Director Gift Planning Administration

William & Mary; United States; Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

William & Mary invites applications for Director Gift Planning Administration. The role serves as a primary administrative contact for donors and colleagues, overseeing planned gifts, reporting, and compliance while coordinating with Trustees and Administrators.

It is a 50% Foundation Services assignment with a hybrid schedule in Williamsburg, VA. The Director leads gift planning administration, reports to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, and supervises the Gift Planning Administrator.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and JD with substantive experience or specialized expertise directly related to the position.
• Demonstrated professional experience in gift planning administration or in the legal field as a practicing attorney in trust and estate administration.
• Skills to present planned giving information to both lay and professional audiences in a way that will inspire philanthropy.
• Understanding of complex charitable gifts and gifting strategies: estates and trusts, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, gifts of real estate, gifts of closely held securities, gifts of life insurance, tangible and intangible gifts, bargain sales and gifts from retirement plans.
• Ability to review estate and trust documentation and to serve as the William & Mary liaison to coordinate with Trustees and Administrators in order to facilitate charitable distributions.
• Ability to navigate complex legal designations and relationships between separate legal entities to achieve donor intent and record gifts accurately.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the proven ability to work effectively with a diverse constituency and collaboratively with colleagues from across the institution, while exercising discretion and diplomacy in all interactions.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to balance competing priorities and complex situations within tight deadlines in a team-oriented environment.
• Willingness and ability to work outside normal working hours.

Responsibilities

• Administer all gifts from wills, trusts, retirement plans, and life income vehicles.
• Oversee the management of life insurance policies and tangible gifts donated to the university.
• Lead internal reporting, summaries, and updates as well as state and federal reporting and compliance requirements related to planned gifts.
• Supervise the Gift Planning Administrator.
• Foster a culture of belonging that provides opportunity for all people and perspectives.
• Hybrid position based in Williamsburg, VA, that offers a flexible work environment.

Skills

Gift planning administration

Trusts and estates knowledge

Communication and presentation

Project coordination

Diversity and diplomacy

Willingness to work outside hours

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree and JD

Job description

Director Gift Planning Administration

Job Requisition: JR101861 Director Gift Planning Administration (Open)

Department: CC00292 WM001 | WMUA | Gift Planning

Job Family: Staff - Giving: Annual, Major Gifts, & Planned

Worker Sub-Type: Regular (benefited)

Job Requisition Primary Location: Discovery 1

Primary Job Posting Location: Posting Location - William & Mary

Job Description Summary

University Advancement creates the conditions for opportunity - human, financial, and experiential - by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary.

The William & Mary Foundation advances the university's highest aspirations by securing private support, guiding a multi-asset investment portfolio and offering strategic leadership. In this work, we propel the university toward national preeminence and help shape a future worthy of its history.

Consistent with the university's shared services agreement with the William & Mary Foundation (WMF), this position is assigned 50% effort to support Foundation Services, LLC, a subsidiary of the WMF, with the responsibilities outlined below.

The Director of Gift Planning Administration is a key position in the gift planning office in the Office of University Advancement at William & Mary.

As a primary administrative contact and resource for donors, colleagues, and professional advisors, the Director will assist in the administration of planned gifts for the benefit of the university and its related foundations. This position is responsible for administering all gifts from wills, trusts, retirement plans, and life income vehicles, and meeting reporting and auditing needs in addition to overseeing the management of life insurance policies and tangible gifts donated to the university. The Director also leads internal reporting, summaries, and updates as well as state and federal reporting and compliance requirements related to planned gifts to the university.

The Director reports to the Executive Director of Gift Planning and supervises the Gift Planning Administrator. The Director will help foster a culture of belonging that provides opportunity for all people and perspectives. This is a hybrid position based in Williamsburg, VA, that offers a flexible work environment.

This position is classified as professional, meaning it is salaried and exempt from overtime. For benefits and leave purposes, this role falls under the "12‑month Professionals & Faculty" classification on the HR website.

Job Description

Salary: $95,000 to $110,000 commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

Friday, August 21, 2026.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and JD with substantive experience or specialized expertise directly related to the position.
• Demonstrated professional experience in gift planning administration or in the legal field as a practicing attorney in trust and estate administration.
• Skills to present planned giving information to both lay and professional audiences in a way that will inspire philanthropy.
• Understanding of complex charitable gifts and gifting strategies: estates and trusts, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, gifts of real estate, gifts of closely held securities, gifts of life insurance, tangible and intangible gifts, bargain sales and gifts from retirement plans.
• Ability to review estate and trust documentation and to serve as the William & Mary liaison to coordinate with Trustees and Administrators in order to facilitate charitable distributions.
• Ability to navigate complex legal designations and relationships between separate legal entities to achieve donor intent and record gifts accurately.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the proven ability to work effectively with a diverse constituency and collaboratively with colleagues from across the institution, while exercising discretion and diplomacy in all interactions.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to balance competing priorities and complex situations within tight deadlines in a team-oriented environment.
• Willingness and ability to work outside normal working hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success working effectively with donors and prospects as well as their legal and financial advisors in a college or university setting.
• Experience in a gift planning office in a university setting or larger nonprofit with experience collaborating with campus-wide development professionals.
• Management skills to educate, lead and inspire fundraising profes