Hybrid Director – Planned Giving and Major Gifts

at Cape Cod Technology Council, Inc.

• Job title: Director – Planned Giving and Major Gifts
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $125,000 - $155,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Woods Hole, United States

About the role

• Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts at WHOI managing fundraising and donor engagement strategies. Collaborating with a team to enhance philanthropic support for the institution.

Responsibilities

• Lead the continued development, growth, and strategic direction of WHOI’s planned giving program
• Promote planned giving opportunities to increase participation and Fye Society membership; serve as internal expert on planned giving vehicles, donor motivations, and best practices
• Collaborate with frontline fundraisers to identify top prospects, using CRM data and ratings to convert annual donors to planned gift donors
• Work directly with donors to design charitable gift strategies that maximize benefits for both the donor and WHOI, including preparing calculations and illustrations using PG Calc and related tools
• Partner with the Director of Development, Annual and Planned Giving to create and execute an annual marketing plan for planned giving , including print collateral, email outreach, website content, and newsletters
• Staff, guide, and steward the Fye Society Steering Committee; ensure appropriate recognition and ongoing stewardship for Fye Society members
• Serve as WHOI’s primary liaison with all financial institutions and external managers supporting planned giving vehicles (currently State Street Global Advisors)
• Track realized planned gifts; maintain expertise on legal, tax, and financial considerations relevant to planned giving
• Maintain and update WHOI’s policies for receiving, documenting, and designating planned gifts
• Coordinate with WHOI’s Finance team and provide auditors with required information on split-interest gifts
• Grow and manage a portfolio of 100–125 prospects capable of making five- to seven-figure commitments, including both major gift and planned giving prospects
• Partner with WHOI scientists and engineers to provide mission-driven donor experiences such as tours, briefings, and customized proposal development
• Meet quarterly activity benchmarks and annual fundraising goals
• Identify , qualify, cultivate, solicit , and steward new prospects; develop tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies informed by donor history and capacity
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions using moves management systems and CRM reporting tools
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Palm Beach Chapter and its steering committee; collaborate with the Assistant Director of Volunteer Management and Events team to plan small events and donor engagement activities
• Collaborate strategically with the Vice President for Advancement, Chief Development Officer, Senior Director of Advancement Operations & Stewardship, Development colleagues, and volunteer leaders to communicate fundraising priorities
• Deliver a high-quality donor experience through personalized correspondence, professional proposals, and timely acknowledgments
• Lead cultivation and stewardship strategies for planned and major gift donors in partnership with colleagues
• Represent WHOI at donor events and institutional functions
• Prepare and present written and verbal briefings, follow-up materials, and contact reports in a timely manner

Requirements

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in planned giving fundraising
• Demonstrated success securing six-figure or higher philanthropic commitments
• Strong understanding of WHOI’s mission and the ability to articulate its impact, uniqueness, and global relevance
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment
• Solution-oriented approach with strong diplomacy, communication, collaboration skills, discretion with confidential information, and a sense of humor
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to inspire and engage donors and build long-term relationships
• Strong strategic thinking and insight across fundraising, donor strategy, and prospect management
• Proficiency with constituent management systems and Microsoft 365
• Understanding of best practices for campaign tracking and major gift fundraising
• Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends
• Bachelor’s and/or advanced degree in Nonprofit Management /Administration, Business Administration, Philanthropic Studies, Public Policy/Administration, or related field (preferred)
• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge/NXT and PG Calc (preferred)
• Experience working in complex research, academic, or scientific organizations (preferred)
• Familiarity with estate law, tax considerations, and investment vehicles relevant to charitable planning (preferred)
• Demonstrated success collaborating with volunteer committees or advisory groups (preferred)
• Experience with multichannel donor engagement strategies including planned giving marketing, digital outreach, and donor recognition programs (preferred)

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package