Executive Director, Planned Giving

Office of Development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Office of Development seeks an Executive Director of Planned Giving to lead a comprehensive program and supervise staff. The role focuses on testamentary bequests, charitable trusts, life income arrangements, and complex gifts, with a portfolio of major prospects and donors.

The position collaborates across CUIMC, with the major gifts team and Columbia Planned Giving, driving strategy, policy updates, and donor materials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent in education and experience.
• 7 years related experience.
• Proven ability to work in a campaign environment with major gift solicitations.
• Demonstrated written communications to prepare/edit proposals and solicitation materials.
• Demonstrated oral communication to make persuasive presentations.
• Interpersonal skills to work with administrators, alumni donors, prospects and the public.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work under pressure in a fast-paced office.

Responsibilities

• Lead planned giving efforts for VP&S and manage a portfolio of prospects.
• Identify, engage and cultivate planned giving donors with major gifts teams.
• Liaison with Columbia Planned Giving and other health sciences schools.
• Manage planned giving marketing and communications.

Skills

Campaign management

Donor relations

Written communications

Oral communication

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Office of Development (VP&S OOD), a part of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), is dedicated to facilitating relationships that support the vision and mission of CUIMC and VP&S: to transform health by driving discovery, advancing care, and educating leaders.

The Executive Director of Planned Giving will report to the Vice President, Development, and work closely with senior development leaders, to enhance and lead a comprehensive planned giving program for the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as providing support as needed to the other health sciences schools. The focus will be on working with prospects, donors and collaboratively with colleagues to generate support through testamentary bequests, charitable trusts, life income arrangements, and other complex gifts including real estate and closely held securities. The position manages a personal portfolio of major and planned gift prospects, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding donors locally and nationally. Annual expectations include closing multiple deferred gifts, raising significant dollars from the portfolio, and completing a robust schedule of donor visits. Donors and prospects include alumni, patients, and friends.

This role will provide strategic leadership for the medical school’s planned giving program, including management of planned giving communications, and day-to-day supervision of a Senior Development Associate, and other staff as the program expands. The Executive Director serves as a key resource to development colleagues across CUIMC, leading consultations on planned and deferred gift strategies, providing updates on policies and giving opportunities, and ensuring appropriate documentation in the advancement database. The incumbent also serves as chief liaison to the Columbia University Office of Alumni and Development Planned Giving and will work closely with the AVP for Gift Strategy to coordinate, formulate, and execute planned giving agreements and related materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead planned giving efforts for VP&S, manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects, build and enhance planned giving efforts. – 50%
• Identify, engage and cultivate planned giving donors from a pool of alumni, patients and friends; work collaboratively with major gifts team and develop strategies. – 30%
• Liaison with Columbia University Planned Giving and other health sciences schools. – 10%
• Manage planned giving marketing and communications. – 10%

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent in education and experience.
• 7 years related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred.

Other Requirements

• Proven ability to work successfully in a campaign environment with major gift solicitations
• Demonstrated written communications skills to prepare and edit effective correspondence, proposals, and creative solicitation materials
• Demonstrated oral communication skills to make persuasive presentations to individuals and groups
• Interpersonal skills to work effectively with university administrators, faculty, alumni donors, prospects, volunteers and the public
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Ability to maintain high level of confidentiality and working relationships with others
• Excellent ability to set priorities and perform under pressure of fast-paced office environment
• Excellent knowledge of word processing programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the integration of such programs with other donor-based gift records and systems
• Specific campaign experience preferred
• This position requires work beyond regular hours, including evenings and weekends, as projects and events require

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.