Director of Gift & Estate Planning

The Salvation Army's Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Division is located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The division is home to 26 Worship and Community Centers (Corps), 67 service extension units, a camp, as well as multiple homeless shelters, thrift stores and food pantries. Service extension units are branches of The Salvation Army in communities where Corps are not located but service is provided by committees of volunteers. As a whole, our organization is made up of thousands of officers, soldiers, adherents, employees, volunteers and other individuals all working together to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people, as well as working to meet the physical needs of those less fortunate. The Salvation Army Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Division is the administrative unit which provides services to people in need in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. We are an organization dedicated to Doing the Most Good in your community! Apply now!

 

The Director of Gift & Estate Planning will identify, cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward individual prospects and donors, targeting planned gifts for The Salvation Army WUM Division (WUM). Actively participate in the implementation of WUM philanthropic campaigns and plans, focusing on Planned Giving fundraising priorities and involving volunteers and other stakeholders in the realization of Divisional goals.

 

About the role:

• Helps ensure that WUM achieves its fundraising goals in collaboration with others within the Development Department and interdepartmentally.
• Manages a prospect portfolio of approximately 125-180 planned giving donors and prospects as follows:
  • Develops solicitation plans for new and current planned gift donors and prospects within prospect and suspect portfolio
  • Develops relationships with assigned donors and prospects through various cultivation calls, letters and handwritten notes, with an emphasis on successful face-to-face meetings
  • Completes an assigned number of significant contacts per year with donors and prospects from portfolio, ranging from 280 to 400 annually
  • Solicits and closes planned gifts in accordance with annual goals as set by the Senior Director of Gift and Estate Planning in consultation with leadership and the Territorial Planned Giving Director
• Utilizes Sales Force to document donor interaction, progress, communication, and actions, towards qualifying, cultivating, and stewarding gifts.
• Develops and writes donor cultivation materials, acknowledgements, volunteer solicitor briefings and reports. Produces personalized planned giving proposals for individual support.
• Contacts and cultivates persons identified through marketing efforts and relationships developed with Corps and Division staff, professional advisors and other referral sources.
• Coordinates and provides assistance in the design of strategies for cultivating and soliciting donors in coordination with senior staff, leadership and volunteers.
• Works with other Development staff to identify, qualify and research new planned gift prospects.
• Works with the Senior Director of Gift and Estate Planning, Executive Director of Development and Donor Relations staff as part of a team of fundraisers for the Division, including joint strategy sessions and other matters important for an effective development effort.
• Identifies innovative development, cultivation and stewardship activities; crafts new strategies and support planning that will strengthen the Planned Gifts Program over time.
• Assists in the organization of occasional events and small donor meetings for cultivation and stewardship purposes.
• Develops a documented plan to achieve endowment and planned gift goals from assigned portfolio.
• Prepares and submits statistics, reports and budget information to the Senior Director of Gift and Estate Planning as requested.

Experience, Education and Knowledge:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as business, finance, law/pre-law, non-profit management, or other relevant discipline

Experience:

• Five years’ experience, in fund raising (including significant experience in personal solicitation, and familiarity with fundraising practices), financial sales, insurance sales, estate and financial planning, or other related areas is preferred.
• Proven committee/board experience.
• Successful track record of fundraising with major and/or planned gift donors is a plus.
• Experience working with high-level volunteers, donors and program staff on collaborative activities.
• Experience, familiarity and/or ability to work in a complex non-profit organization with many departments, programs and fund-raising priorities.
• Familiarity with issues of fundraising and general professional and workplace ethics.
• OR Any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.  

Certifications: Valid Wisconsin Driver’s License with clearance to drive from TSA insurance. CFRE. CTFA, CFP or CAP preferred.              

 

The Salvation Army is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who are back-to-work, US Veterans, people with disabilities, people who have been impacted by the justice system, and/or people without a college degree are encouraged to apply.