Associate Director of Planned Giving - University Advancement

APU College of Nursing and Health Sciences; Azusa (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Azusa Pacific University is seeking an Assistant Director of Planned Giving to steward legacy donors and expand the university's planned giving program. You will manage life income gifts, bequest marketing, and estate gift administration while collaborating with internal teams and external partners.

The role requires 4–6 years in advancement or donor engagement in higher education, a Bachelor's degree, and strong skills in fundraising strategy and donor relations.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional projects and coordinate events.
• Experience in donor engagement in higher education is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage an active portfolio of legacy donors and respond to inquiries.
• Oversee The Cornerstone Society and develop annual stewardship plans and events.
• Prepare, record, and maintain donor contact reports and estate documentation in the Advancement CRM.
• Plan and execute multi-channel planned giving marketing campaigns and collateral.
• Monitor campaign performance and optimize messaging for better lead conversion.

Skills

Donor relations

Communication skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Salesforce

Crescendo

PG Calc

Job description

Azusa Pacific University 4.3K subscribers

APU seeks employees who desire to contribute to our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is edifying to God and one another.

The Assistant Director of Planned Giving supports the mission of Azusa Pacific University by stewarding current planned giving donors and responding to incoming inquires. This role advances the university's "God First" mission by expanding legacy gifts, managing planned giving marketing strategies, overseeing The Cornerstone Society (APU's legacy stewardship program), and administering life income and estate gifts.

The standard 40-hour work schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Flexible work arrangements may be proposed and are subject to approval by Human Resources and department leadership. Occasional evening and weekend hours required for advancement events and donor travel.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Required and Preferred Experience

• Four to six years of professional experience managing advancement initiatives, marketing campaigns, or donor engagement projects in a higher education environment.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects, author compelling marketing copy for diverse audiences, coordinate strategic events, and build meaningful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Desire and capacity to apply marketing and project management expertise toward expanding the university’s planned giving program.
• Preferred education/background: Alumnus of, or direct prior work experience within, a Christian higher education setting.
• Preferred Technical Expertise : Demonstrated experience soliciting or marketing bequests and complex deferred gifts (CGAs, CRTs).

Primary Duties/Essential Functions

Relationship Management

• Manage an active portfolio of legacy donors currently in permanent stewardship and managing the incoming planned giving inquiries.
• Oversee The Cornerstone Society, APU’s legacy stewardship program, including developing annual stewardship plans, events, and meaningful donor recognition touchpoints.
• Prepare, record, and maintain timely and accurate donor contact reports and estate intention documentation within the Advancement CRM.
• Participate actively in team meetings and pipeline reviews with University Advancement staff.

Planned Giving Marketing & Project Leadership

• Provide operational leadership in planning and executing multi-channel planned giving marketing campaigns (direct mail, email, digital landing pages, and newsletters).
• Partner with Advancement Communication Manager to design, write, and deploy targeted planned giving marketing collateral.
• Monitor, track, and perform consistent, timely follow-up on leads generated through marketing efforts (e.g., estate planning guide requests, website inquiries).
• Analyze campaign performance metrics to refine messaging, optimize lead conversion, and inform future marketing strategies.

Gift Administration & Technical Support

• Maintain working technical knowledge of planned giving vehicles (bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, beneficiary designations, real estate, and appreciated assets) and relevant federal tax implications.
• Assist in administering new, active, and matured life income gifts, working closely with financial, legal, and estate representatives.
• Manage the expectancy confirmation process to ensure the accuracy of recorded planned gift commitments.

Spiritual & Institutional Alignment

• Model Christ-like character and integrate Christian values into all professional interactions, donor relations, and team collaborations.
• Support and articulate the mission, statement of faith, and strategic vision of Azusa Pacific University to external constituents.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; proficiency in donor management CRMs (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce) and planned giving software (e.g., Crescendo, PG Calc).
• Active and valid driver’s license.

Mental Demands

• Faith Alignment: A deeply held Christian faith that aligns with APU's Statement of Faith, Mission, and Wesleyan heritage.

Physical Demands

• Requires repetitive keyboard work.

Visual Demands

• Computer monitor, reading.
• Pleasant office setting, comfortable temperature.

Technologies

• Proficient in Google Apps (Docs, Spreadsheets, Slides), Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Compensation

• Grade 13: $72,384- $79,729 is the annual compensation for this role and reflects what Azusa Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on the qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, APU offers a competitive benefits package.

Azusa Pacific University is a Christ-centered, multicultural community that values and seeks faculty and staff who are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation. Please click the links to learn more about ' what we believe ,' our ' mission statement ,' and our ' statement of faith .'

You can learn more about APU by watching the stories of faculty, staff, and alumni as they carry out our mission here: http://www.apu.edu/stories/ .

Azusa Pacific University will conduct a background check on all final candidates.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled unless otherwise stated. Azusa Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.