Director of Planned Giving

And Washington Jewish Week, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jewish Federation of Greater Houston seeks a Director of Planned Giving to craft a comprehensive legacy program and inspire lasting impact. You will lead strategy, steward donors, and collaborate with the philanthropy team to advance the Federation’s mission.

With a minimum of seven years in fundraising, you will build multigenerational engagement, manage relationships with advisors, and drive commitments that strengthen the Houston Jewish community for generations to come.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and CFRE preferred or Master’s degree.
• Minimum 7 years of direct fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success in building donor relationships and securing commitments.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and relationship-management skills.
• Experience with donor databases, CRM systems, and Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Build, implement, and manage the planned giving program with best-practice guidance.
• Manage a portfolio of legacy giving prospects and donors through all stages.
• Conduct donor visits and conversations about legacy and endowment giving.
• Create and grow the Legacy Giving Society and collaborate with teams to promote opportunities.
• Partner with philanthropy and engagement staff to integrate planned giving into campaigns.
• Represent the federation at community events and with professional advisors.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Communication

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE or Master’s degree

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Director of Planned Giving is a highly relational, strategic fundraising professional responsible for building and growing a comprehensive legacy giving program that inspires donors to create a lasting impact on the Jewish community. Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, this position will lead the development and implementation of the Federation's planned giving strategy, steward existing legacy donors, cultivate new planned giving prospects, and secure commitments that strengthen the community for generations to come. This position will also be responsible for the creation, implementation, and management of the Federation’s Legacy Giving Society. The Director of Planned Giving will work in collaboration with other team members to create a comprehensive fundraising strategy that continues to advance the mission of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston.

The primary responsibilities for this role will include:

• Build, implement, and manage the Federation's planned giving program using frameworks and best practices provided by consulting partners and Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).
• Manage a portfolio of legacy giving prospects and donors through all stages of the donor lifecycle.
• Conduct donor visits and personalized conversations regarding legacy and endowment giving opportunities.
• Create, manage, and grow a Legacy Giving Society.
• Collaborate with philanthropy, marketing, and engagement staff to promote planned giving opportunities.
• Partner with philanthropy colleagues to integrate legacy giving conversations into Annual Campaign and major gift strategies.
• Create opportunities for multigenerational family engagement that celebrate philanthropic values and community impact.
• Work closely with the Houston Jewish Community Foundation to identify opportunities for collaboration and donor engagement.
• Build relationships with attorneys, financial planners, accountants, trust officers, and other professional advisors.
• Represent the Federation at community events, professional gatherings, and educational programs.

• Bachelor’s degree required
• CFRE preferred or Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum 7 years of direct fundraising experience
• Demonstrated success building meaningful donor relationships and securing philanthropic commitments.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively with volunteers, donors, professional advisors, and community leaders.
• Experience utilizing donor databases, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.