Planned Giving Officer

**** How You’ll Contribute
**** The Advancement team cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, as well as foundation, government and corporate partners who invest in the Society to drive impact through science, technology, education, exploration, and storytelling. The team collaborates with Society teams to build transformative and impact-driven strategic partnerships. The team also produces global events that deepen connections and leverage the Society’s power to convene, and directs robust annual, major and planned giving programs empowering the Society with a broad base of public support.
The Planned Giving Officer (PGO) reports to the Senior Director, Planned Giving and is responsible for planned giving prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and closure of gifts. The PGO personally manages a strategic portfolio of committed and prospective planned giving donors in a selected territory representing approximately one third of the United States. The PGO will respond in a timely manner to requests for information through our comprehensive marketing plan that generates inquiries by phone, mail, and email.

The PGO is also responsible for the stewardship of legacy donors based on their selected territory.
** Your Impact
**** Responsibilities Include
****** Planned Giving Fundraising (75%)
***** Manage a portfolio of Planned Giving donors and prospects to secure philanthropic support for NGS activities and initiatives, including traveling frequently to cultivate donors and prospects in person to build these relationships and raising at least $3.75M in commitments in year one.
* Respond and manage long-term follow up with planned giving marketing inquiries on planned giving vehicles including bequests, life income gifts, and non-cash assets.
* Prepare proposals, tailored correspondence, and other materials for planned and blended gifts, making them clear and persuasive for donors and advisors.
* Conduct a minimum of 70 purposeful donor visits in year one (virtual or in-person) including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings, solo or in collaboration with major and principal gifts.
**** Donor Stewardship (15%)
***** Lead stewardship efforts to keep legacy donors engaged and recognized for their contributions, including stewardship and cultivation activities for members of the Alexander Graham Bell Legacy Society.
* Participate in donor events as a representative of the National Geographic Society.
**** Strategic Collaboration and Administration (10%)
***** Provide input to planned gift marketing materials and strategies, including: providing key educational messages, identifying target audiences, and selecting donors to be featured.
* Work closely with the Senior Director, Planned Giving and Leadership Giving to integrate planned giving into the wider fundraising strategy and provide technical assistance to fundraisers to increase capacity to solicit planned gifts and gifts of noncash assets.
* Track all activities including contact reports in Raiser’s Edge database for accuracy and completion.
* Stay up to date on trends, best practices, and legal considerations in planned giving and philanthropy.
* Build and maintain collaborative relationships with National Geographic legal and finance staff, program staff, communications and marketing staff, and others to acquire the information needed to solicit and close gifts and build donor relationships effectively.
* Perform additional responsibilities, special projects, and assignments as required to support departmental goals and institutional priorities.
**** What You’ll Bring
******** Educational Background
**** Bachelor’s degree preferred.
**** Minimum Years and Type of Experience
**** 7+ years of relevant work experience, preferably in a nonprofit development / fundraising setting.
**** Necessary Knowledge and Skills
***** Demonstrated knowledge of planned giving vehicles and associated tax and estate planning issues, including gifts through wills, revocable trusts, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, beneficiary designation, securities, donor-advised funds, and…