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Job Summary

The Senior Director of Planned Giving reports to the Associate Vice President of Development and will assume lead responsibility for all aspects of a comprehensive planned giving program attracting significant private support to the university. The Senior Director will participate in the planning and implementation of programs and practices which cultivate, solicit and steward prospective and existing donors of planned and deferred gifts requiring financial and estate planning expertise. The incumbent will direct the planning, management, coordination, and evaluation of the comprehensive Gift Planning Program within University Advancement. This includes staffing, budgeting, marketing, reporting, and oversight of the program. San José State University’s Gift Planning Program provides strategic leadership and partnership in the planning and execution of tax-wise gifts, including outright gifts, real estate, trusts, and all forms of deferred giving (estate planning, bequests, and other life income gifts). Planned gifts at SJSU represent 40% or more of overall dollars raised annually. The Senior Director will also work with senior campus leadership, Tower Foundation directors and other volunteers, alumni, business and community leaders, financial advisors, and other allied professionals in carrying out the responsibilities of this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and manage results-driven planned giving program
• Plan and implement strategies and activities that promote the planned giving program
• Administer matured estates until gifts are received and estates are closed
• Ensure legal recordkeeping requirements are met regarding documentation of planned gifts
• Maintain high-level knowledge of campus-wide prospect pools, regions and fundraising initiatives
• Develop effective working relationships with professional advisors in the legal, financial and banking communities
• Maintain an understanding and knowledge of various planned gift vehicles
• Keep abreast of current estate planning trends by joining professional organizations and attending workshops and seminars
• Develops and implements special events and programs designed to identify prospective donors, trains the professional community and to market the university giving opportunities
• Oversee all aspects of the legacy group (the Heritage Society) and ensure its effective stewardship and growth
• Coordinate activities on various legal and financial issues with the Tower Foundation and the Vice President of University Advancement
• Provide gift illustrations for various gift vehicles and review of trust documents, working with donor advisors and trust administrators
• Maintain current knowledge regarding legal, tax, technical, and financial developments in estate planning and charitable donations and serve as a University expert and resource
• Provide leadership and best practices to the gift acceptance policies and procedures including the facilitation and introduction of new gift opportunities
• Personally develop, lead, and manage the strategy for a portfolio of gift planning donors and prospects, setting and meeting ambitious goals to lead by example in fundraising
• Cultivate relationships with attorneys, accountants, financial planners, bank trust officers, chartered life underwriters, and other professional advisors
• Works with prospects and their professional advisors, academic leaders, other development staff and volunteers to develop solicitation and gift strategies
• Consults with donors' advisors responsible for the completion of gift agreements. Inform the tax, legal and financial advisors of the university policies for planned gifts. Assists prospective donors and their advisors in clarifying objectives, obtaining and recording pertinent information
• Oversee reporting and all aspects of estate administration of all planned gift activity, results, expectancies, and annual planning for accuracy and strategic significance, and ensure seamless reporting and gift distributions to donors
• Prepare gift agreements, as well as documents to establish charitable gift annuities, charitable reminder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and other forms of planned gifts
• Present and regularly review top prospect strategies with immediate supervisor and other key team members as appropriate
• Steward key planned giving donors

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects/donors and effectively move them through the development cycle leading to closing six and seven-figure gifts.
• Working knowledge of law, accounting, or financial planning.
• Thorough understanding of planned giving programs, including charitable remainder trusts and gift annuities; as well as gift management and stewardship
• Working knowledge of planned giving software and the ability to prepare illustration proposals and present institutional needs to prospects
• Able to develop and execute fundraising strategies
• Knowledge of planned giving vehicles, techniques, and estate planning concepts
• Working knowledge of tax law and IRS regulations
• Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with the stages of fundraising—identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Able to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Skillful in successfully managing multiple projects on tight deadlines and under pressure in a dynamic and open environment.
• Strong initiative and self-motivation and ability to work as part of a collaborative team.
• Excellent organizational skills as well as creativity and resourcefulness
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively interact tactfully and diplomatically
• Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution
• At least five years of successful professional development, financial planning, asset management, and/or fundraising-related experience, preferably in higher education, hospital, or related non-profit fundraising environment
• Experience with various gift and estate planning instruments and technical expertise with various gift planning strategies
• Minimum of four years working in any CSU institution in a fundraising role.

License

A valid driver's license is required for this position. Out of state candidates selected for the position must obtain a State of California driver's license within 10 days of hire in accordance with the California Department of Motor Vehicles regulations.

Once hired the employee must successfully complete the Defensive Driver Training Program provided by the State of California for California State University campuses.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or certification in estate and gift planning
• Demonstrated experience of development programs with an emphasis on planned giving
• Demonstrated experience of successful fundraising best practices for making outright and planned gifts
• Demonstrated experience of higher education advancement
• Experience working with bequests, trusts, taxes, and planned giving with a strong working knowledge of tax, trust, and other laws affecting charitable planning
• Demonstrated experience of the following software: Excel, MS Word, and database management system

Compensation

Classification: Administrator III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $12,917/month - $13,750/month
CSU Salary Range: $6,563/month - $21,066/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: October 28, 2024 through November 11, 2024. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification: 

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University (SJSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all SJSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus).