At Make-A-Wish® America, we are more than a great place to work — our work is life-changing. Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Nearly 40 years ago the inspiration for Make-A-Wish began with one little boy's wish to be a police officer. Today, together with our volunteers, donors, staff and supporters, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 500,000 life-changing wishes and transformed countless lives.
THE ROLE
The Manager, Planned Giving plays a critical role on the Leadership & Planned Gifts team to secure planned gift intentions that will provide a pipeline of revenue-generating estate gifts for years to come. Primary responsibilities include: (1) identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospective and existing planned gift donors with an emphasis on developing planned and outright gifts that require financial and estate planning expertise; (2) identification, cultivation, and stewardship of financial professionals, such as estate planning attorneys, financial advisors, trust officers, and any other professional who provides financial, legal or tax advice to our prospective or existing planned gift donors. The Manager is responsible for managing information and strategies pertaining to all aspects of planned giving, including timely and accurate documentation of conversations and contacts with donors, volunteers, board members, financial professionals, etc. The Manager may also play a role in supporting chapters and advancing planned giving throughout the Make-A-Wish federated enterprise.
The Manager reports to the Director, Planned Giving. The Director will provide direction in establishing and clarifying priorities for the Planned Giving program and will oversee the Manager’s development and performance as a fundraising professional.
WHERE YOU COME IN
As the Manager, Planned Giving at Make-A-Wish America you will:
- Develop and implement planned giving strategies with an emphasis on identifying, cultivating and soliciting gifts. Manages all aspects of a portfolio of approximately 250 prospective or existing planned gift donors. Identifies, develops, and implements tailored action plans, solicitation strategies, and stewardship opportunities for each prospect.
- Develop effective working relationships with financial professionals in the legal, financial and banking communities. As such, may work with donors’ professional advisors (attorneys, trust officers, financial planners, insurance professionals, CPAs, etc.) in developing bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, endowments, and any other planned gift arrangements.
- Depending on circumstances, solicits prospects individually or orchestrates solicitation with other development officers as appropriate.
- Provide estate planning, tax and charitable giving information to prospective donors. Prepares and presents written proposals and financial illustrations of proposed gifts to raise planned gifts. Drafts terms and conditions for letters of intent, gift agreements, and endowments, in accordance with established templates.
- Participate in all activities related to the Legacy of Wishes Society. Collaborates with Donor Cultivation team regarding planned giving stewardship.
- In consultation with the Director, assesses program needs, and contributes to the development and implementation of plans to build the planned giving pipeline.
- Provide a timely, thoughtful and professional response to all inquiries received by phone, mail and email, along with responses from surveys and appeals. Develops a follow-up plan and implements relationship management strategies for both prospects and donors.
- Coordinate work with chapters to align on current and prospective donor relationships and donors’ professional advisors.
- Collaborate with colleagues in brand and marketing, prospect management and research, donor care, stewardship and other departments to ensure the success of the planned giving effort. Places a high priority on serving internal and external contacts in a timely, courteous manner, following up until needs are met.
- Meet or exceed revenue goals that include activities and metrics that drive increased planned giving intentions, such as number of donor contacts, secured meetings, stewardship touches and gift solicitations. Goals may also be established to track gifts made through various giving vehicles, such as charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and donor advised funds.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- Five years of work experience with two to four years of fundraising experience required.
- Preference for candidates with demonstrated experience working with donors to cultivate, solicit and secure planned gifts; an advanced degree is a plus, especially with an emphasis in law, tax and/or finances.
- General understanding of tax and other aspects of all planned giving vehicles. A candidate must either already have the knowledge or have an educational or employment background that is evidence of a capacity to learn in this area.
- Able to develop and execute fundraising strategies, administer gifts efficiently and accurately, and keep accurate records
- CRM experience in nonprofit setting required; Salesforce CRM experience preferred.
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint and PowerPoint.
Work Environment:
- Ability to thrive in a remote environment.
- Travel required, up to 33%.
- May require work outside of the traditional Monday through Friday work week. This includes weekends and early evening weeknights.
WHAT WE OFFER
BENEFITS
- Comprehensive benefit package, effective day 1: Medical, Vision*, Dental*, Wellness
- Competitive compensation with annual incentive potential
- Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account Options
- Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Make-A-Wish
- Short Term Disability*, Long Term Disability* and Life Insurance
- Additional Insurance Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance through Figo
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with 5% match after one year of service
- Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
TIME OFF
- Up to 15 PTO days
- 10 Sick Days
- 11 Paid Holidays
- 2 Volunteer Days after one year of service
- 2 Personal Days accrued annually
- Maternity Leave
ALSO...
- Employee Awards and Recognition Programs
- Individual and Leadership Development
- Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets
- Monthly premiums paid for the employee for vision, dental, and short/long term disability.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Vision
Make-A-Wish is committed to championing diversity, equity and inclusion, fostering an organization that is accessible and welcoming. In turn, we are uniting communities to help make more wishes possible.
- Our mission is most effectively fulfilled through a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as core values and practice.
- It is only through our mosaic of different cultures, perspectives and experiences that we can grant life-changing wishes to every eligible child.
- As the world’s largest wish-granting organization we stand against racism and intolerance and are committed to representation and acceptance, creating a sense of belonging, and practicing fairness in creating opportunities for our wish families, volunteers and staff.
- Diversity: Diversity at Make-A-Wish is about recognizing and valuing our differences as well as focusing on our shared meaning and humanity. Diversity is the collection of unique attributes both visible and invisible, traits, and characteristics that make up individuals. They include race, gender, abilities, values, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, preferences, behaviors, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, age, sexual orientation/identity, and more.
- Equity: Equity at Make-A-Wish is ensuring all Wish Kids, families, and volunteers and our stakeholders, regardless of background, receive the resources and support to ensure highly impactful outcomes.
- Inclusion: Inclusion at Make-A-Wish is creating an environment where Make-A-Wish Kids and families, colleagues, volunteers, and stakeholders feel they are welcomed, respected, and valued, and those feelings are both real & perceived.
- Belonging: Belonging at Make-A-Wish describes the experience of being accepted, included, and respected by those around you. You have a sense of community and connection with others and feel that your full potential is engaged in the Make-A-Wish mission.
We respect and ensure equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, perceived disability and other legally protected characteristics. Make-A-Wish America utilizes E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.
Required Experience