Job Listings

World Vision Canada

Director, Gift Planning

Posted date: Apr 18, 2008
Closing date: No closing date

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. In 2007, we provided hope and assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries.

The Director, Gift Planning plays a crucial role in helping the tremendously generous donors at World Vision make meaningful future gifts to the organization through their estate and other financial plans.

World Vision is seeking a leader with the ability to significantly grow the number and size of planned gifts by personally managing prospects and donors and by energizing and mentoring development and telephone advisors to identify and cultivate prospective planned gift donors. Some national travel will be required by the successful candidate.

Reporting to the VP, Donor Engagement, the Director, Gift Planning is responsible for the planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of World Vision Canada’s national gift planning initiatives. As a key strategic priority of World Vision Canada in the years ahead, the Director, Gift Planning in consultation with the Vice President and Directors of the Donor Engagement Group, will develop a strategic plan to significantly grow gift planning revenue and expectancies and attract the resources required to build and sustain a truly innovative legacy program.

At World Vision Canada gift planning encompasses contributions via wills, bequests, estates, gifts of securities, insurance, charitable gift annuities, retirement savings plans, charitable remainder trusts, memorials and tributes.

The key responsibilities of this position include:

• Management and implementation of strategic and annual plans, financial management and performance
• Development and strategic oversight of a gift planning marketing program to identify new prospects.
• Strategic oversight of the management of 2000-plus prospects and identification of new prospects
• Personal management of a portfolio of gift planning donors and prospects and the development of strategies to cultivate, solicit or steward each individual or family in the portfolio
• Management of estates in probate, including communication with executors, trustees and attorneys.
• Development and maintenance of key relationships with allied professionals in financial and estate planning and the legal, accounting and insurance sectors and professional associations such as the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and Association of Fundraising Professionals.
• With the Director, Donor Cultivation and the Director, Major Gifts and Corporate, the development of a shared vision and approach to cultivating and soliciting key donor relationships with gift planning potential.
• A commitment to building strong respectful relationships with donors that will endure a lifetime.
• Mentoring, training and advising development and telephone advisors on the fundamental principles and practise of gift planning.
• Supervision of a small team and, potentially a larger team, of gift planning coordinators
• Recruitment and management of a committee of volunteer advisors with expertise in gift, estate and financial planning and charitable tax law
• Oversight of the policies, procedures and performance metrics of the national gift planning program.

DESIRED BACKGROUND

• University degree
• 7-10 years experience in major gift fundraising, non-profit management or equivalent professional designation in a related field such as law, accounting, trust administration, life insurance or financial planning. Familiarity with planned giving instruments is preferred.
• 3-5 years experience in a director position and demonstrated competence in leading and supporting a team of professionals in field assignments
• Experience with strategic and annual planning, financial planning and reporting and accountability for both results-oriented and process-oriented goals
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in critical thinking, oral and written communication and relationship management
• Experience with databases and information and records management
• Involvement with Christian, faith-based institutions and organizations is an asset

KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• An extensive understanding of planned giving vehicles, techniques and strategies. Knowledge of the current tax law as it relates to charitable giving and understanding of non profit regulations and compliance issues.
• High standards of integrity, ethics, judgement and confidentiality
• The ability to think strategically and act collaboratively to achieve results
• Possess exceptional interpersonal skills and the capacity to develop authentic relationships

Interested candidates are asked to complete an online application by clicking on the “Apply Now” button.

World Vision is committed to the protection of children, all offers of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a Police background check. Qualified candidates must be able to demonstrate a commitment to the core values and mission of the World Vision partnership.

We thank applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.