Director of Planned Giving

Title: Director of Planned Giving

Department: Development

Status: Exempt

Reports To: Vice President, Strategic Partnerships

Positions Reporting To This Position: None

Location: Washington, DC, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, or Boston preferred, but other locations considered (the employee may decide whether to work remotely and/or from an LCV office)

Travel Requirements: Up to 10%

Union Position: Yes

Job Classification Level: E

Salary Range (depending on experience): $90,236 – $110,236

General Description:

LCV believes our earth is worth fighting for because everyone has a right to clean air, water, and a safe, healthy community. To ensure those rights are protected, we help people use their power to shape policy, hold politicians and polluters accountable, and influence elections.

For more than 50 years, LCV has grown into a potent political force for protecting our planet and everyone who inhabits it. We have built a powerful national movement with 30+ state affiliates, and grassroots and community organizing programs across the country.

LCV is hiring a Director of Planned Giving who will be responsible for growing and managing the Legacy Society, our planned giving program, to help meet our strategic plan fundraising goals. The Director of Planned Giving drives strategy to grow the Legacy Society and meet revenue goals to benefit LCV and its sister organization, LCV Education Fund. Additionally, through a new collaborative program, Unified Fundraising, the Director will help develop a pilot program to integrate LCV’s planned giving program with those of 7-10 state affiliates across the Conservation Voter Movement (CVM). 

The Director of Planned Giving shapes and grows a model for a planned giving program that ensures the longevity of the organizations and supports future programs and strategy. The Director of Planned Giving, in coordination with the Vice President of Development Marketing and Engagement, manages the marketing outreach program to quickly scale up the Legacy Society. This position will also work closely with the Senior Director of Unified Fundraising to develop the new pilot program and Major Gifts Team to provide planned giving resources and training and directly engage donors, as needed. They will manage their own portfolio of current and prospective planned giving donors and provide personalized stewardship throughout the year.

Responsibilities:

Direct Fundraising

• Secure new bequest intentions for LCV and LCV Education Fund.
• Manage the LCV and LCV Education Fund Legacy Society, ensuring appropriate stewardship with existing planned gift donors and building the reputation of the Society.
• Respond to inquiries by prospective donors in a timely manner. Address donor questions and concerns about planned giving.
• Arrange virtual and in-person visits with donors and prospects throughout the country to solicit new gifts, reconfirm commitments, and provide stewardship and other engagement.
• Upon notification of gift or future gift intention, ensure donors are thanked. Record donor information and update records as needed in the appropriate database.
• Expand portfolio of prospective donors to include more people of color; broaden our current methods of identifying, cultivating and soliciting such donors.
• Educate our current and prospective donors about LCV and LCV Education Fund’s programs, including how we are elevating racial justice and equity in the work that we do.

Planning, Strategy and Management

• Work with LCV’s State Capacity Building Team and State Affiliate Development staff to build, grow, and maintain a Unified Fundraising strategy around planned giving. Partner in launching the pilot program around Unified Fundraising for planned giving.
• Work closely with the major gifts team in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of planned giving prospects and current Legacy Society members. Lead planned giving trainings and provide planned giving updates on a regular basis. 
• Work with the Development Marketing Team to generate new physical and digital marketing materials to distribute to prospects and donors and ensure planned giving content on the LCV website reflects best practices. Manage and build out a Planned Giving Resource Library and various planned giving marketing campaigns. Help guide marketing strategy for the program.
• Lead strategy with the marketing team Development Marketing Team and to craft email and direct mail campaigns that generate new Legacy Society members.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with vendors who work with the planned giving program.
• Execute and assist with administrative duties related to planned giving program which may include contract approvals, data entry, and other record keeping.
• Travel up to 10% of the time for in-state visits with state affiliate staff, retreats, training, and conferences, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Work Experience: Required – 5+ years of experience in fundraising, including a successful track record of personally meeting with donors and closing gifts. Experience directly qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting planned giving prospects, including developing solicitation strategy from identification through stewardship. Experience managing a planned giving program or large portfolio. Preferred – Issue advocacy, organizing and/or political fundraising experience. Working knowledge of compliance issues and regulations related to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations. Working knowledge of estate planning and planned giving strategies and tax treatments (e.g. trusts, charitable gift annuities, beneficiary designated gifts and life insurance). Direct response marketing experience. Experience working within an affiliated organizational network, ideally experience with collaborative fundraising in the network. Experience working across teams.
• Skills: Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills; self-motivated; exhibits strong judgment; and able to work independently and as part of a team. Ability to work with different stakeholders to achieve shared goals. . Must be creative, innovative, diplomatic, proactive, disciplined, and able to think strategically. An active and curious listener with a knack for building relationships and the ability to speak with authority as an organizational representative. Well organized and detail-oriented. Systems oriented with basic database skills. Politically savvy, with a great sense of humor and an eagerness to try new things and lead new initiatives. 
• Racial Justice and Equity Competencies: Demonstrated awareness of personal attitudes, biases and assumptions with an ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services. A commitment to the complex understanding of racial justice and the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity within philanthropy. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Awareness of systemic racism and knowledge of environmental issues impacting communities of color.
• Working Conditions: This job operates in a professional office environment, and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and audiovisual systems. This position is largely sedentary, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods. The person in this position frequently communicates with major donors and must be able to exchange accurate information. Applicants need to be located in and legally authorized to work in the United States. 

LCV offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes vacation, sick and parental leave, personal days, paid holidays, health insurance (two plan options for staff to choose from), dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance (short- and long-term), Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution, commuter benefits program, sabbatical, and student loan assistance.

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to hr@lcv.org with “Director of Planned Giving” in the subject line by May 27, 2024. No phone calls please. 

LCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a racially just, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected status. LCV is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact hr@lcv.org.

LCV offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes vacation, sick and parental leave, personal days, paid holidays, health insurance (two plan options for staff to choose from), dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance (short- and long-term), Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution, commuter benefits program, sabbatical, and student loan assistance.