Director of Major Gifts and Gift Planning

Director of Major Gifts and Gift Planning

Position :

Director of Major Gifts and Gift Planning

Reports To :

Chief Advancement Officer

Status : Full-time, Exempt

Salary Range : $155,000 - $165,000

Founded in 1901, Brooklyn Law School is a distinguished, independent law school located in Downtown Brooklyn, New York. The Law School is searching for a Director of Major Gifts and Gift Planning to join our team. The Law School’s size, vibrant employee and student population, and commitment to training the next generation of lawyers and promoting social justice, will offer a candidate the opportunity to develop and diversify practical skills and participate firsthand in operating a successful educational institution.

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), the Director of Major Gifts and Gift Planning (Director) will be charged with leading major and planned giving efforts for the Law School. With currently one Major Gift Officer (MGO) as a direct report, the Director will be front line major gift officer, a coach and mentor to the MGO, subject matter expert in gift planning and a strategic partner to the CAO in building a robust major gift pipeline for the Law School. As a member of the Advancement Leadership Team, the Director will provide thought leadership to the CAO and will provide vital leadership support partnering to help launch the first comprehensive campaign in Brooklyn Law School’s history. This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished major gifts officer ready to take on more of a leadership role with management responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement fundraising strategies to achieve institutional goals, including principal gifts, major gifts and planned gifts.

Manage and coach the major gift officer to reach and exceed fundraising goals.

Discover, cultivate and solicit donors with the capacity to make gifts of $250,000 or greater.

Manage a portfolio of 100-120 donors and prospects and conduct a minimum of 100 in-person donor meetings per year.

Oversee and develop a robust best practice gift planning program creating a variety of pathways for donors to support Brooklyn Law School through planned giving vehicles.

Assist in the planning and execution of gift planning society events.

Provide regular gift planning training to advancement colleagues, especially when there are changes to tax implications for donors.

Develop and maintain expertise in giving opportunities that support the Law School’s programs and priorities while fulfilling donors’ philanthropic objectives.

In collaboration with the President / Dean and CAO determine strategies for top prospects and donors.

Maintain meaningful contact or attempted contact with 100% of their portfolio during any 6-month period.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required.

A minimum of 5-7 years of related experience in major gifts and gift planning.

Knowledge of higher education and fundraising strategies unique to the NYC market.

Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising including a record of discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors and prospects.

Familiarity with higher education fundraising strategies and the NYC donor landscape is preferred.

Deep knowledge and experience in gift planning vehicles (e.g., bequests, trusts, annuities), gifts of securities, and other non-cash assets, along with associated legal and tax requirements.

Experience drafting gift agreements and proposals.

Experience working with, staffing and preparing organization leadership – Presidents, Deans, C‑Suite etc – for donor meetings.

Interest in managing staff and volunteers.

A strategic thinker able to develop and successfully execute fundraising plans.

Exceptional organizational skills, ability to follow through and attention to details, manage multiple priorities.

Strong verbal and written skills.

Excel at building relationships internally and externally.

Must be donor and goal centric.

Ability to work collaboratively in a complex environment and work independently.

A self‑motivated and entrepreneurial professional with a passion for the impact of philanthropy.

Preferred Qualifications

An understanding and appreciation of the role of development in an educational institution is highly desirable.

The professional maturity to work successfully with skilled professionals in the legal, academic and corporate communities is essential.

Professional or lived NYC experience.

Highly energetic professional with the ability to engage donors, work with volunteers and solicit gifts.

Remote Capabilities

This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum in-office presence of four (4) days per week during the academic year when classes are in session and during exam periods. During the summer and academic breaks, when classes are not in session and exams are not being administered, a minimum of three (3) days per week of in-office presence is required.

Travel

This position may be traveling monthly to meet with donors. Nights and weekend work may also be required.

Brooklyn Law School has an excellent benefits package that includes sick, personal and vacation paid time off, a generous retirement plan, dependent tuition scholarship Pre K- undergraduate college and additional summer Friday PTO.

Affirmative Action / EEO statement : It is the policy of Brooklyn Law School to be impartial in the treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to race, creed, religion, color, natural origin, citizenship status, gender, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, union affiliation, political affiliation, sexual orientation or preferences or any other legal protected status.

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