Associate Director, Gift Planning

Job Title: Associate Director, Gift Planning

Department: Membership Growth

Location: Oakland, CA or Remote

Reports to: Senior Director, Gift Planning

Supervises: None

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Associate Director, Gift Planning is responsible for working with a vetted gift planning donor portfolio of high affinity members and gift planning donors for cultivation and solicitation of new and additional planned gifts. This position is part of a dynamic team of planned giving gift officers raising money for our high-impact campaigns from individual donors cultivated from our membership base. These gifts will represent both unrestricted and restricted future revenue. The Associate Director, Gift Planning manages a defined portfolio as well as accounts throughout the country via engagement and stewardship. 

• Create and execute donor engagement strategies for each donor in the donor portfolio.  Identify, research, cultivate, upgrade and/or solicit retained and new donors, with an eye to building a strong pipeline of new testamentary gift commitments, in the form of bequests, charitable gift annuities with non-stock complex assets, and other life income vehicles. Maintains an emphasis on building relationships with individuals who have a planned giving capacity of $10,000 or greater. 
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for a self-identified portfolio and develop and implement a fundraising plan, strategy, and maintaining relationship records by capturing all interactions in the database. Monitors fundraising efforts, sets priorities for future activities, and regularly reports progress to the Senior Director, Gift Planning.
• Connect the donor’s philanthropic priorities with the organization's most critical programs and ambitions.  Engagement will include phone, video conference, and in-person for stewardship, cultivation and ultimately solicitation. In-person engagement may include travel and in person visitation, when necessary, safe and appropriate.
• Coordinates gift planning opportunities with the work of the regional field offices including Chapter staff and leadership, regional campaign and program staff, and Chapter volunteers.
• Maintains knowledge and expertise in environmental issues.  This includes the Sierra Club's mission/priorities, long-term desired outcomes, and concerns.
• Coordinates with other Gift Planning staff to help plan and lead events where appropriate.
• Performs miscellaneous duties and specially assigned project duties as directed.

• Solid experience with increasing responsibilities in gift planning fundraising or equivalent experience.  This includes a background in bequest, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and other life income vehicles, or similar equivalent experience.
• Experience in vetting and accepting a multitude of assets.  Preferably, this includes accepting cash and securities, and vetting other non-cash assets as planned or outright gifts.
• Navigating donor conversations to identify alternative gift opportunities.
• Demonstrated effectiveness and ability to meet fundraising goals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Highly motivated and self-directed with an ability to work independently.  Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Equity Analysis and Practice. You are aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role.

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

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