Executive Director of Gift Planning

Temple University; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Full medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

12 Paid Holidays

Tuition remission for employees and/or

Job summary

Temple University’s Institutional Advancement Department seeks an Executive Director of Gift Planning to lead charitable gift planning, estate planning, and complex asset gifts. The role focuses on high-capacity donors and strategic consultation to advance campaign priorities.

The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of ~50 donors, collaborate across units, and travel regionally and nationally to cultivate relationships. Hybrid work arrangement available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in charitable gift planning, principal gifts, estate planning, major gift fundraising, or related advancement leadership within higher education, healthcare, or a comparable nonprofit organization.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior subject matter expert on charitable gift planning and estate planning.
• Support AVP in gift planning program priorities, including marketing, stewardship, and program development.
• Develop sophisticated gift planning proposals and strategies.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 50 high-capacity prospects and donors.
• Travel locally, regionally, and nationally to cultivate donor relationships.

Skills

Gift planning

Donor relations

Strategic fundraising

Communication

Project management

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree

7+ years in planned giving or related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Temple University's Institutional Advancement Department is searching for an Executive Director of Gift Planning.

Become a part of the Temple family and you will have access to the following:

• A hybrid work schedule
• Full medical, dental, vision coverage
• Paid time off
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Tuition remission - eligible employees and their dependents can obtain a degree TUITION FREE
• A generous retirement plan and so much more!

Salary Range: $110,000 - $140,000

A variety of important factors are reviewed by HR when considering salary, including job duties, the applicant's education and experience, all relevant internal equity considerations, department budget, and funding source.

Position Summary

At Temple University Institutional Advancement, we believe philanthropy is a powerful force for expanding opportunity, advancing discovery, and transforming lives. We are committed to fostering a workplace that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, recognizing that a broad range of perspectives strengthens our ability to engage alumni, donors, and community partners in meaningful ways.

As Temple embarks on a historic $1.5 billion comprehensive campaign in support of the university's Forward with Purpose strategic plan, we seek talented professionals who are passionate about higher education, relationship-building, and advancing a culture of philanthropy. We welcome candidates who will contribute to an inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven environment where all employees are empowered to thrive and make a lasting impact on the future of Temple University.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts & Strategy (AVP), the Executive Director of Gift Planning serves as a senior subject matter expert on the use of complex assets and deferred giving vehicles to achieve philanthropic goals. The Executive Director shall serve both donors and fundraising colleagues in strategic consultation on complex gift structures, estate gifts, life-income arrangements, gifts of closely held business interests, real estate, and other non-cash assets.

The Executive Director manages a portfolio of approximately 50 of the University's highest-capacity planned giving prospects and donors, with a primary emphasis on individuals capable of making gifts of $1 million or more. In addition to personal fundraising responsibilities, the Executive Director will support the AVP in gift planning program priorities, including marketing, stewardship initiatives, estate administration and program development while advancing best practices and innovative charitable planning strategies across Institutional Advancement.

Travel disclosure: This position involves travel throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area and targeted regions across the country to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, engage alumni and stakeholders, and advance the university's fundraising and strategic priorities.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Details

• Cash Handling and Personally Identifiable Information background check.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree.
• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in charitable gift planning, principal gifts, estate planning, major gift fundraising, or related advancement leadership within higher education, healthcare, or a comparable nonprofit organization.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Legal or financial credentials such as JD, CPA, CFP, CAP, or equivalent professional designation.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated expertise in charitable gift planning, estate planning, tax-advantaged philanthropy, life-income gifts, and gifts of complex assets.
• Demonstrated success developing and securing complex, blended, and transformational philanthropic gifts; advising senior institutional stakeholders; and collaborating across multiple organizational units is required.
• Demonstrated success securing transformational philanthropic commitments through sophisticated charitable planning strategies.
• Ability to develop long-range fundraising strategies aligned with institutional and campaign priorities.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, advise, and collaborate effectively with senior leadership, academic administrators, faculty, donors, and advancement professionals.
• Ability to communicate complex financial, legal, and tax concepts in clear, donor-centered language.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex priorities simultaneously.
• Knowledge of charitable tax law, estate planning principles, philanthropic trends and fundraising best practices.
• Proficiency with fundraising CRM systems, donor databases, Microsoft Office Suite, and prospect research tools.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally to cultivate donor relationships and represent Temple University, including evenings and weekends as necessary.

Essential Duties

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Serves as a senior subject matter expert on charitable gift planning, providing strategic consultation regarding deferred gifts, life-income gifts, gifts of complex assets, blended gift strategies, and estate planning opportunities.
• Partners with the Associate Vice President to establish long-range Gift Planning priorities, identify emerging philanthropic opportunities and implement strategies that strengthen the University's planned giving program.
• Represents Gift Planning in campaign planning discussions and collaborates across Institutional Advancement to maximize planned giving opportunities in principal and major gift solicitations.
• Monitors national trends, tax law developments, and industry best practices related to charitable gift planning and recommend enhancements to University policies, procedures, and fundraising strategies.

Principal Gift Fundraising

• Manages a portfolio of approximately 50 high-capacity planned giving prospects and donors, developing individualized strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward transformational planned and blended gifts.
• Focuses fundraising efforts on donors capable of making planned gifts of $1 million or more.
• Develops sophisticated charitable gift proposals and customized gift planning strategies that align donor philanthropic interests with University priorities.
• Works annually toward achieving established fundraising goals and performance metrics through strategic donor engagement, face-to-face meetings, proposal development, and gift closures.

University Partnership & Strategic Consultation

• Partners with schools, colleges, academic leadership, frontline fundraisers, and external advisors to structure complex charitable gifts that advance institutional priorities.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to University leadership and Institutional Advancement colleagues regarding charitable gift planning strategies and gift structuring opportunities.
• Collaborates with Prospect Development and frontline fundraising teams to identify, evaluate, and prioritize new Gift Planning prospects across the University's fundraising pipeline.
• Develops and delivers Gift Planning education and professional development opportunities for frontline fundraising professionals to enhance institution-wide fundraising effectiveness.
• Works collaboratively with advancement leadership to integrate Gift Planning strategies throughout campaign initiatives, major gift fundraising, and donor engagement efforts.

This position is assigned a hybrid work arrangement (on-campus and remote), the duration of this hybrid work arrangement is at the discretion of Temple University and the Department.

Temple University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all in every aspect of its operations, including employment, service, and educational programs. The University has pledged not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or veteran status.

In the performance of their functions as detailed in the position description employees have an obligation to avoid ethical, legal, financial and other conflicts of interest to ensure that their actions and outside activities do not conflict with their primary employment responsibilities at the institution. Employees are also expected to understand and be in compliance with applicable laws, University and employment policies and regulations, including NCAA regulations for areas and departments which their essential functions cause them to interact.

Temple University's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains statistics, policies, and procedures related to campus safety. Go here to review: https://safety.temple.edu/reports-logs/annual-security-report

You may request a copy of the report by calling Temple University's Department of Public Safety at 215-204-7900.

Primary Location: Pennsylvania-Philadelphia-Main Campus

Job: Staff

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day Job

Employee Status: Regular