Assistant Director of Planned Giving

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of Planned Giving, the Assistant Director of Planned Giving serves as a donor-facing fundraising professional responsible for securing planned gifts and complex outright gifts in support of West Virginia University and its affiliates. The Assistant Director manages an individual portfolio of prospects and donors while also serving as a planned giving resource for unit-based major gift officers, integrating charitable gift planning into broader fundraising strategies across the University.
This role requires a strong willingness to collaborate with internal partners, meet with donors, conduct face-to-face visits, and engage in substantive gift planning conversations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Donor Engagement and Fundraising
•    Manage an assigned portfolio of planned giving prospects and donors, guiding relationships from identification and qualification through solicitation, documentation, and stewardship.
•    Conduct a minimum of 50 donor visits annually, primarily within West Virginia and the surrounding region, with additional travel as appropriate, to advance active solicitations and planned gift discussions.
•    Personally solicit and close planned and blended gifts, including bequests, beneficiary designations (retirement plans and life insurance), and gifts involving both current and deferred components.
•    Document donor contact, strategy, and gift outcomes in the Foundation’s CRM in a timely and accurate manner.

Gift Planning Expertise
•    Serve as a primary gift planning resource for bequests and beneficiary designations, including leading technical gift discussions and documentation for assigned donors and in support of regional and unit-based fundraisers.
•    Develop charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts (CRUTs/CRATs) with review and approval by the Executive Director of Planned Giving.
•    Explain charitable gift options and general tax and estate planning considerations to donors in a clear, donor-centered manner.
•    Prepare or substantially contribute to gift agreements, beneficiary language, and related documentation, subject to Foundation processes.

Collaboration with Development Colleagues
•    Proactively partner with major gift officers and development staff across colleges, units, and regions to:
•    Identify planned giving opportunities within existing portfolios
•    Participate in joint donor visits
•    Integrate planned giving strategies into major gift solicitations
•    Serve as an on-call planned giving specialist for the Foundation, providing guidance and support to development colleagues as needed.
•    Determine donor relationship management responsibilities on a case-by-case basis in coordination with unit and regional fundraisers.

Stewardship and Donor Relations
•    Implement appropriate stewardship strategies to ensure donors feel informed, valued, and confident in the Foundation and the University.
•    Assist with the administration and growth of the Irvin Stewart Society, including donor recognition and engagement activities.
•    Maintain long-term relationships with planned giving donors to encourage continued engagement and philanthropic commitment.

Marketing, Communications, and Outreach
•    Assist in the development and execution of planned giving marketing and communications efforts, including donor-facing materials and outreach initiatives.
•    Represent the Planned Giving Office to external audiences and professional groups as assigned, including estate planning councils and affinity organizations.

Professional Development
•    Maintain current knowledge of charitable gift planning techniques, tax considerations, and industry best practices.
•    Participate in continuing education and professional development activities related to planned giving and philanthropy, as approved by the Executive Director of Planned Giving.

Required
•    Bachelor’s degree.
•    Minimum of three years of relevant experience, which may include fundraising, major gifts, planned giving, financial services, trust or wealth management, law, accounting, or related fields.
•    Demonstrated willingness and ability to meet directly with donors and engage in gift planning conversations.
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills.
•    Ability to travel regularly, particularly within West Virginia and the surrounding region.

Preferred
•    Master’s degree.
•    Experience with charitable gift planning concepts and vehicles.
•    Major gifts fundraising experience.
•    Background in law, financial services, trust administration, or estate planning.
•    Experience working in a collaborative, matrixed development environment.

Working conditions

•    This position may be structured as in-office, hybrid, or remote, based on organizational needs and the qualifications of the selected candidate.
•    Regardless of work arrangement, the Assistant Director of Planned Giving is expected to be present in Morgantown on a regular basis for donor meetings, collaboration with colleagues, and University-related activities.
•    Frequent regional travel is required, particularly within West Virginia; occasional national travel may be necessary.

Physical requirements
•    While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required to perform this job include close vision.