Associate Director, Office of Gift Planning (0463U), University Development and Alumni Relation[...]

University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 4 days remote work

Job summary

University of California, Berkeley seeks an Associate Director, Office of Gift Planning to lead complex gift planning fundraising programs. The role focuses on soliciting life income gifts, bequests, and blended gifts while managing major donor portfolios and collaborating with campus units.

You will craft persuasive proposals, guide prospect strategies, and provide technical training on gift planning topics to UDAR and partner units.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience demonstrating expert knowledge of all aspects of gift planning fundraising.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a large complex organization with fundraising responsibilities.
• Expert knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations relevant to gift planning.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills with persuasive presentation abilities.
• Experience meeting fundraising goals and maintaining fundraising records.

Responsibilities

• Designs, develops, delivers, and administers gift planning fundraising programs.
• Manages a donor prospect portfolio and seeks gifts including life income and bequests.
• Develops and implements solicitation plans and strategies for gift planning prospects.
• Writes complex proposals and closes substantial life income/outright gifts and bequests annually.
• Collaborates with campus units and UDAR colleagues on donor strategies and proposals.
• Provides training on life income gifts and bequests to colleagues.

Skills

Gift planning fundraising

Donor relations

Executive communication

Public speaking

Strategic fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree

J.D./MBA/Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (preferred)

5+ years in a large higher education gift planning role

Tools

Fundraising databases/CRM

Proposal writing software

Job description

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world. At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups. We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence. Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride.

Departmental Overview

University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) helps build Berkeley’s excellence through communications, public outreach, and fundraising to raise public awareness about Berkeley and increase private philanthropy. UDAR provides overall direction for the campus’s philanthropic advancement strategies and strengthens campus unit development in partnership with campus fundraisers. It handles a range of central activities and services encompassing prospect development, communications, donor stewardship, gift management, and more. The Office of Gift Planning conducts and oversees gift planning fundraising for the entire campus. Working with hundreds of donors on a variety of outright, life income, and estate gifts and bequest commitments, each year the Office partners with colleagues across the campus on more than $120 million in gifts.

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Office of Gift Planning designs, develops, delivers, and administers fundraising programs. This position serves as a Gift Planning technical expert and solicits bequests and other planned gifts via multiple outreach and qualifying venues. The Associate Director, Office of Gift Planning acts as a gift planning technical expert to campus academic and program units while managing a prospect portfolio and closing a minimum of $3M in life income/outright gifts and/or $15M in bequest commitments annually.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is September 11, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Gift Planning Fundraising and Solicitation - 50%

• Serves as an expert or lead development professional in charitable gift planning working with prospects/donors capable of making gifts of stocks, real estate, business interests, retirement accounts, donor advised funds, life insurance policies, etc., to fund life income gifts, bequests and blended gifts.
• Develops, creates, writes, implements, and / or evaluates individualized solicitation plans and / or strategies for cultivation and solicitation of gift planning prospects.
• Work with assigned campus units and appropriate UDAR units to create prospect and donor strategies and proposals; implement these strategies working collaboratively with the unit-based fundraisers and appropriate UDAR colleagues, including stewardship after the gift has closed.
• Writes complex proposals for solicitation of highly rated individuals. Qualify gift planning prospects and solicit gifts directly. Must close a minimum dollar amount in life income/outright gifts and a minimum dollar amount in bequest commitments annually as agreed upon annually with their supervisor during the goal setting process of their year-end Achieve Together conversation.

Gift Planning Program Management and Collaboration - 25%

• Manages a portfolio of donor prospects that may include the most influential, complex or highest capacity-rated donors. May participate in solicitation of gift planning prospects with senior campus leadership including the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.
• Presents formal fundraising proposals, using specialized software for life income gifts, to gift planning donors and prospects or prepares senior management for the presentation of proposals.
• Serves as a resource for gift planning expertise, interacting with prospects, donors, staff, and outside professionals to provide information, advice and counsel regarding assigned specialized program(s). May oversee the work of professional and support staff.
• In consultation with OGP leadership, provide technical training sessions to UDAR and other campus unit colleagues on an ongoing basis regarding life income gifts, complex assets, and bequests.

Strategic Gift Planning and Implementation - 20%

• Ensures that predetermined gift planning fundraising goals are met and designs and implements program activities to achieve these goals.
• Implement strategic decisions and plans regarding OGPs fundraising enterprise, whereby results have a major impact on the overall goals of the Office of Gift Planning philanthropic efforts and fundraising program.

Additional UDAR Operational or Philanthropic Duties as Assigned - 5%

• May attend functions, meetings and serve on internal / external committees as a representative of the Office of Gift Planning at UC Berkeley.
• Meet other UDAR operational or philanthropic needs as needed, such as working at an annual Homecoming or Commencement Event.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience demonstrating expert knowledge of all aspects of gift planning fundraising, donor and public relations specifically including complex planned gifts ranging from bequests to charitable remainder trusts.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience applying knowledge involving all aspects and issues associated with a large complex organization. Expert knowledge of and/or ability to learn the location, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience utilizing skills and expertise to meet or exceed stated fundraising goals and objectives while maintaining up-to-date records such as contact reports in the university’s fundraising database as well as current communications/ proposals in OGP’s internal files.
• Expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Expert written and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies. Expert skills in making persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for a location in order to secure gifts.
• Expert organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills, problem recognition/avoidance/resolution skills. Expert project/program management skills, including skills in setting and meeting program/project goals and objectives within budget and time constraints.
• Expert level skills in maintaining confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer experience in a large higher education institution.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree (Required)
• 5+ years experience in a large higher education institution as a gift planning officer (Preferred)
• J.D., M.B.A. or Certified Specialist in Planned Giving, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, or paralegal studies degree, Member, State Bar of California (Preferred)

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website. Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $170,000.00 - $180,000.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for up to 4 days/week remote work (West Coast candidates considered, with preference given to Northern California/Bay Area applicants), with exact arrangements determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” Means Any Violation Of The Policies Or Laws Governing Conduct At The Applicant’s Previous Place Of Employment, Including, But Not Limited To, Violations Of Policies Or Laws Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Or Other Forms Of Harassment, Discrimination, Dishonesty, Or Unethical Conduct, As Defined By The Employer. For Reference, Below Are UC’s Policies Addressing Some Forms Of Misconduct

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.