Planned Giving Officer

Overall Function

Reporting to the Senior Director of Planned Giving and working together with the planned giving team, the Planned Giving Officer is responsible for managing the cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgement, recognition and stewardship of a portfolio of current and prospective planned gift donors located throughout a territory covering mostly the eastern seaboard.  The Planned Giving Officer will be an experienced development professional and an integral figure in the development of a robust planned giving program. This position reports directly to the Senior Director, Planned Giving.

Location

Please include a cover letter and writing sample.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of donors in all phases of development including strategic cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Independently respond to donor inquiries with appropriate information on bequests, life-income gifts and other gift planning vehicles and produce associated contracts. Considerable judgment and initiative are often exercised in dealing with donors and interpreting policy and procedures while working remotely.
• Through personalized correspondence, telephone calls and face to face visits, close bequests, charitable gift annuities and other split-interest gifts or outright gifts of assets, often in collaboration with other frontline fundraisers.
• Utilize software and systems to track key metrics, prioritize activities and analyze portfolio status.
• Participate in advancing EDF’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Keep abreast of changes and emerging issues in Planned Giving and charitable tax planning.  
• Identify donors to be interviewed for marketing profiles/testimonials and assist in the development of marketing ideas/materials where appropriate.                 
• Create compelling, well-written request letters, donor proposals, and other correspondence.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with EDF donors at all giving levels.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative working relationships within the Development department and with all levels of EDF staff.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.                                       

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 6 years’ work experience in Planned Giving or similar experience, including working directly with clients in financial services or estate planning. A Master’s degree or equivalent may substitute for up to 2 years of relevant experience.
• Experience working in a non-profit institution of comparable complexity and scale is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of planned giving vehicles and basic estate and financial planning, including the tax implications of charitable giving. Ability to apply this knowledge through strong interpersonal skills and strategic relationship building to address individual donor needs and philanthropic goals.
• Exceptional planning, organization, time management, analytical, and multi-tasking skills.
• Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Capacity to work easily and effectively with a wide range of people; adept at building relationships.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, flexible, collegial, goal-oriented and entrepreneurial environment.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• The highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Planned Giving Manager and donor tracking software (preferably Salesforce).
• Commitment to the mission of Environmental Defense Fund.
• Ability to travel domestically (Eastern USA) approximately 25% of the time.