Director, Planned Giving, University Development Office

Details

Posted: 05-Mar-24

Location: USA - MA - Cambridge

Type: Full-time

Salary: Open

Categories:

Alumni Affairs
Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: 65219BR

Job Summary

Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D)
Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard's advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.
Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.
AA&D is comprised of the University Development Office (UDO), Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, AA&D Resources, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
FAS Development is responsible for the fundraising efforts supporting the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, including Harvard College, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. FAS Development staff work with donors, alumni, parents, and friends who provide critical support for the FAS and often for other parts of the University.
The Director of Development, Planned Giving, works with University, school, and affiliate colleagues to help promote increased planned gift activity across the University. Engages in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors to generate planned and outright gifts. Provides technical expertise in planned giving to colleagues and to prospective and current donors and their advisors regarding the tax and charitable aspects of charitable giving.

Position Description

• Together with colleagues, develops and delivers strategies for promoting and increasing planned gift activity across Harvard University. The Director actively promotes the full range of planned gifts, from simple bequest intentions to complex gifts of illiquid assets.
• Engages in 75 visits per year with planned gift prospects and donors, for the purpose of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and/or stewarding donors. Tracks all substantive interactions in Harvard's system of record (i.e., Advance).
• Provides planned gift expertise to a portfolio assigned of schools and affiliates across Harvard. Engages with Development colleagues in these schools and affiliates to the extent appropriate for each. Advocates for planned giving as these schools and affiliates develop their overall development strategies and their individual prospect strategies.
• Maintains a familiarity with the fundraising priorities of Harvard University, its schools, and its affiliates. Aligns the interests of donors with the needs of the University, as well as those schools and affiliates. Collaborates with colleagues in the University Development Office and in assigned schools and affiliates to prepare custom proposals and gift terms.
• Utilizes planned giving software (e.g., PG Calc) to prepare custom financial proposals for prospective donors.
• Collaborates with Harvard colleagues, donors' advisors, and vendors such as TIAA Kaspick and outside counsel to develop tax-efficient gift strategies.
• Engages as an active member of Harvard's planned giving community by sharing information, collaborating with colleagues to seek and provide help, and exhibiting a high level of collegiality.
• May be called upon to help prepare for and participate in Harvard's Planned Giving training and marketing events.
• Participates in professional development opportunities in planned and outright giving, such as those offered by the Planned Giving Group of New England, the National Council on Charitable Gift Planning, and sessions offered by various partners in the field (e.g., TIAA Kaspick). Keeps abreast of developments in the field of charitable giving through organized training and self-study.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• 10+ years of experience in planned giving, development, finance, law, or a related field.
• Mastery of planned giving, including gift vehicles, federal and state tax considerations surrounding planned gifts, and the financial considerations involved in administering planned gifts. Must be comfortable researching novel, complex, and unique gift issues, both individually and in collaboration with colleagues at Harvard and at affiliated vendors.
• Must be willing to work on Harvard's campus on a regular basis, for team meetings, division meetings, and special events.
• Must be willing to travel. Some evening and weekend work required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• The ability to work with a diverse set of constituents, including donors and alumni; professional tax, legal, and financial advisors; and development, administrative, and academic colleagues from various parts of the University. Must be able to maintain a polite, professional, and courteous demeanor in working with these individuals.
• Must be able to understand, address, and balance the concerns and priorities of the University, different Schools, administrative units, and affiliates. Must exhibit diplomacy and sensitivity in working with University colleagues.
• Must be well organized and have the ability to balance multiple current projects in a fast-paced environment. Must be detail oriented and able to produce accurate, high quality work by set deadlines.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.

Additional Information

• This position requires a 6 month orientation and review period.
• Please include a cover letter with your application.

To learn more about the AA&D team, please visit our Careers site at https://alumni.harvard.edu/careers
To learn more about how Harvard supports diversity and inclusion throughout the University please visit the Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at https://dib.harvard.edu/ .
Accommodations: Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to apply for positions and participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please let your recruiter know.
COVID 19 Vaccination Information: The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up to date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Benefits

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