Gift Planning Associate

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Gift Planning Associate in the Development Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The ACLU’s passionate community of donors and activists is stronger than ever.  The mission of the ACLU’s Development Department is to unlock the full potential of donors and the ACLU as partners in the creation of a more perfect union.  We pursue our mission by building long-term donor relationships and organizational partnerships, by demonstrating impact in response to threats, by engaging donors how they wish to engage, by taking interest in our donors and facilitating personal action, by being accountable stewards of their funds, and by asking donors to consider giving the ACLU their full support.   

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Gift Planning Administration, the Gift Planning Associate will be responsible for providing support for the management and administration of trusts and estates, and life income gifts.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Support the overall operations of the gift planning program and represent the ACLU when working directly with donors and/or their families, attorneys, and advisors to administer both active and matured bequest and life income gifts.  
• Independently manage the documentation, receipt, and disbursements of estate and life income gifts by coordinating with internal departments and external financial institutions
• Use your knowledge of planned gifts to problem-solve complex transactions, and to seek guidance or identify issues for escalation. 
• Represent the ACLU in managing donors’ and their representatives’ expectations regarding bequest inquiries, gift proposals and agreements, disbursements, and probate documentation. 
• Demonstrate a high degree of independent decision-making to ensure matured gifts are administered in accordance with organizational revenue sharing policies. 
• With guidance from other team members, responsible for assisting gift officers with day-to-day management of donor portfolios and stewardship activities by entering and maintaining the flow of tasks, producing correspondence, or other materials, necessary to maintain and deepen donor relationships.   
• Ensure the seamless administration of gift planning marketing and estate-related functions, including being the first point of contact for donors and their representatives, prioritizing a high volume of email and mail, independently assessing circumstances and determining the best course of follow-up. 
• With assistance from supervisor, responsible for the data accuracy and maintenance of planned giving records, evaluating needs and developing solutions using hygiene and management reports.    
• Use your knowledge of a variety of software applications and databases to create proposals and gift plans, track regulatory compliance, and produce activity reports. 
• At the discretion of planned giving management, other projects and duties will be assigned as necessary to maintain the highest level of gift planning standards. 

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Knowledge of, or desire to learn about, the gift planning field
• Experience in similar complex administrative environments like estate administration, legal, or financial operations
• Familiarity with fundraising databases
• Experience working at complex, fast-paced national or international nonprofits.
• Self-starter adept at planning, prioritizing, organizing, and follow-through, including adherence to deadlines and ability to manage multiple projects at the same time with overlapping deadlines.
• Work collaboratively, share assigned resources and information and serve as a point of reference for other staff to meet goals/deadlines within the expected time frame 
• Anticipate obstacles and suggest or perform alternative courses of action to accomplish the desired results for difficult projects
• Ability to speak and write effectively to convey clarity, specificity, and exactness, being mindful of the intended audience 
• Strong proofreading and editing skills 
• Ability to exercise good judgment about who needs what information and how to deliver it most effectively 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to represent the organization to donors as well as interface with all levels of staff at the national office, the affiliates and volunteers while maintaining tact, diplomacy and confidentiality 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, i.e. Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Internet usage 

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.