POSITION: Director of Planned Giving

REPORTS TO:   Chief Philanthropic Officer

LOCATION: New York, NY

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

WEBSITE: www.thenytrust.org 

START DATE: September/October 2024 

ABOUT US

As New York’s largest community foundation, The New York Community Trust fosters and engages in enduring and innovative philanthropy, making grants that bring together the local knowledge and expertise of its team, nonprofits, and partners to help donors fulfill their vision for the causes they love. From education and the arts to health care and the environment, The New York Community Trust seeks to improve every aspect of the cultural and civic life of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. The Trust is a philanthropic leader in the region, delivering nearly $200 million in grants in 2023 and more than $2 billion in the past decade. In addition to a distinguished competitive grantmaking program, The Trust hosts donor-advised funds (DAFs) that make grants throughout the United States and donor collaboratives that work on the leading edge of philanthropy to improve the lives of New Yorkers. Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024, The Trust has long been a leader in the field, with innovations ranging from establishing the first donor-advised fund in the 1930s to making landmark grants, including some of the first to fight AIDS, build the High Line, support immigrant communities in the region, and respond quickly in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Director of Planned Giving will work in close collaboration with the Chief Philanthropic Officer, the General Counsel, and the development and donor teams to secure legacy gifts, expand The Trust’s planned giving offerings, and support the ongoing administration of estates. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

Our new Director of Planned Giving position is uniquely situated to help The Trust leverage its core value proposition, namely, The Trust’s ability to help donors define the purpose they care about and then execute their grantmaking priorities. The ideal candidate will be an experienced fundraiser with a strong focus on process improvement and executing data-driven planned giving strategies. This role requires meticulous follow-through, a proven track record of building long-term relationships and developing engagement opportunities with current donors, prospects and professional advisors. The Director will improve our current legacy donor operation and focus on a variety of planning giving options including but not limited to bequests, charitable remainder and lead trusts, charitable gift annuities and pooled-income funds. The Director will support institutional efforts to promote planned giving vehicles through a strategic, comprehensive marketing effort aimed at donors, prospects and their professional advisors. They will enjoy being a subject matter expert for staff at The Trust and collaborate with board members, donor, development and program teams on engagement opportunities based on the continuous and emerging needs of our communities. The Director of Planned Giving will initially report to Chief Philanthropy Officer, with potential realignment and management of support staff as the CPO builds out the team.

RESPONSIBILITIES  

Donor & Professional Advisor Cultivation

• Secure charitable legacy gifts that embody donor preferences across a variety of planned giving vehicles, including charitable remainder trusts; cultivate and negotiate legacy gifts that strategically address both the donor’s wishes and The Trust’s unique priorities and needs. 
• Steward relationships with current donors with permanent funds at The Trust and reengage donors to reassess their current planned giving needs. 
• Maintain a robust portfolio of planned gift prospects and implement a proactive communication strategy to increase conversion rates.
• Build and maintain relationships with trusts & estates attorneys, wealth managers, financial advisors, and accountants, ensuring that The Trust is top-of-mind option as a charitable solution for their clients.

Planned Giving Transactions

• Draft and edit charitable legacy agreements, ensuring alignment between donor intent and Trust priorities.
• Review incoming legacies, corresponding with executors and their attorneys and reviewing accountings and receipt and release documents. 
• Track expectancies where donors have committed to leave The Trust in their estate plan and follow up with donors and their advisors periodically.
• In partnership with Finance staff, develop analytics around legacy gifts and expected revenue inflows. 
• Revise and develop processes to guide planned giving efforts.

Marketing & Engagement Opportunities

• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team on planned giving marketing, including sponsorships, e-marketing, editorial content, public relations, and social media. 
• Serve as the primary contact for The Trust’s Legacy Society, creating relevant and compelling programming and recognition opportunities.
• Plan and promote seminars, educational programs, and other events to engage the professional advisor community. 
• Attend national conferences and donor engagement events as a representative of The Trust and stay up to date on developments in the field and emerging best practices that influence planned giving choices.

Requirements

• 10+ years of substantive, relevant full-time experience at nonprofit organizations, with a minimum of six years of planned giving experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Law degree with Trusts & Estates experience and/or FINRA Certified Estate and Trust Specialist a plus. 
• Expertise in planned giving options, their respective advantages and disadvantages, tax considerations, and implementation at nonprofits. 
• Prior experience networking with affluent donors and prospects with a proven track record of securing legacy gifts.
• Superior writing skills, with expertise in drafting of planned giving vehicles and letter agreements establishing gifts. 
• Strong public speaking skills and the ability to communicate and adapt talking points for the target audience. Experience as a moderator, panel member and/or presenter at planned giving events.
• Experience with Salesforce or comparable CRM platform. 
• Estimated Travel Requirement: 20% (within NYC metro area for meetings and national conferences).

COMPETENCIES

• “People person” who is also an active listener, with a talent for building deep and long-lasting relationships with donors, estate planning attorneys and financial professionals. 
• High emotional intelligence required to be receptive to donor needs, empathetic to their personal and professional challenges and their legacy decisions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills; ability to keep track of multiple estates at different degrees of completion.
• Takes ownership of challenges, remains agile and adaptable to alternative strategies and maintains a growth mindset. 
• Acute attention to detail and follow-through through various platforms. 
• Ability to thrive in an interconnected ecosystem of staff and collaborate with a range of colleagues and departments. 

COMPENSATION

An annual starting salary of $140,000-$190,000 commensurate with the candidate’s experience. The position is on-site at our New York office and we adhere to a hybrid work model (four days in the office and one remote, seasonal remote weeks and flexible remotes days during the year).  The Trust offers excellent benefits, including a pension plan, an 8% employer contribution to a 403(b)-retirement plan; partially subsidized medical insurance coverage & tiered medical plan offerings; generous paid time off, fully paid bonding leave and other benefits.

The Trust is a qualifying nonprofit organization as defined by the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (“PSLF”) Program. As such, Trust employees may claim their employment time on their application.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply through The Trust’s HRIS platform, Paylocity. Please upload your resume, cover letter, and a one-page writing sample as a single PDF document.  Writing samples should be solely authored by the candidate and demonstrate strong writing skills (redacted agreements or memos to professional advisors and/or donors, etc). 

We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our recruitment process. The Trust strongly encourages members of underrepresented communities and individuals who meet most of the job requirements to apply.  

The Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its employment policies. In addition, The Trust will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.