Director, Gift Planning Development

Director, Gift Planning Development

The Director of Gift Planning Development is a key position in the gift planning office in the Office of University Advancement at William & Mary. As a primary point of contact and resource for donors, colleagues, and professional advisors, the Director will assist in drafting complex gift agreements, suggested language, and gift illustrations for the benefit of the university and its related programs and foundations.

This position is responsible for the development and cultivation of all gifts from wills, trusts, retirement plans, and life income vehicles, and meeting reporting, auditing, and pipeline development needs in addition to overseeing the management of tangible gifts donated to the university. The Director also leads internal reporting, summaries, and updates related to planned gifts to the university. The Director reports to the Executive Director of Gift Planning and supervises the Associate Director of Gift Planning Administration.

This is a hybrid position based in Williamsburg, VA, that offers a flexible work environment.

Salary: $95,000 to $110,000 commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

For full consideration, submit application materials by Friday, August 21, 2026. Applications received after the review date will be considered if needed. A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

• Bachelor's degree and substantive experience or specialized expertise in gift planning at a university or large nonprofit organization.
• Experience assisting donors and their professional advisors choose the best combination of assets and gift vehicles to accomplish their charitable, financial, and estate planning objectives.
• Demonstrated professional experience in gift planning development and advancement in higher education or a large nonprofit organization.
• Understanding of complex charitable gift vehicles and giving strategies: estates and trusts, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, gifts of real estate, gifts of closely held securities, gifts of life insurance, bargain sales, tangible and intangible gifts, and charitable distributions from retirement plans.
• Ability to prepare and present customized gift illustrations of deferred or complex gifts, customized suggested testamentary language, and complex legal language for specific endowment agreements or letters of designation.
• Ability to review estate and trust documentation to confirm that future commitments conform with gift acceptance policies and best practices for counting gifts to campaign and fundraising totals.
• Skills to present planned giving information to both lay and professional audiences in a way that will inspire philanthropy.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the proven ability to work effectively with a diverse constituency and collaboratively with colleagues from across the institution, while exercising discretion and diplomacy in all interactions.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to balance competing priorities and complex situations within tight deadlines in a team-oriented environment.
• Willingness and ability to work outside normal working hours when necessary.

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Demonstrated skills to work effectively with colleagues and donors as well as their professional advisors in a college or university setting to finalize planned gifts.
• Experience collaborating with campus-wide development professionals.
• Management skills to educate, lead and inspire fundraising professionals and other team members.
• Demonstrated communication skills (preparing proposals, gift calculations/illustrations - and other written materials), and skills to be diplomatic with diverse constituencies including professional colleagues, donors' professional advisors, and donors and their families.

• This position may require additional hours beyond the typical work hours to include evenings and weekends.

55% - Pipeline Development and Gift Recording:

• Work with frontline fundraisers to identify, cultivate, finalize, and record planned gifts to the fundraising totals.
• Complete monthly gift planning entries to record revocable deferred commitments to the campaign totals.
• Assist frontline fundraisers working with donors to document planned gifts.
• Draft documentation necessary for finalizing and recording planned gifts. This documentation includes suggested will or trust language, designation paperwork, gift illustrations, trust and annuity agreements, and valuation letters.
• Track pending planned gifts and assist in moving the gifts through the giving pipeline from prospective to finalized gifts.
• Identify additional planned giving prospects and collaborate with frontline fundraisers to finalize commitments to add to the fundraising totals.

30% - Portfolio Development and Management:

• Qualify, build, and manage a…