Associate Director of Gift Planning

University of Virginia; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Virginia seeks a talented, relationship-driven professional to join External Relations as an Associate Director of Gift Planning. This role focuses on helping alumni, families, and friends create lasting philanthropic legacies across UVA.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, you will manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects, coordinate with schools and units, and educate colleagues on gift planning strategies, blending giving options with UVA priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• Some experience in finance, law, or estate planning is preferred.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Guide donors through charitable planning opportunities and secure transformative gifts.
• Educate development colleagues about gift planning strategies and vehicles.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit UVA planned giving prospects.

Skills

Relationship-building

Donor engagement

Strategic thinking

Estate planning knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

The University of Virginia seeks a talented and relationship-driven professional to join the External Relations team as an Associate Director of Gift Planning. This position offers the opportunity to help alumni, families, and friends of UVA create lasting philanthropic legacies that support students, faculty, research, and programs across one of the nation's premier public universities.

The Associate Director will manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects, cultivate and solicit deferred and outright gifts, and partner with schools and units across the University to increase planned giving support. This role combines strategic fundraising, donor engagement, and charitable planning expertise in a highly collaborative environment.

What We’re Looking For

The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of planned giving vehicles and strategies, knowledge of charitable gift and tax laws, and experience with deferred and outright gifts of non-cash assets. The individual holding this position will demonstrate the ability to partner with planned giving fundraisers and major and principal gift fundraisers across UVA.

We're seeking a candidate who combines strong relationship-building skills with intellectual curiosity, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate complex conversations around philanthropy, estate planning, and financial goals. The ideal candidate is collaborative, self-motivated, and energized by connecting donors' values and aspirations with opportunities to make a lasting impact at one of the nation's leading public universities.

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, you'll guide donors through charitable planning opportunities, and secure transformative gifts that advance UVA's schools, programs, and strategic priorities.

You'll also serve as a trusted resource to donors and colleagues, partnering across the University to identify opportunities and share gift planning expertise. This partnership will include integrating gift planning programs with other development functions by educating development colleagues about planned giving, coordinating with colleagues on planned and blended giving strategies, and conducting joint donor visits to inspire support that will impact generations of Cavaliers to come.

Key Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit UVA planned giving prospects using prospect lists for in-person visits, emails, and phone calls.
• Provide sample bequest language and life income gift calculations (e.g., charitable gift annuities) as needed to actively solicit planned gifts from their portfolio and liaison relationships.
• Educate donors and development colleagues about gift planning strategies and giving vehicles.

Why UVA?

UVA External Relations is among the most respected advancement organizations in higher education, offering a collaborative culture, flexible hybrid work environment, professional development opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful impact through philanthropy.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree.
• Experience: Some experience in finance, law, or estate planning.
• A valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: a minimum of five years of relevant experience, including work in finance, law, or estate planning.
• Track record of demonstrating a high degree of initiative, flexibility and the skills to shape and be shaped by an evolving position.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, a high degree of personal integrity, and attention to detail.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with major gifts prospects, fundraising colleagues, academic leaders, faculty, alumni, and volunteers.
• Prior experience in legal practice and/or higher education gift planning fundraising.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. This position requires the ability to travel frequently on behalf of the University and participate in occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Salary Range

• The anticipated hiring range is $80,000 - $90,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.
• UVA External Relations offers a flexible and hybrid workplace. All team members must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools.
• This hybrid position offers some flexibility for remote work, although frequent in-person presence in our office building in Charlottesville, VA, on UVA Grounds, or at event venues is required.

About UVA And The Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after September 14, 2026.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For additional information about the position, please contact April Sibiski, Director of Staff Success, at [e-mail].
• For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, [e-mail].

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.