JOB SUMMARY
The Director, Gift Planning (“Director”) reports to the Associate Vice President, Giving Strategies. The focus of the Director’s role is business development. Specifically, the Director is responsible for developing new and deepening current relationships with professional advisors (attorneys, accountants, financial/investment advisors, and life insurance advisors) and their clients. Additionally, the Director is also responsible for developing and maintaining a prospect pipeline and cultivating relationships with prospective clients.
This position requires proven relationship development skills and the ability to conceptualize, cultivate and implement prospective clients’ philanthropic goals and charitable legacies. Additional requirements include: sound organization skills, technical knowledge of planned giving, the ability to work effectively with clients and professional advisors, effective public speaking and presentation skills, effective interpersonal skills, the ability to be self-directed and the ability to achieve specific outcomes and goals. In addition, this role requires sensitivity and integrity, due to the Director’s access to clients’ highly confidential information. As such, the Director must maintain high standards of ethics and confidentiality.
This role is critical to the Community Foundation’s mission of connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York and its vision of a vibrant and inclusive Greater Buffalo region with opportunity for all.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has a network of over 700 relationships with local Professional Advisors (attorneys, accountants, financial/investment advisors, and life insurance advisors). Approximately 1/3 of new client relationships are referred to the Community Foundation from Professional Advisors. The Director leads and drives efforts for deepening and broadening that network.
Professional Advisor Relationship Development:
- Developing approaches to identify and proactively cultivate relationships with advisors, including overseeing and staffing the Professional Advisor Council
- Acting as key contact for all professional advisors where appropriate, including estates in settlement and outside financial advisors
- Managing Professional Advisor newsletter and correspondence
- Maintaining accurate records of contacts and referrals from Professional Advisors
- Representing the Community Foundation at various community activities, professional associations, and events
- Coordinating and presenting on various topics related to the Community Foundation, planned giving, and endowment building for professional advisors
- Actively participate in Giving Strategies Department planning
Prospective Client Cultivation and Relationship Development:
- Developing approaches to identify and proactively cultivate relationships with charitably inclined individuals, families, and organizations
- Building and maintaining a prospective client pipeline
- Maintaining accurate records of contacts with prospective clients
Planned Gifts and Complex Gifts:
The Director will assist team members in speaking to clients about planned gifts, including:
- Preparing planned gift illustrations and handling estates in probate and complex gifts
- Developing proposals and agreements for new clients and planned gifts, where appropriate
- Utilizing all resources at the Community Foundation (e.g., technical planning information, finance and information systems technology, etc.), and resources linked to the Community Foundation (e.g., research, legal counsel, etc.) to comprehensively assist in planned gift development
- Assist in training Board and staff in planned giving, including preparing briefing documents
- Maintain quality record keeping/tracking system on planned gifts
- Consult with legal counsel and other outside experts, when appropriate
- Additional responsibilities as assigned.
Management Responsibilities
- Giving Strategies Specialist
TRAVEL
- Travel is primarily within the eight counties of Western New York. Some domestic travel may be required for job training and professional development.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum education: Bachelor’s degree. Preferred education: Advanced degree in related or complementary field, including M.B.A., C.P.A., J.D.
- Ten years or more experience in business and relationship development
- Experience in a service industry or with professional advisors preferred
- Technical knowledge of planned giving and investments
- Experience using a CRM database
- Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, including PowerPoint and Excel
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long- term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York.
Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Community foundations are designed to grow and evolve as our community’s needs change, and new positions are regularly created as a result. As the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo continues to grow, we’re looking for talented people who want to use their abilities to make a lasting difference. If that is you, then please send a cover letter explaining your interest in this position and what you would bring to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
Send cover letter and resume as a single Word or PDF document via email to: Jobs@CFGB.org. Please submit response electronically via email. However, response may also be received by U.S. Postal Service if an electronic medium is not available. No calls please.
Application deadline: Open until filled. We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity, practices inclusion and works to advance equity.