Director, Legacy Giving

Title: Director, Legacy Giving

Division: External Affairs / Individual Giving

Reports to: Vice President of Individual Giving

Matrix Management: N/A

Supervises: 2 Associates

Location: Washington, DC, preferred

Job Summary

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) seeks an experienced Director of Legacy Giving to secure $50 million in new planned giving commitments as part of the organization’s five-year, $300 million “Resilient Africa / Resilient Planet” campaign.

The Director will be expected to execute successful fundraising strategies and manage a team of associates for a predominantly US audience. The Director must have a proven track record in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies in gift planning. The Director is primarily responsible for gifts of estates, trusts, and various other deferred giving opportunities. The Director is also responsible for training and supporting other staff members working with donors on deferred and planned gifts.

This position reports directly to the Vice President of Individual Giving and works closely with other senior staff, including the Director of Major Gifts and Director of Annual Giving.

This position is based in Washington, DC, and a hybrid work schedule is possible. Must have the flexibility to travel frequently (including internationally). Some evening and weekend hours for donor outreach or event participation will be required.

Responsibilities

• Create and oversee a world-class legacy giving program to ensure a consistent future revenue pipeline for AWF’s mission and programs.
• Manage a portfolio of current donors while also adding prospects to their portfolio.
• Support colleagues and leadership as needed in gift planning strategy.
• Lead, manage, and mentor legacy associates. Ensure alignment to goals and KPIs, standards of practice, team culture, and learning and development.
• Develop, plan, and implement a comprehensive prospect strategy in collaboration with colleagues to help move prospects from one giving level to the next.
• Build donor relationships through a variety of communication, including personal visits.
• In partnership with the VPIG, oversee budget development and monitoring for all legacy fundraising activities and produce regular reports regarding projected and achieved goals.
• Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to communicate better the role of legacy fundraising across AWF and ensure an integrated fundraising strategy.
• Ensure timely and consistent record-keeping in the organization’s eCRM database system.
• Attend director-level internal meetings as necessary or requested to discuss and implement cross-program legacy strategy.
• Commit to promoting and supporting an equity, diversity, and inclusion environment.
• Working with the VPIG, establish annual and monthly goals; provide reporting to VPIG on program and individual team performance.
• Work with the legacy giving agency (Stelter) to execute fundraising campaigns, increase engagement, and close new planned gifts.
• Mentor and provide legacy gift training for staff outside the external affairs department.

Requirements and skills

• Experience cultivating and closing legacy gifts of all sizes, including blended gifts; developing and executing donor strategies; and effectively stewarding donors.
• Ability to work with and communicate with various internal constituents, including senior management, program staff, finance, and volunteers.
• Outstanding written and verbal skills to convey the mission of AWF to diverse audiences.
• Ability to function in a fast-paced, multifaceted, results-oriented work environment.
• Flexibility to travel frequently (including internationally) to work evenings and weekends.
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be proficient in basic donor/prospect research and relevant analysis, including navigation of databases and online resources.
• Strong working knowledge of the broad philanthropic landscape, including industry best practices and evolving trends in philanthropy.
• Experience managing a multi-state portfolio of diverse donors.
• Ability to analyze issues, identify priorities, manage projects, and make strategic decisions.
• Experience building, growing, and managing a team of colleagues and working collaboratively within an effective team.
• High ethical standards and commitment to adhere to and promote AFP’s Donor Bill of Rights and CGP’s Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner

Education & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated frontline fundraising experience in nonprofit fundraising and a minimum of 5 years specifically working in a legacy giving program.
• Experience fundraising for multi-year, large-scale comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• College graduate and higher education or advanced certification are preferred.
• Understanding of common industry databases and software including, but not limited to, Raiser’s Edge (NXT), PG Calc, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to promote the mission and values of the African Wildlife Foundation, including a personal passion for the environment, conservation, preservation, and wildlife.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.