Gift Planning Executive Director

Rochester Institute of Technology; United States; Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Rochester Institute of Technology is seeking a Gift Planning Executive Director to lead strategy, growth, and execution of its planned and deferred giving program. This senior role manages high-capacity donors, develops sophisticated gift opportunities, and collaborates with university leadership to advance philanthropic initiatives.

The position directs cross‑functional teams, negotiates charitable arrangements, and strengthens the planned giving pipeline while aligning with institutional

Qualifications

• Knowledge of cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts.
• Skill in written and verbal communication.
• Ability to network, establish, and foster working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, take initiative, and coordinate follow‑up.
• Ability to collect, synthesize, and process information quickly and accurately.

Responsibilities

• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards leadership annual gift and major gift donors and prospects in coordination with faculty, staff, and volunteers.
• Manages a robust portfolio of prospects, creates fundraising strategies, develops relationships with donors, solicits gifts, and coordinates effective donor stewardship.
• Develops an understanding of the educational, research, operational, and financial needs and goals of assigned college.
• Cultivates relationships with alumni, parents, companies, and other friends, and collaborates with the teams in planned giving, principal giving, alumni relations, parent engagement, regional advancement, and corporate and foundation relations to encourage donors to support university initiatives.
• Plans, coordinates, and directs special events for donors and prospects.
• Updates the prospect management database with information related to donor strategies, proposals, contacts, and results.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Gift cultivation

Soliciting gifts

Stakeholder networking

Project management

Data synthesis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Highlights

The Gift Planning Executive Director leads the strategy, growth, and execution of RIT’s comprehensive planned and deferred giving program, advancing significant philanthropic investment in support of university priorities. As RIT’s senior subject-matter expert in charitable gift planning, the Executive Director sets program direction, and partners with university and advancement leadership to identify and advance sophisticated gift opportunities. The Executive Director personally manages a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors, developing and executing strategies that result in significant outright, blended, estate, and other complex planned gifts. Working directly with donors and their professional advisors, the Executive Director structures and negotiates charitable arrangements while leading consultation with fundraisers across University Advancement on planned giving strategies and opportunities. As a senior leader, the Executive Director is accountable for strengthening RIT’s planned giving pipeline and long-term philanthropic support, integrating planned giving across the donor lifecycle, and collaborating with senior leaders, Trustees, volunteers, and colleagues across RIT to advance institutional fundraising priorities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards leadership annual gift and major gift donors and prospects in coordination with faculty, staff, and volunteers
• Manages a robust portfolio of prospects, creates fundraising strategies, develops relationships with donors, solicits gifts, and coordinates effective donor stewardship
• Develops an understanding of the educational, research, operational, and financial needs and goals of assigned college
• Cultivates relationships with alumni, parents, companies, and other friends, and collaborates with the teams in planned giving, principal giving, alumni relations, parent engagement, regional advancement, and corporate and foundation relations to encourage donors to support university initiatives
• Plans, coordinates, and directs special events for donors and prospects
• Updates the prospect management database with information related to donor strategies, proposals, contacts, and results
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts
• Skill in written and verbal communication
• Ability to network, establish, and foster working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple projects, take initiative, and coordinate follow‑up
• Ability to collect, synthesize, and process information quickly and accurately

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• 12 years of relevant experience
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered

Job Level Overview

Specialized Contributor Level 5 - An expert-level role functioning as a leading authority in the profession or field of work. Projects or programs of critical, university-wide strategic importance are regularly managed, with substantial consequences of success or failure. Typically responsible for coaching, mentoring, reviewing, and delegating work.

Work Location

Hybrid

FLSA Category

Exempt

Compensation

$103,300.00 - $165,300.00 Annual

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources.

Equal Opportunity

RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities.

Reasonable Accommodations

RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis.

About Rochester Institute of Technology

Founded in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology has a long‑standing history of innovation that blends the arts, technology, and experiential learning. In addition to its main campus in Rochester, New York, RIT maintains a strong international presence with over 100 active global partnerships and international campuses in Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo. As of Fall 2024, total student enrollment across all campuses exceeded 21,000. Nationally recognized for its co‑op and internship programs, RIT is supported by more than 4,000 dedicated faculty and staff members committed to student success. Its 1,300‑acre suburban campus features cutting‑edge facilities that reflect RIT’s strengths in applied research, design, and workforce development.