Planned Giving Officer - Animal Welfare Organization

Job Type Full-time Description

Humane Colorado is hiring a Planned Giving Officer to lead stewardship of our Founders Society, a group of nearly 1,000 legacy donors, and to identify and cultivate new planned giving prospects. This role is key to supporting long-term fundraising goals through personalized engagement and strong donor relationships.

We’re looking for a fundraiser with experience in planned giving or mid-to-major gifts who is motivated by donor impact and mission-driven work. You’ll manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors, collaborate with teams across development and marketing, and help secure meaningful legacy gifts that support our future.

If you’re passionate about donor relationships and long-term impact in animal welfare, we’d love to hear from you!

Purpose of Position: The Planned Giving Officer is responsible for managing the Planned Giving program, engaging with members of the Founders Society, and cultivating and stewarding relationships with mid-level donors as a pipeline to the Founders Society and Major Gifts. The officer will focus on renewing and increasing annual gifts, as well as tracking and reporting progress. The role also serves as an integral member of our organization's Development Department.

Responsibilities

• Support the overall long-term financial strength and support of our organization by visiting donors and prospective donors about a variety of gift possibilities, particularly deferred and planned gifts.
• In collaboration with the Manager of Philanthropy and Planned Giving, develop and implement a strategy to identify opportunities for major gifts and additional planned gifts. Recommend annual goals and budget projections for the planned giving program.
• Manage a rated prospect list of prospective donors and a portfolio of active donors, including donors not currently members of the Founders Society. Develop and implement a reactivation strategy to re-engage lapsed donors within this pool.
• Cultivate relationships with donors to renew and increase annual giving, with a particular focus on Founders Society members who are not giving.
• Foster personal relationships with top-tier donors through phone calls, meetings, and written correspondence, ensuring their connection to the organization’s mission is deepened.
• Oversee communication efforts with prospective legacy donors and cultivate relationships with mid-level donors to drive fundraising and deepen engagement.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications team to create printed and digital materials that support fundraising goals.
• Organize and execute group activities and one-on-one cultivation opportunities with Founders Society members and prospects to maintain and enhance donor relationships. Includes attendance at occasional events in the evenings and on weekends.
• Plan and implement donor education, appreciation, engagement, and solicitation programs, including regular communication (written and digital), group events (e.g., tours, special experiences), and other stewardship initiatives.
• Assist with bequests, blended gifts, and more sophisticated giving options both annually and in legacy plans. Work closely with development colleagues to identify potential major donors or legacy giving prospects and transition them into the appropriate fundraising programs.
• Monitor donor performance on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis to ensure revenue goals are met.
• Maintain accurate donor information in development database, utilizing the database to track engagement and cultivation efforts effectively.
• Implement systems to track donor progress, identify trends, and ensure strategic focus on major and legacy giving prospects.
• Track key performance metrics, including renewal rates, attrition, and average gift amounts, to evaluate donor engagement and identify opportunities for growth. Perform other duties as assigned.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and our organization's business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources

Organizational Key Competencies

• Job Knowledge
• Productivity / Efficiency
• Quality / Excellence
• Adapting to Change
• Dependability / Integrity
• People Care

Position Key Competencies

• Legacy giving vehicles
• Knowledge of estate processes and planning
• Bequest processes
• Strategic donor segmentation and marketing

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Volunteers

Travel

• This position requires driving a company vehicle
• This position requires up to 10% travel in state

Full-Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Sabbatical
• Holiday Pay
• 401(k) with matching
• Employee discounts
• Discounted Pet Insurance
• and more!

Compensation: Starting at $73,500.00-$81,000.00 annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Location: Denver, CO | Full-time | Occasional evenings and weekends required

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Performs work primarily in an office setting. Potentially prolonged periods of sitting and repetitive motion. May work in an area with high noise level.? Potentially subject to animal bites and scratches.? Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Occasional lifting with reasonable accommodation.

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on January 25, 2026.

Requirements

Position Qualifications Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent business writing skills, particularly in fundraising or proposal writing.
• Knowledge of best practices in segmented marketing strategies for fundraising, particularly working with legal firms and bequest administration.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Familiarity with donor databases.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within the Development team.
• Strong leadership qualities, professionalism, energy, passion, and a commitment to achieving goals.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and perform under pressure.
• Discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent independent judgment and initiative.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Expertise in areas of gift planning and deferred giving vehicles
• Knowledgeable about major gifts and estate and financial planning fundamentals.
• Strategic initiative to grow our legacy donor base and engage lifetime giving
• Excellent relationship building skills

Required

• Education: College degree
• Work Experience: 3 -5 years of successful Planned Giving or Development experience
• Experience in database management preferably in EveryAction, SalesForce or Raisers Edge

Desired

• Experience with Planned Giving platforms like Crescendo or Stelter
• Experience partnering with Marketing to create curated pieces

Salary Description $73,500.00-$81,000.00