Gift Planning Officer

The Gift Planning Officer supports donors throughout the Los Angeles and central California area, developing strategies to increase funding capacity and maximize donor relationships. The role involves identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gift-planning prospects and donors to support the American Red Cross mission.

Responsibilities

• Develops and manages the gift planning strategy for a portfolio of prospects throughout the Regions to support Red Cross programs and services.
• Develop, lead, and implement strategies to substantially grow membership of the Legacy Society.
• Maintains and enhances a stewardship program for all planned giving donors.
• Raises and enhances the profile of the Legacy Society.
• Deliver training as appropriate on gift planning to advance knowledge and foster opportunities in gift conversations and strategy development.
• Remain current in gift planning trends and fundraising techniques by attending meetings and conferences and participating in training programs.
• Provides technical assistance the Regions development teams to increase its fundraising capacity to solicit planned and current gifts.
• Cooperates with various local financial planning and estate planning associations to plan meetings that maximize the Red Cross position as the charity of choice for bequests, trusts, retirement funds, life insurance policies, and life income arrangements.
• Supports the reporting by the Regions of all estate documents to the Office of General Counsel.
• Communicates with the Director of Gift Planning on a regular basis about donor and gift activity.
• Utilizes development prospect management system to facilitate regular reporting of donor and gift activity and to manage achievements of fundraising and personal goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in philanthropy studies, nonprofit management, law, finance, insurance, trust services, real estate, or other related field required.
• Certification in one or more of the following areas is preferred: CFRE, CFP, CAP, J.D., LLM.
• Minimum 7 years of major gift or gift planning experience or equivalent combination of education and related experience required.
• Experience with gifts of assets and life income gifts including charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and pooled income funds is preferred.
• Experience promoting, managing, cultivating and soliciting such programs is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of applicable principles, concepts, practices, and standards of planned giving vehicles and fundraising is desired.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication, presentation, and negotiation skills are required.
• Basic proficiency in use of Personal Computer, word-processing, spreadsheet applications, and database applications when applicable.
• Strong organization skills and good attention to detail are essential.
• Demonstrated tact and diplomacy in difficult or sensitive situations is essential.
• Ability to work on a team.
• Must have own transportation.
• Travel: 10% - 25% business travel is required.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office is necessary.
• Training in PG Calc or Crescendo planned giving software is desirable.

Skills

• Gift Planning
• Major Gift Fundraising
• Charitable Gift Annuities
• Charitable Trusts
• Pooled Income Funds
• Donor Cultivation
• Donor Solicitation
• Fundraising Management
• Planned Giving Vehicles
• Negotiation Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Spreadsheet Applications
• Database Applications Knowledge
• PG Calc
• Crescendo Planned Giving Software
• Organizational Skills
• Attention to Detail

Languages

English