through phone calls, meetings, and written correspondence, ensuring their connection to the organization’s mission is deepened.
• Oversee communication efforts with prospective legacy donors and cultivate relationships with mid‑level donors to drive fundraising and deepen engagement.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications team to create printed and digital materials that support fundraising goals.
• Organize and execute group activities and one‑on‑one cultivation opportunities with Founders Society members and prospects to maintain and enhance donor relationships. Includes attendance at occasional events in the evenings and on weekends.
• Plan and implement donor education, appreciation, engagement, and solicitation programs, including regular communication (written and digital), group events (e.g., tours, special experiences), and other stewardship initiatives.
• Assist with bequests, blended gifts, and more sophisticated giving options both annually and in legacy plans. Work closely with development colleagues to identify potential major donors or legacy giving prospects and transition them into the appropriate fundraising programs.
• Monitor donor performance on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis to ensure revenue goals are met.
• Maintain accurate donor information in development database, utilizing the database to track engagement and cultivation efforts effectively.
• Implement systems to track donor progress, identify trends, and ensure strategic focus on major and legacy giving prospects.
• Track key performance metrics, including renewal rates, attrition, and average gift amounts, to evaluate…