Chief Gift Planning & Legacy Society Lead

UMBC; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 134,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life and disability insurance

Retirement plans

Wellness opportunities

Job summary

UMBC is seeking a senior leader in donor relations to develop and execute gift planning programs and grow the university’s legacy society. You will manage a donor portfolio, collaborate with academics and external advisors, and drive key initiatives across fundraising campaigns.

The role calls for seven plus years in development with a focus on planned giving, strong writing and verbal skills, and the ability to manage confidential information. A hybrid telework schedule may be available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 7+ years in development; 5+ years in planned giving or trust/estate law.
• Proven success scaling a planned giving program in higher ed or nonprofit.
• Strong knowledge of IRS charitable contribution rules.
• Experience with planned giving software (PG Calc, Crescendo).
• Ability to interact with fiduciaries, donors, and partners effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead university-wide donor gift planning initiatives.
• Maintain a portfolio of donor relationships to maximize opportunities.
• Collaborate with officers and advisors to execute complex gift plans.
• Rebrand and manage the UMBC Legacy Society; drive engagement.

Skills

Verbal skills

Writing skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Discretion

Storytelling for donors

Education

Bachelor's Degree

JD/CFP/CAP preferred

Tools

PG Calc

Crescendo

Job description

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Apply now Job no: 495293
Work type: Staff Full-time
Location: UMBC Campus
Categories: Other

The Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) inspires commitment to UMBC. We lead fundraising and development initiatives to support the University’s strategic priorities and goals. We seek to engage and cultivate relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, alumni, faculty, and colleagues using our expertise, partnerships, and resources. We are committed to thoughtfully stewarding relationships and strategically approaching opportunities that serve and support UMBC and its community.

Position Overview:

This is a leadership role within UMBC’s Office of Institutional Advancement, responsible formanaging the Planned Giving team and developing enterprise-wide strategies to securetransformational support. The Director leads in a high-growth environment, driving collaborativeefforts across the centralized development team and acting as the university’s subject matterexpert for planned, estate, blended, and complex gifts. A primary focus of this role is thestrategic re-branding, re-launching, and ongoing management of UMBC’s legacy society.

Why Work at UMBC?

UMBC offers competitive compensation. This role starts at $134,000andhasover 4 weeks of vacation for regular full time roles. Tuition remission is also available.

A hybrid telework schedule may be available.

Responsibilities:

Donor Portfolio and Gift Planning Strategies

• Serves as the lead strategist for the development and execution of university-wide giftplanning initiatives.
• Develops and maintains a portfolio of active donor relationships to maximize
• philanthropic opportunities using blended and tax-wise gift approaches.
• Collaborates with development officers, academic leaders, and external legal/financialadvisors to execute complex gift planning strategies that align with donor intent anduniversity priorities.

Legacy Society Leadership and Program Management

• Leads the comprehensive re-branding and re-launching of the UMBC legacy society toincrease visibility and member engagement.
• Manages the day-to-day operations and growth of the legacy society, ensuring properstewardship and recognition of all planned gift donors.
• Provides leadership and performance management for the Gift Planning team, includinghiring, training, and professional coaching.
• Develops comprehensive training for the broader development community to increaseinstitutional capacity for identifying planned giving prospects.

Operational Leadership and Marketing

• Provides leadership to key collaborative operational partnerships to ensure a seamlessdonor experience and optimal program production.
• Functions as the primary lead for operational services that enhance non-cash and specialgift-giving activities.
• Leads the strategy for growth and retention of the planned gift donor pipeline through acomprehensive, centralized marketing strategy.
• Partners with Advancement Communications to facilitate effective outreach andeducational materials for donors and their professional advisors.
• Plans and executes strategic initiatives that integrate gift planning into the overall goalsof the university’s fundraising campaigns.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience development
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience specifically focused on planned giving or trust/estate law.
• Demonstrated success in building or scaling a planned giving program within a higher education or non-profitenvironment.
• Deep knowledge of IRS regulations regarding charitable contributions
• Expertise using planned giving software (PG Calc, Crescendo)
• Prove record of interacting effectively and as a trusted partner with corporate and individual fiduciaries,surviving family members, and other key internal and external partners
• Strong verbal and writing skills
• Self-start with excellent organizational skills
• High attention to detail and follow-up skills
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact
• Ability to interpret and translate complex financial concepts into heart-centered stories for donors.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education:

• JD, CFP, or CAP certifications highly preferred
• Tuition remission at UMBC for eligible dependents after two years of FT employment

Additional Benefits:

• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plans (including the choice of joining the pension plan)
• Wellness opportunities
• & Much more

Salary: $134,000 - $151,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations.

The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Hours:

Hours: Full-Time

Type:

Type: Regular

FLSA Status:

FLSA Status: Exempt

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Equal Opportunity Statement: UMBC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications from women, minority group members, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 410-455-2337 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Work Authorization

Work Authorization As required by the 1986 Immigration Act, be prepared to present acceptable documentation upon hire showing your identity and that you are a U.S. citizen or an alien who is authorized to work.

Advertised: Jun 25 2026 09:00 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled