Planned Giving Specialist

Wounded Warrior Project; San Antonio (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Full benefits for you and family

Competitive pay and incentives

Collaborative team environment

Job summary

Wounded Warrior Project seeks a Planned Giving Specialist to steward existing donors and cultivate new prospects, with a focus on in-person meetings and events. You will support growth of the planned giving program, increase inquiries, and partner with Major Gifts to educate donors and secure gifts.

The role emphasizes personalized donor communications, collaboration across teams, and participation in training and events within a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Five years of fundraising experience.
• Five years identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned giving and/or major donors.
• Experience using CRM software such as Salesforce or similar.

Responsibilities

• Drive growth and retention of a portfolio of planned giving donors.
• Articulate WWP’s mission and programs to donors and funding sources.
• Track donor communications in Salesforce and apply relationship-based fundraising strategies.
• Represent WWP in meetings, events, and presentations with donors and organizations.
• Develop donor cultivation and communication plans to support planned giving goals.
• Move donors through the lifecycle with cultivation, solicitation, and commitments.

Skills

Relationship-building

Planned giving

CRM proficiency

Donor stewardship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/communications/marketing

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Great benefits. Competitive pay. We know these are some of the things people look for in a job.

When you join Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), you’re committing to making a difference. We make a commitment to you, too – helping you to find that spark, ignite your passion to serve, and embark on a career with meaning and purpose. At WWP™, we recognize our mission cannot be accomplished without our talented teammates, which is why we’re proud to offer benefits such as:

• A flexible hybrid work schedule (three days in the office, two days' work from home)
• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage for both teammates AND family members
• Competitive pay and performance incentives
• A fun, mission-focused, and collaborative team environment

A mission that matters is just the beginning, so if you’re ready to get started, we’re ready for you.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Planned Giving Specialist is a member of WWP’s fundraising team. The Planned Giving Specialist stewards a portfolio of planned giving donors and new prospects. This position identifies, cultivates, and solicits individuals interested in making planned gifts through ongoing personal engagement, with a strong emphasis on in‑person meetings and cultivation events. The Planned Giving Specialist supports the growth of the planned giving program by helping secure planned gifts, increasing inquiries about planned giving opportunities, stewarding Honor & Empower Society donors and prospects, and supporting the Major Gifts team with planned giving solicitations and donor education.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Drive the growth and retention of a portfolio of planned giving donors and prospective donors.

Effectively articulate WWP’s history, mission, vision, and programs to prospective donors and funding sources, both verbally and in writing.

Track donor communications within Salesforce CRM and utilize relationship‑based fundraising strategies to align philanthropic opportunities with donor interests and passions.

Represent WWP in meetings, events, and presentations with community audiences, organizations, existing donors, and prospective donors in support of fundraising objectives.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with teammates across the organization, including Major Gifts, Communications, Marketing, Programs, and other Resource Development teams, to identify and cultivate planned giving opportunities.

Develop and implement donor cultivation, stewardship, and communication plans that support planned giving fundraising goals.

Move prospective donors through the donor lifecycle in a timely and strategic manner, advancing cultivation, solicitation, and planned gift commitments.

Develop highly personalized donor communications, including proposals, stewardship reports, planned giving illustrations, and program updates.

Attend and actively participate in required training and/or meetings, including but not limited to New Teammate Orientation, WWP Cares, ASIST Suicide Prevention training, Leadership training, culture/team based training, or departmental huddles.

Other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to develop and maintain meaningful relationships with donors, prospects, teammates, and external stakeholders.

Knowledge of planned giving strategies, estate planning concepts, charitable gift vehicles, donor stewardship practices, and relationship‑based fundraising principles.

Ability to work effectively with varying donors, families, attorneys, financial planners, accountants, and other professional advisors.

Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to develop personalized donor communications, proposals, stewardship reports, and program updates.

Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through effective relationship management and strategic communication.

Working knowledge of prospect research, wealth screening tools, donor data, and fundraising methodologies.

Strong organizational and time‑management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.

Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize work effectively while maintaining high levels of accuracy and professionalism.

Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when working with sensitive donor and organizational information.

Demonstrated understanding of Wounded Warrior Project’s mission, values, programs, and services and the impact they have on wounded warriors and their families.

High energy level.

Self‑starter with a willingness to take initiative.

Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Unequivocal commitment to the highest standards of personal and business ethics and conduct.

Mission‑driven, guided by core values, and a pleasure to work with.

EXPERIENCE

Requirements

Five years of experience working in fundraising.

Five years of demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned giving and/or major donors.

Five years of experience using customer relationship management (CRM) software, such as Salesforce or a similar database platform.

Preferences

Three years of experience working in a nonprofit or philanthropic organization.

Three years of planned giving solicitation experience.

Experience working with estate‑planning vehicles and charitable giving strategies.

Demonstrated understanding of military service organizations (MSOs) and veteran service organizations (VSOs).

Experience with estate planning and charitable giving strategies, including collaboration with financial advisors, attorneys, tax professionals, and other estate‑planning professionals.

EDUCATION

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, marketing, or related field.

Equivalent combination of applicable education, training, certification, and experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

Preferences None.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURE

Requirements None.

Preferences None.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

General office environment; temperature controlled.

May require participation in events under varying weather conditions.

May require lifting/carrying items up to 50 pounds.

Up to 50% travel.

*ca-dj #LI-HYBRID

Wounded Warrior Project® is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is a veterans service organization that is transforming the way America’s wounded veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in their communities. WWP™ works with warriors and their families to create paths toward success as they transition back into civilian life. Through direct programs and services, WWP connects warriors to a network of support and resources to address their evolving needs. The WWP team is passionate about creating impact—and since 2003, has improved the lives of over half a million warriors and their families. In fact, many WWP employees are veterans themselves and have experienced firsthand the benefits of its programs and services

Wounded Warrior Project® is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.