Executive Director, Planned Gifts & Estate Planning

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin seeks a strategic leader for its Gift and Estate Planning team to set direction and build capacity for planned giving across the university. You will provide executive guidance to donors, prospects, and colleagues while driving the team’s vision, strategy, and performance.

You will lead a 12-person leadership team, manage the Gift Planning Advisory Board, and partner with university colleagues to optimize estate realization and donor engagement, aiming to secure

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in gift planning or major gifts.
• Experience in higher education or large nonprofit settings.
• Proven success soliciting and closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Experience supervising a professional fundraising team.
• Knowledge of charitable gift vehicles and estate planning instruments.
• Strong relationship management with high-net-worth donors and academic leadership.
• Proficiency with donor databases and fundraising systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Own strategic and operational leadership of the Gift and Estate Planning team.
• Lead a leadership team of 12 direct reports and drive annual priorities.
• Direct the estate realization process in partnership with UT System leadership.
• Deploy the team’s footprint across colleges and units for university-wide support.
• Set discovery and solicitation strategies and close planned gifts.
• Lead education, training, and events to boost department capability.
• Drive long-range strategy and maintain a donor pipeline with annual estate plans.
• Model excellence while closing a minimum of $10M in planned gifts.

Skills

Major gifts experience

Donor relationship management

Executive presence

CRM/donor pipeline management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Advanced degree or CFRE/CAP

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

The University of Texas at Austin seeks a strategic leader for its Gift and Estate Planning team to set direction and build capacity for planned giving across the university. You will provide executive guidance to donors, prospects, and colleagues while driving the team’s vision, strategy, and performance.

You will lead a 12-person leadership team, manage the Gift Planning Advisory Board, and partner with university colleagues to optimize estate realization and donor engagement, aiming to secure