Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Gift Planning

Columbia University in the City of New York; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University in the City of New York seeks a Senior Philanthropic Advisor to provide gift planning expertise and strategy for top donors and prospects. Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, the role requires experience in estate and wealth planning, tax considerations, and complex charitable vehicles.

You will lead strategy with school leadership and collaborate across Development and Alumni Relations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• 7–9 years of related work experience in gift planning, legal, or financial settings with a focus on philanthropic planning.
• Experience securing principal-level planned gifts.
• Demonstrated high-level interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diverse population of donors and prospects.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; mature judgment and discretion are essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage a personal portfolio of 50-75 prospective donors capable of making $1M+ planned gifts.
• Lead gift planning strategy on principal and complex gift opportunities involving estate gifts, charitable trusts, and other non-cash assets.
• Partner with donors' professional advisors to evaluate and structure complex charitable gifts.
• Follow up with assigned prospects responding to targeted marketing (bequests, donor-advised funds, charitable lead trusts, real estate).
• Provide expert recommendations on structure, feasibility, valuation, and acceptance of complex gifts and obtain approvals.
• Lead development of gift planning policies, gift valuation, and gift crediting; advise leadership and staff on complex opportunities.

Skills

High-net-worth engagement

Written communication

Oral communication

Relationship management

Strategic gift planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Professional designation (CFP/CAP/CTFA/CFA)

Job description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Columbia Alumni Center
• Salary Range: $170,000 - $180,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Senior Philanthropic Advisor is responsible for providing gift planning expertise and strategy for top donors and prospects. Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, the Senior Philanthropic Advisor will have proven experience in technical areas such as estate and wealth planning, tax, illiquid or hard to value assets, complex charitable giving vehicles and structures, and the financial and personal issues affecting wealthy families. The incumbent serves as a senior subject matter expert on complex charitable gift planning matters and plays a leadership role in shaping gift planning strategy and will partner with chief development officers and prospect managers for assigned schools and units. The successful candidate will collaborate extensively with colleagues throughout Development and Alumni Relations as well as with other key stakeholders. The role exercises significant independent judgment in developing and evaluating sophisticated gift planning strategies and advising on complex gift structures that advance University fundraising priorities.

Responsibilities

Frontline Fundraising and Partnerships

• Manage a personal portfolio of 50-75 prospective donors capable of making $1M+ planned gifts.
• Serve as the lead gift planning strategist on principal and complex gift opportunities involving estate gifts, charitable trusts, closely held business interests, real estate, retirement assets, donor advised funds, and other non-cash assets.
• Partner with donors' professional advisors, including attorneys, accountants, wealth managers, and family office representatives, to evaluate and structure complex charitable gifts.
• Follow-up to assigned prospects responding to targeted marketing in areas such as bequests, donor advised fund, charitable lead trusts, and real estate.

Gift Planning Strategy and Coaching

• Provide current expertise and counsel to the overall development program on complex technical and legal issues related to gift planning vehicles, tax implication of various gifts, federal and state legislative developments that affect charitable gifts and other relevant items.
• Provide expert recommendations regarding the structure, feasibility, valuation, and acceptance of complex charitable gifts and collaborate with University leadership and relevant stakeholders to facilitate appropriate review and approval.
• Lead or co-lead the development, interpretation, and implementation of policies and procedures related to complex gifts, gift acceptance, gift valuation, and gift crediting; provide recommendations on gift structures and acceptance considerations for complex and non-standard gifts.
• Serve as a senior advisor to Development and Alumni Relations leadership and fundraising staff on complex gift planning opportunities, emerging philanthropic trends, and charitable planning strategies.
• Develop and present gift planning trainings for fundraising staff, volunteers, and faculty.
• Serve as primary gift planning liaison for assigned schools/divisions.
• Provide strategic guidance that informs fundraising priorities and enhances gift planning practices across assigned schools and units.
• Represent Gift Planning on cross-functional committees, working groups, and institutional initiatives related to complex gifts, gift acceptance, and philanthropic planning.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• A minimum of seven (7) to nine (9) years of related work experience required in gift planning, legal, and financial or other similar settings with a focus on philanthropic planning.
• Demonstrated experience working successfully with high-net-worth individuals and successful closure of principal level planned gifts.
• Must possess highly developed interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a diverse population of donors and prospects.
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Mature judgment and discretion are essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree strongly preferred, such as J.D., LL.M., MBA, or other relevant graduate degree.
• Professional designation such as Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or equivalent.
• Ten (10) or more years of experience in gift planning, estate planning, charitable planning, wealth management, trust administration, or a related field.
• Experience working within higher education, academic medicine, or another complex nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success securing principal-level planned gifts and complex blended gifts involving non-cash assets and sophisticated charitable planning structures.

Other Requirements

• Requires the ability to travel extensively to meet with donors and prospects and to participate in some weekend and evening events.
• Subject to business needs, the Office of Alumni Relations and Development supports a hybrid work arrangement for this position. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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