Gift Planning Officer; Planned Giving

Position: Gift Planning Officer (Planned Giving)
Does the opportunity to devote your talents to a cause much greater than yourself excite you? Are you energized by building meaningful relationships that help donors create a lasting impact for generations to come? The Arbor Day Foundation is a place where you can do work that matters with people who care. As we say at the Foundation: life is short, love where you work.

As one of the world's largest conservation organizations, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. We help people understand and use trees as a solution to global issues (like air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty, and hunger) that are critical to survival.

Join the Arbor Day Foundation as a Gift Planning Officer on the Development team to grow and strengthen our planned giving program. You’ll play a pivotal role in cultivating donor relationships, securing legacy gifts, and building a pipeline that supports long-term mission impact.

Your Support System:

You’ll report to the Director, Development You’ll collaborate with Development Officers, Individual Engagement, Marketing, and cross-functional partners including legal and accounting to secure and steward planned gifts effectively

How we work:

Location:

Lincoln, Nebraska

Schedule:

In-office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; optional remote work on Wednesday and Friday.

Travel: 10–15% for donor visits, events, and trainings

What you’ll do:

Cultivate, solicit, and secure planned gifts including bequests, estate gifts, and gifts of non-cash assets

Build and manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects, guiding donors from initial engagement through commitment

Develop lead generation strategies and donor experiences in partnership with Marketing and Individual Engagement Identify major gift opportunities within the planned giving pipeline and collaborate with Development Officers to grow lifetime giving

Deliver a high-quality, personalized donor experience through thoughtful outreach, stewardship, and relationship management

Leverage tools such as CRM, Free Will, and Donor Search to support pipeline growth and reporting

Ensure accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions, commitments, and strategies

Partner cross-functionally to ensure planned gifts are properly processed, documented, and stewarded

Identify and implement process improvements to strengthen donor experience and operational efficiency

What you'll bring:

Passion for the Foundation’s mission, nature, environmental stewardship, and people

Experience in planned giving, major gifts, financial planning, estate planning, charitable advising, or related relationship-based work Working knowledge of planned giving vehicles such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, and gifts of non-cash assets (stock, real estate, etc.)Ability to analyze donor data, identify high-potential prospects, and prioritize pipeline opportunities

Proven ability to build and steward meaningful donor relationships and secure philanthropic commitments

Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex giving strategies into clear, compelling conversationsA highly relational, detail-oriented approach with professionalism, empathy, and discretion

Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build strong cross-functional partnerships

What success looks like:

Growth in planned giving pipeline, including qualified prospects and confirmed commitments

Strong conversion of donor engagement into documented gift intentions

High-quality donor stewardship and relationship consistency

Accurate CRM documentation and portfolio management

Continuous improvement in processes and donor experience

Love Where You Work:
Your Benefits & Perks We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being. Highlights include:

Health & Insurance Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage – Multiple plan options, including PPO and HDHP.Company-Paid Life Insurance – $15,000 basic coverage, plus voluntary options.

Short- & Long-Term Disability – Fully covered by the company.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential counseling and…