Director, Gift Planning Development

William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director of Gift Planning Development at William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is a hybrid, exempt role based in Williamsburg, VA. You will develop and oversee gifts from wills, trusts, and life income vehicles, drafting complex language and illustrations for the university and related foundations.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, you will lead a small team, manage reporting, maintain gift records, and collaborate with donors and advisors to advance

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and substantive experience or specialized expertise in gift planning at a university or large nonprofit organization.
• Experience advising donors on assets and gift vehicles to meet objectives.
• Experience in gift planning development at higher education or large nonprofit.
• Understanding complex gift vehicles (estates, trusts, annuities, real estate, securities).
• Ability to prepare customized gift illustrations and language.
• Ability to review estate/trust documents for policy compliance.
• Ability to present planned giving information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to balance deadlines.
• Willingness to work outside normal hours.

Responsibilities

• Pipeline Development and Gift Recording: identify, cultivate, finalize, and record planned gifts.
• Draft documentation for finalizing planned gifts, including language and gift illustrations.
• Track pending gifts and move them through the pipeline.
• Identify new prospects and collaborate to add to totals.
• Portfolio Development and Management: qualify and manage a portfolio through donor cycle; travel limited to Hampton Roads.
• Acknowledge gifts and assist with stewardship.
• Capture and update CRM records.
• Data Management and Industry Standards: maintain records and stay current on trends and laws.
• Performance Management: ensure clear performance expectations, provide feedback, develop staff, and oversee gift planning administrator.

Skills

Donor relations

Gift planning knowledge

Communication skills

Project coordination

Ability to work outside hours

Education

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctor (JD) preferred

Job description

Job Requisition:

JR101860 Director, Gift Planning Development (Open)

Job Posting Title:

Director, Gift Planning Development

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 theWMF, with the responsibilities outlined below.

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

As a primary point of contact and resource for donors, colleagues, and professional advisors, the Director will assist in drafting complex gift agreements, suggested language, and gift illustrations for the benefit of the university and its related programs and foundations. This position is responsible for the development and cultivation of all gifts from wills, trusts, retirement plans, and life income vehicles, and meeting reporting, auditing, and pipeline development needs in addition to overseeing the management of tangible gifts donated to the university. The Director also leads internal reporting, summaries, and updates related to planned gifts to the university.

The Director reports to the Executive Director of Gift Planning and supervises the Associate Director of Gift Planning Administration. 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.

Learn more about University Advancement and view the full position description for this job on the University Advancement recruitment website: https://advancement.wm.edu/come-work-with-us/open-positions/index.php.

Job Description:

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

For full consideration, submit application materials by Friday, August 21, 2026. Applications received after the review date will be considered if needed. A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and substantive experience or specialized expertise in gift planning at a university or large nonprofit organization.

• Experience assisting donors and their professional advisors choose the best combination of assets and gift vehicles to accomplish their charitable, financial, and estate planning objectives.

• Demonstrated professional experience in gift planning development and advancement in higher education or a large nonprofit organization.

• Understanding of complex charitable gift vehicles and giving 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, bargain sales, tangible and intangible gifts, and charitable distributions from retirement plans.

• Ability to prepare and present customized gift illustrations of deferred or complex gifts, customized suggested testamentary language, and complex legal language for specific endowment agreements or letters of designation.

• Ability to review estate and trust documentation to confirm that future commitments conform with gift acceptance policies and best practices for counting gifts to campaign and fundraising totals.

• Skills to present planned giving information to both lay and professional audiences in a way that will inspire philanthropy.

• 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 when necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.

• Demonstrated skills to work effectively with colleagues and donors as well as their professional advisors in a college or university setting to finalize planned gifts.

• Experience collaborating with campus-wide development professionals.

• Management skills to educate, lead and inspire fundraising professionals and other team members.

• Demonstrated communication skills (preparing proposals, gift calculations/illustrations - and other written materials), and skills to be diplomatic with diverse constituencies including professional colleagues, donors’ professional advisors, and donors and their families.

Conditions of Employment:

• This position may require additional hours beyond the typical work hours to include evenings and weekends.

Job Duties:

55% - Pipeline Development and Gift Recording:

• Work with frontline fundraisers to identify, cultivate, finalize, and record planned gifts to the fundraising totals.

• Complete monthly gift planning entries to record revocable deferred commitments to the campaign totals.

• Assist frontline fundraisers working with donors to document planned gifts.

• Draft documentation necessary for finalizing and recording planned gifts. This documentation includes suggested will or trust language, designation paperwork, gift illustrations, trust and annuity agreements, and valuation letters.

• Track pending planned gifts and assist in moving the gifts through the giving pipeline from prospective to finalized gifts.

• Identify additional planned giving prospects and collaborate with frontline fundraisers to finalize commitments to add to the fundraising totals.

30% - Portfolio Development and Management:

• Qualify, build, and manage a small portfolio of prospects through all stages of the donor cycle, including discovery (qualification), cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The portfolio managed by this position will not require travel outside of the Hampton Roads area.

• Acknowledge gifts in timely and appropriate ways and assist with stewardship efforts for gift planning donors.

• Capture and record work in CRM platform for University Advancement and update internal departmental systems as needed.

10% - Data Management and Industry Standards:

• Oversee the highest standards of document retention and record keeping are maintained through use of University Advancement CRM, digital files, and paper files.

• Remain current on relevant activity and trends in gift planning, financial and estate planning, federal tax law and regulations that govern charitable giving, new services offered by other non-profit groups and organizations, and provide updates to colleagues about legislative changes when necessary.

5% - Performance Management:

• Ensure performance expectations are clear, effectively communicated, and relevant to the goals and objectives of the Employer Development and Engagement unit and Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement.

• Provide all staff frequent, constructive feedback, including interim evaluations as appropriate.

• In collaboration with staff, design professional development plans to assure staff have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish duties and goals.

• Verify that the requirements of the performance planning and evaluations system are met and that evaluations are completed by established deadlines with proper documentation.

• Train, supervise, and oversee the efforts of the Gift Planning Administrator who maintains and updates existing gift planning records, handles estate and trust distributions to the university or its related foundations, maintains the probate database, and assists with the processing of routine tangible and life insurance gifts.

Additional Job Description:

Job Profile:

JP1057 - Senior Planned Giving Officer - Exempt - Salary - S15

Qualifications:

Compensation Grade:

S15

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-07-23

Position Restrictions:

Continuing E&G funded position and not term-limited

EEO is the Law. Applicants can learn more about William & Mary’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the “Know Your Rights” poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https:// www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal

Background Check: William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Remote Work Disclaimer: Remote work eligibility is not guaranteed and is subject to approval. Employee eligibility depends on the likelihood of the employee succeeding in a remote work arrangement and the supervisor’s ability to manage remote workers. Departments and/or Human Resources may amend, alter, change, delete, or modify eligibility.