Director of Gift Planning Services
Posted: November 19, 2021
Location: Adelphi, MD

Purpose of Position
The Director supports planned giving initiatives for USM institutions by delivering comprehensive services that facilitate major current and deferred gifts. The Director provides counsel and support to planned giving officers and staff of USM institutions and affiliated foundations, and partners with staff to solicit donors and prospects to secure their gifts. The position provides key leadership in the promotion of sound gift planning techniques that accomplish personal charitable objectives and result in lifetime and testamentary gifts with substantial and lasting benefit, particularly gifts for the endowment.

Responsibilities

• In coordination with institution-based advancement staff, communicates directly with donors, prospects, and their advisors to evaluate charitable objectives, analyze and recommend plans of giving, and secure gifts that meet the standards of the donor and the university. Serves as a technical advisor to Advancement staff, giving expertise related to structuring planned and other gifts.
• Will establish a Planned Giving Council to create a USM-wide professional network of gift planning professionals and develop and implement training programs for philanthropy staff through the USM.
• Serves as an advisor to planned giving offices in creating effective marketing and communication plans to encourage planned gifts and gifts to endowment.
• Identifies opportunities for shared resources pertaining to planned giving and leads efforts to garner participation from USM campuses.
• Maintains professional expertise and a library of reference materials on charitable giving. Represents the USM in the professional and philanthropic community in order to stay abreast of events and changes that could affect the USM Advancement team.

Minimum Qualifications    
Education: Bachelor’s degree.
Experience: Five years of progressively responsible experience in planned giving, development, or related professional experience in banking, estate or financial planning, financial services, estates and trusts, or law.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Thorough understanding of financial and estate planning techniques and expertise in personal income, estate and gift tax law and regulations affecting charitable giving. Exceptional interpersonal skills with all age groups. Strong oral and written communication skills. Organizational skills, particularly planning, managing deadlines, and evaluating progress. Computer literacy, particularly in word processing, using Internet resources, using planned-giving related software, and using databases. An understanding of current laws regarding taxability of donations, familiarity with deferred giving strategies, and knowledge of a diverse array of financial instruments. Ability to offer information without giving legal or financial advice, and the knowledge of when to seek legal and other technical advice.

Preferred Qualifications
Education: JD or LLB.
Experience: Previous experience in a higher education or advancement environment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: General understanding of higher education and the USM.

Classification: Regular
FLSA Status: Exempt
Hours: FT
Benefits: Exempt Benefits Summary: includes full medical, dental and vision benefits, tuition remission at any of the 12 USM institutions, and generous leave plan.
Application Instructions: Please combine your cover letter, resume and list of references (at least three references with contact information) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and send to the following email address: hr-dirgps@usmd.edu