Director of Development, Gift Planning

The University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement matching

Job summary

The University of Michigan is seeking a Director of Development, Gift Planning to lead and evolve Michigan Medicine Development's comprehensive gift planning program. The role partners with frontline fundraisers, university colleagues, donors, and advisors to identify, cultivate, solicit, structure, document, and steward gifts.

The director will manage a donor portfolio, guide strategy and training, ensure donor intent alignment with university policy, and drive successful outright and deferred

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; advanced degree preferred.
• At least seven years of experience in gift planning or related field.
• Evenings 1–2 days per month and travel 1–2 days per month.
• Strong organizational skills, creativity, and initiative; ability to convey Michigan's mission to donors.
• Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate in a team and work independently when appropriate.
• Proven success in closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Proficiency with CRM, Microsoft 365, planned gift illustration software, and data-informed portfolio management.

Responsibilities

• Lead a robust gift planning program for Michigan Medicine Development.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive planned giving program to maximize philanthropic potential.
• Create and execute an annual work plan with measurable goals for gifts and stewardship.
• Advise on bequests, trusts, gift annuities, retirement assets, and other complex gifts.
• Provide planning consultation on financial, tax, and related topics to gift officers.
• Research and interpret complex gift planning questions and coordinate with colleagues and donors.
• Provide ongoing training for major gift officers to utilize planned giving opportunities.
• Identify prospects with $100,000+ capacity and assist in cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Develop and implement a marketing plan targeting Michigan Medicine constituencies.
• Promote estate planning among faculty and staff.
• Maintain donor relations through engagement and documentation.

Skills

Strategic fundraising

Leadership

Communication

Team collaboration

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred (JD, CPA, CFP, CAP, CSPG)

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft 365

Gift planning software

Job description

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Director of Development, Gift Planning leads the strategy, implementation, and evaluation of Michigan Medicine Development's comprehensive gift planning program. Serving as Michigan Medicine's principal gift planning resource, the director partners with frontline fundraisers, university colleagues, donors, and professional advisors to identify, cultivate, solicit, structure, document, and steward outright and deferred gifts. The director manages a portfolio of donors and prospects, primarily those affiliated with Michigan Medicine, and is accountable for qualification, strategy development, solicitation, gift completion, and stewardship. The director also develops campaign strategies, strengthens the planned giving pipeline, provides training and consultation to colleagues, and ensures that proposed gifts align with donor intent, university policies, and applicable legal and ethical standards.

Responsibilities*

Lead a robust gift planning program for Michigan Medicine Development

Develop and implement a comprehensive planned giving program to maximize the philanthropic potential of Michigan Medicine constituents, including strategies for securing documented planned gifts during university-wide fundraising campaigns.

Develop and execute an annual program work plan with measurable goals for documented planned gifts, gift completions, pipeline growth, marketing, training, and stewardship.

Develop multifaceted gift planning strategies for Michigan Medicine as part of comprehensive university fundraising campaigns.

Advise on and help structure bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable trusts, charitable gift annuities, retirement assets, business interests, and other complex outright and deferred gifts. Evaluate alternative gift structures, assess financial and tax implications, identify potential risks and administrative considerations, and recommend approaches consistent with donor objectives and university policies.

Provide high-quality gift planning consultation to gift officers on topics including financial and estate planning, tax law, real estate, and related matters, including detailed proposals, illustrations, and financial projections, as appropriate. Assess the accuracy and reasonableness of calculations and assumptions, explain trade-offs among options, and translate complex analysis into clear, actionable recommendations.

Research and interpret complex gift planning questions; identify information gaps, test assumptions, and synthesize relevant financial, legal, tax, and institutional information. Recognize when additional expertise is needed and coordinate review with appropriate university colleagues and donors, professional advisors.

Provide ongoing training and strategy sessions for Michigan Medicine Development major gift officers to increase their understanding and use of planned giving opportunities and techniques.

Assist major gift officers in identifying potential planned gift prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $100,000 or more.

In collaboration with the Michigan Medicine Development communications and annual programs teams, implement a planned giving marketing plan targeting Michigan Medicine constituencies.

Promote charitable estate planning among Michigan Medicine faculty and staff.

Develop and implement stewardship strategies for documented planned gift donors, including appropriate recognition, ongoing engagement, and periodic confirmation of gift intentions.

Provide Michigan Medicine Development leadership with a monthly assessment of the planned giving pipeline.

Advance relationships that result in philanthropic support for Michigan Medicine, with an emphasis on planned gifts

Manage a portfolio of current and prospective planned giving donors to Michigan Medicine.

Develop and execute an annual portfolio work plan with measurable goals for donor and prospect activity, solicitations, gift completions, and stewardship.

Gather data, assess prospects, and develop individualized strategies designed to realize each prospect's current and lifetime giving potential.

Develop a comprehensive understanding of Michigan Medicine and University of Michigan priorities and make persuasive verbal and written cases for supporting key programs and projects, effectively matching prospects interests with specific Michigan Medicine needs.

Maintain consistent and appropriate contact with donors and prospects through meetings, correspondence, and other meaningful engagement.

Develop and execute cultivation and solicitation strategies that result in outright and planned gifts.

Provide high-quality gift planning consultation to prospective donors on topics including financial and estate planning, tax considerations, and real estate, while encouraging donors to consult their independent professional advisors. Help donors understand the implications and trade-offs of potential gift options through clear explanations, customized illustrations, and appropriate financial projections.

Prepare timely and appropriate responses to inquiries from prospective planned giving donors.

Facilitate or conduct solicitations and ensure effective stewardship.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required; an advanced degree, such as a JD, or a relevant professional designation, such as CPA, CFP, CAP, or CSPG, is preferred.

At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in gift planning and/or a related field.

Ability to work evenings 1-2 days per month and travel 1-2 days per month

• A high level of technical expertise in planned giving and the tax implications of charitable giving,including experience preparing proposals, agreements, calculations, and illustrations for charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, and other planned gifts.

Strong organizational skills and a high degree of creativity and initiative, as well as the ability to convey the University of Michigan's distinctive mission and values to donors and alumni.

Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills.

Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, and independently when appropriate.

Demonstrated success in closing gifts at the six- and seven-figure levels.

Proficiency with customer relationship management systems, Microsoft 365 or comparable productivity tools, planned gift illustration software, and data-informed portfolio management.

Desired Qualifications*

Familiarity with University policies and procedures.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000employees, and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world's most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third‑party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Pre­employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.The review and selection process maybegin as early as the eighth day after posting.Thisopening may be removed from posting boards and filled at any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.