Director for Leadership and Planned Giving

Posted on 04/18/2023

Spelman College

Atlanta, GA

 The Director for Leadership and Planned Giving will provide direct supervision for the strategic planning, programs and activities of the Leadership Gifts and Gift Planning departments and will assist the Vice President for Institutional Advancement on achieving Spelman College operations efforts. 

The Director for Leadership and Planned Giving will help drive the individual fundraising efforts and include assisting in planning, management, and evaluation; providing leadership and advice in prospect identification, strategy, and clearance processes; and operational budget for the Team. The Director for Leadership and Planned Giving will also provide guidance regarding the planning for future comprehensive campaigns. The Director for Leadership and Planned Giving will spearhead the planned giving efforts for the college and continue to build a comprehensive planned giving program. This position will manage a small portfolio in addition to management responsibilities. This position requires regular in office work a minimum of two days per week. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

  •  Builds a pool of prospective high-level to help fulfill the philanthropic priorities of Spelman College focusing on planned giving prospects. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with other IA units to qualify and verify this pool of prospects.
  • Tracks the moves management and progress toward annual fundraising goals for the Division. Responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the prospect strategy and clearance process, including identification, rating, research; assigning prospects to leadership gift and planned giving fundraisers; and monitoring the size of prospect portfolios, all in collaboration with the Prospect Research and Leadership Gifts and Planned Giving teams. 
  • Maximizes the work of staff fundraisers as well as the Spelman President, IA VP, trustees and other volunteers, by analyzing data and developing strategies for securing the ultimate gift, including optimal solicitation timing and pledge fulfillment. 
  • Supports the VP for Institutional Advancement in achieving divisional priorities and targets, consistent with the College’s strategic plan and campaign priorities. 
  • Oversees and motivates direct reports and several other indirect reports representing the individual and planned giving functions. This would include the development and implementation of metrics for the individual and planned giving team as well as continuing to build and strengthen their fundraising outcomes. 
  • In partnership with the Prospect Research Team, oversees and monitors all aspects of identification, qualification, assignments and strategy development. 
  • Works with the VP for Institutional Advancement (and the President and Board, as appropriate) in the recruitment and engagement of volunteers, and solicitation of gifts. 
  • Inform regularly and engage the College’s senior and volunteer leadership in fundraising activities, and accompany them on appropriate cultivation and/or gift request visits. 
  • In coordination with the Division of Strategic Communications and Marketing, ensures the development of all necessary leadership and planned giving collateral and a dissemination plan to staff and volunteers to include website, intranet, and email communications. 
  • Edits gift and grant request proposals for the individual and planning giving officers, and provide oversight for the editing and routing of proposals for approval, as well as for other internal and external fundraising communications. 
  • Identifies, negotiates, and closes substantial gifts and pledges. Provides briefings for the College President, VP for Institutional Advancement, senior administrators and volunteers (as appropriate) for meetings with leadership gift prospects and donors. 
  • Partners with other members of the Advancement Leadership Team to ensure effective Division-wide collaboration and execution of objectives. Areas of collaboration include alumnae engagement, donor relations, stewardship, research, personnel and fundraising reporting. 
  • Works closely with the AVP for Development Operations to develop the focus and agenda for Prospect Strategy Meetings, and update fundraising progress charts. 
  • Partners with the appropriate team members to recommend and implement cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies to ensure that donors are appropriately acknowledged and stewarded. 
  • Participates in the development of compelling fundraising messages. 
  • Represents Spelman College as appropriate, and the on-going fundraising efforts, in local and national communities. 
  • Regular and/or overnight travel 20 – 35% of the time. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

This position has supervisory responsibilities for multiple positions in the Division. The individual will directly manage two positions and have indirect management for three positions. This does not include work study students. 

Dimensions: 

Contributory responsibility for College budget, i.e., review and monitoring of activity after budget has been prepared. 

Education and/or Experience: 

Bachelor’s degree with 6 – 8 years of successful fundraising experience and demonstrated success in individual and planned giving required. Master’s degree a plus, but not required. Prior experience with planning, executing and completing a capital or comprehensive campaign is strongly preferred. Supervisory experience is required as well as demonstrated experience in managing complex teams of people. The successful candidate should have a comprehensive understanding of planned giving principles and execution of planned giving documents. 

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a diverse group of people and organizations are essential. The successful candidate must have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to think in a strategic manner. Strong management abilities are also required. 

Bachelor’s degree with 6 – 8 years of successful fundraising experience and demonstrated success in individual and planned giving required. Master’s degree a plus, but not required. Prior experience with planning, executing and completing a capital or comprehensive campaign is strongly preferred. Supervisory experience is required as well as demonstrated experience in managing complex teams of people. The successful candidate should have a comprehensive understanding of planned giving principles and execution of planned giving documents. 

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a diverse group of people and organizations are essential. The successful candidate must have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to think in a strategic manner. Strong management abilities are also required. 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: 

CFRE certificate preferred but not required. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: walk, sit, stand, use hands for computers, move items, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to: stoop, kneel, or crouch and lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus. 

Spelman College is an EOE/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Title IX Employer, and we participate in E-Verify. 

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE 

To apply for this job please visit spelman.peopleadmin.com.