Director of Planned Giving

Illinois State University; Normal, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & vision

Life insurance

Retirement options

Tuition waiver

Paid holidays

Paid benefit time

Job summary

Illinois State University is seeking a Director of Planned Giving to provide strategic leadership for the university’s planned and legacy giving initiatives. The role focuses on growing the $138+ million planned giving pipeline, engaging Heritage Society donors, and embedding gift planning strategies across development efforts.

The director will manage a portfolio of prospects, work with advisors, and advance strategic campaigns through effective marketing, education, and performance measurement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Five+ years of professional work in planned giving, major gifts, or related field.
• Proven success cultivating and closing major gifts (including $500k+).
• Knowledge of charitable gift planning vehicles (bequests, trusts, annuities).
• Ability to translate complex financial concepts for donors and advisors.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planned giving program and growth of the deferred gifts pipeline.
• Manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects and donors.
• Collaborate with development officers, donors, and professional advisors to secure gifts.
• Integrate planned gift strategies into major and principal gift proposals.

Skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Relationship cultivation

Strategic thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Title: Director of Planned Giving
Division Name: University Advancement
Department: Development-Fundraising
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The Director of Planned Giving provides strategic leadership for Illinois State University’s planned and legacy giving program, with responsibility for growing deferred gift commitments, strengthening the University’s planned giving pipeline, and embedding gift planning strategies throughout the development enterprise.
The Director leads strategies to actively manage, validate, grow, and ultimately realize the University’s $138+ million planned giving pipeline while expanding the next generation of legacy donors. The position manages a portfolio of planned giving prospects and donors, provides subject matter expertise on complex and blended gift strategies, and works closely with development officers, donors, professional advisors, and University partners to secure long-term philanthropic commitments that advance institutional and campaign priorities. The position is an essential strategic partner in maximizing many of the largest gift commitments to ISU, especially those with transformational impact potential.
The Director provides leadership in planned giving marketing, prospect identification, donor education, Heritage Society engagement, performance measurement, and continuous improvement of the University’s planned giving program.
Primary Strategic Outcomes

• Growth in the number and estimated value of documented bequest commitments and other deferred gifts.
• Growth and active engagement of the University’s Heritage Society.
• Expansion of the qualified planned giving prospect pipeline.
• Increased integration of planned and blended gift strategies within major and principal gift proposals.
• Improved documentation, valuation, forecasting, stewardship, and realization of planned gift expectancies.
• Expanded awareness of planned giving opportunities among alumni and friends.
• Increased effectiveness of planned giving marketing, donor engagement, and lead conversion.
• Increased contribution of planned giving to University campaign priorities and long-term endowment growth.

Additional Information

The position operates as part of the Development Department in the Division of University Advancement, which is a collaborative environment focused on building philanthropic partnerships with alumni and friends of the University.

University Benefit Highlights

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$87,500 - $110,000

Required Qualifications

1. 1. Bachelor’s degree.
2. 2. Minimum of five years of professional work in planned giving, major gifts, or a related financial, legal, tax, estate planning, or philanthropic advisory role.
3. 3. Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding significant donor or client relationships, including but not limited to those involving principal level gifts ($500,000 or more) or other major gifts at any level that involve use of various planned giving arrangements.
4. 4. Demonstrated knowledge of charitable gift planning vehicles, including bequests, beneficiary designations, retirement assets, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and blended gift strategies.
5. 5. Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial, charitable, tax, or estate planning concepts into clear and compelling conversations with donors, advisors, and colleagues.
6. 6. Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
7. 7. Demonstrated ability to develop strategy, establish performance measures, analyze pipeline activity, and translate data into fundraising action.
8. 8. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, and work collaboratively across organizational boundaries.
9. 9. Demonstrated ability to contribute to significant fundraising, campaign, or philanthropic growth objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

1. 1. Background in higher education, healthcare, nonprofit advancement, a foundation, financial services, law, estate planning, wealth management, or a related philanthropic environment.
2. 2. Record of developing or expanding a planned giving or charitable gift planning program.
3. 3. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with professional advisors, including attorneys, financial planners, tax professionals, estate professionals, or wealth advisors.
4. 4. Record of incorporating planned or blended gift strategies into major or principal gift solicitations.
5. 5. Professional education, certification, or credentials related to charitable gift planning, financial planning, estate planning, fundraising, law, accounting, or philanthropy.

Work Hours

8am-4:30pm, M-F, occasional evening and weekend work.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis

Proposed Starting Date

November 2026

Required Applicant Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 professional references with contact information

Special Instructions for Applicants

Open until filled, but consideration of applications will begin October 12, 2026
Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Mark Wunder,
[e-mail]

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at [phone]. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at [phone].