Director, Gift Planning

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/12

Target hiring range for this position will be between $125,000-$145,000 per year.. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director, this position directs critical administrative and operational functions for the gift planning program within Alumni Relations and Development (ARD). The gift planning program secures deferred gifts and complex assets that generate over $100 million annually for the University, a portion of which is received in the form of distributions from trusts, estates and a variety of accounts that are payable on death.

This role ensures compliance with legal and business requirements specific to planned and/or deferred gifts, including preparing and maintaining complex documentation; analyzing legal questions; recording and stewarding deferred gifts; coordinating with internal and external teams on annuity and life income programs; overseeing the administration of deferred gifts such as life insurance; and managing all aspects of estate settlement processes for any open estate that will distribute funds to the University.

The Director manages at least one gift planning administrator and is responsible for their professional development. The Director may also oversee a team member focused on marketing and stewardship. Additionally, the Director collaborates with the Senior Executive Director to improve departmental processes and expand the organization's capacity to accept noncash and other complex assets on a regular basis.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Oversee the collection, conservation, administration and allocation of all realized testamentary gifts to the University, including gifts by will or trust, retirement funds, payable on death accounts, life insurance, and related vehicles.
• Monitor and ensure proper counting of realized bequests for fundraising, campaign and cash progress. Interpret and execute on routine and complex language in wills and trusts, letters of direction, and beneficiary designations.
• Negotiate and/or resolve legal issues and matters involving the University's interest in estates.
• Oversee tracking and monitoring of open estates and testamentary distributions, as well an exempt staff person who maintains processes and reporting of same, with the goal of providing timely, accurate and transparent information to colleagues, leadership and other stakeholders.
• Maintain meticulous recordkeeping of all correspondence, receipts, account statements, closing statements, tax forms, and probate court filings related to estate administration from notification through closure.
• Oversee severance and distribution of all terminated life income gifts such as gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, which involves seeking recovery of payments when appropriate and instructing the allocation of remainder distributions.
• Serve as primary point of contact and expert for the University's donor advised fund (DAF) program, including the maintenance and drafting of agreements, tracking of accounts, and oversight of DAF distributions.
• Oversee the process for evaluating, accepting and administering in kind gifts of artwork, books, collectibles and other personal property to the University, other than works of art being gifted to its Block Museum.
• In partnership with the SED, develop and/or maintain gift acceptance and counting policies for all deferred gifts, gifts of real estate, gifts of noncash assets such as real estate and gifts-in-kind.
• Oversee all gift annuity and trust registration and annual filings.
• From time to time, support gift planning fundraisers as assigned by SED, to consult on solicitations and strategies where real estate gifts and/or other complex assets are involved.
• Keep current with tax law changes affecting charitable giving and state laws regulating charitable giving. Act as a resource for fundraising staff where appropriate.
• May lead trainings, seminars and learning sessions for internal and external audiences on gift planning topics, including, but not limited to, bequests and other complex gift arrangements.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree

• Eight years of work experience in a related job discipline

• Strong writing and proofreading skills

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve problems independently

• High integrity, ability to adhere to strict confidentiality standards

• Willingness to embrace new ideas and engage in collaboration, relationship-building across teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Juris doctorate degree, Certified Public Accounting (CPA) designation, or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation

• Higher education advancement experience

• Experience working in a banking/trust environment or in the legal practice areas of estate planning, probate, taxation or trust operations

• Results-driven, fast learner who is self-motivated, can concurrently manage and reprioritize multiple projects, and who brings experience from a variety of functional areas across an enterprise.

• Experience leading a project team and/or managing staff

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to ARD, including Salesforce products (the platform for the University's donor relationship management system), Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.