Assistant Vice President, Estate & Gift Planning

Florida International University; Florida; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Outstanding employee benefits

Job summary

Florida International University is seeking an innovative leader to serve as the Assistant President of Estate & Gift Planning to expand philanthropic support and shape the university’s future through meaningful, transformational giving.

You’ll lead a team, guide complex gift opportunities, and partner with university leaders to turn philanthropic aspiration into lasting impact for FIU’s students, faculty, and community.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership for a comprehensive, multi-year Estate and Gift planning program.
• Serves as SME on planned and deferred giving, advising on tax and financial implications of gift planning vehicles.
• Manages a portfolio of major and principal-level gifts, leading identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Negotiates and finalizes terms of complex gifts with legal and financial colleagues as needed.
• Recruits, supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff in Estate and Gift planning.
• Leads annual operating plan and long-term strategy for the program with measurable goals.
• Guides college/school/unit development staff on gift planning strategy and progress meetings with Deans.
• Oversees compliance with gift policies, campaign standards, and tax requirements.

Job description

Shape lasting legacies at one of the nation’s fastest – rising preeminent research universities! Florida International University is seeking an innovative leader to serve as the Assistant Presidents of Estate & Gift Planning to expand philanthropic support and help shape the university’s future through meaningful, transformational giving. In this influential leadership role, you’ll develop innovative strategies for planned and deferred gifts, build trusted relationships, and partner with university leaders to turn philanthropic aspiration into a lasting impact for FIU’s students, faculty, and community. In this role you will lead and mentor a dedicated team, guide complex gift planning opportunities, and grow a program that creates enduring legacies for generations to come. Join FIU, a Top 50 public research university and Carnegie R1 institution in vibrant Miami, and enjoy outstanding employee benefits, a collaborative work environment, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference at a university where innovation, discovery, and student success thrive. Bring your expertise to FIU and help build a legacy that lasts!

Provides strategic leadership for the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-year Estate and Gift planning program that advances University and Foundation fundraising priorities.

Serves as the University's Subject Matter Expert (SME) on planned and deferred giving, providing technical expertise to donors, prospects, and University/Foundation leadership on the tax and financial implications of gift planning vehicles.

Manages a personal portfolio of major and principal-level outright and deferred gift prospects, leading their identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship independently and in partnership with colleagues across the University.

Negotiates, structures, and finalizes the terms of complex new planned and estate gifts, working with general counsel, finance, and academic/administrative colleagues as needed.

Recruits, manages, supervises, mentors, and evaluates Estate and Gift planning staff, setting performance standards and implementing professional development and performance management plans.

Leads the design and implementation of the annual operating plan and long-term strategy for the Estate and gift planning program, establishing measurable goals and reporting progress to senior leadership.

Provides expert guidance and consultation to college/school/unit-based development staff on gift planning strategy, devising annual operating plans and conducting regular progress meetings with Deans and program leadership.

Oversees compliance with gift acceptance policies, campaign counting standards, and legal/tax requirements applicable to planned and estate gifts.

Leads marketing and communications strategy in collaboration with Foundation Campaign Planning and Communications for the estate and gift planning program, including the gift planning website, newsletters, donor recognition society, and print/digital collateral.

Plans, coordinates, and leads seminars and educational programming on gift planning topics for prospects, donors, advisors, faculty, and staff.

Cultivates and maintains strategic relationships with the regional estate planning and legal/financial advisor community, identifying partnership and sponsorship opportunities that expand referral networks.

Establishes, interprets, and implements policies and procedures governing gift planning activities across the University, recommending changes to senior leadership as necessary.

Oversees the preparation of proposals, gift agreements, and stewardship materials for planned and estate gift prospects, collaborating with development communications and donor relations colleagues.

Monitors and reports progress toward institutional revenue and activity goals, providing regular updates to the Vice President and senior advancement leadership.

Directs and supervises principal gift officers and assigned support staff. Responsible for recruiting, training, mentoring, and conducting performance evaluations to ensure the team meets measurable annual and long-term fundraising metrics.

Represents the University at professional organizations, estate planning councils, and community events to build visibility and philanthropic partnerships.

Tracks and documents prospect and donor contact and moves in the donor database, ensuring adherence to university-wide prospect management guidelines and protocols.

Keeps abreast of new laws, regulations, and best practices related to planned and estate gifts, ensuring the program's continued compliance and competitiveness.

Participates in on-campus and off-campus events and activities, including division-wide and university-wide committees and project teams, in support of donor qualification, cultivation, and institutional priorities.