Planned & Major Gifts Officer

Planned and Major Gifts Officer

Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending our Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors and students to its campus each year. Critics have called Cranbrook “the most enchanted and enchanting setting in America” and in 1989 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website: www.cranbrook.edu.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Principal and Major Gifts (SDPMG) of the Cranbrook Educational Community (CEC), the Planned and Major Gifts Officer (PGO) provides leadership, planning, and management for CEC’s Estate and Planned Giving program, including facilitation, implementation and evaluation of strategic direction and overall management of daily operations. The PGO also manages and markets Cranbrook’s Legacy Society to all CEC constituents. The PGO serves as an internal advisor on estate and planned giving vehicles for all development officers across CEC. The PGO will join development officers in meetings with PG prospects and donors and will also maintain a personal portfolio of estate, planned giving and major/leadership gift prospects. The PGO will serve as primary staff for the volunteer committee of the CEC charged with Estate and Planned Giving responsibilities. The PGO must stay current in changes in state and federal income and estate tax and real estate laws and regulations and provide on-going training for development officers across CEC. This position has a critical role in the successful fundraising success of CEC and its ability to meet its financial and program goals.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Develop and implement short- and long-term plans and strategies for a comprehensive estate and planned giving program for CEC, with objectives, timelines, and evaluation
• Work closely with other areas of Advancement throughout CEC and serve as an in-house expert on estate and planned giving matters for all development officers, providing on-going training. Accompany development officers on meetings with prospects and donors as appropriate to assist those officers in meeting the individuals’ current and lifetime charitable giving
• Maintain an active personal portfolio of estate and planned giving gift prospects and principal and major gift prospects and use professional prospect management techniques to manage their engagement, solicitation, and stewardship for current and lifetime gifts to CEC.
• Develop strong relationships with allied professionals (attorneys, financial managers, trust officers, etc.) to encourage referrals of their clients to CEC and to assist those professionals in supporting their clients’ current and lifetime charitable giving
• Develop, implement, and evaluate an active planned giving awareness program for all CEC constituent groups, including written communications, direct mail, personal solicitations, informational programs, and other strategic methods of identifying and engaging prospective donors.
• Prepare customized estate and planned giving proposals and information packages as
• Manage all aspects of the Legacy Society which recognizes individuals who have made estate plans benefiting CEC.
• Provide support for CEC board committees or volunteers who have an interest or are charged with estate and planned giving responsibilities, including managing meetings, communications, and other
• Manage estate and planned giving vendor relationships, including strategy, budget, tracking, and ROI. Oversee Estate and Planned Giving program budget in consultation with
• Participate in speaking engagements, planned giving seminars, continuing education and professional development sessions to maintain current knowledge in the estate and planned giving field. Stay abreast of changes, trends, and best practices through attendance at external training sessions, conferences, and workshops as

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree (JD) and/or development certification preferred (CFRE).
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising or estate and planned giving. Significant experience in a related field will be
• Evidence of training in Estate and Planned Giving principals and best practices.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and high-level organizational skills.
• Ability to work successfully with principal and major donors, high level volunteers, senior administrators, and CEC development
• Excellent computer skills required, including proficiency in PG Calc or similar
• Knowledge of administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, strategic engagement, implementation, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of fundraising ethics, the Donor Bill of Rights, standard best practices in donor stewardship and engagement, and regulatory compliance. 
• Demonstrated ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally in fulfillment of responsibilities of this position.
• Requires a valid Michigan driver’s license with satisfactory driving record.

Starting salary for this position is $115k - $120k/annually based on experience.

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution. We also offer generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays, employee discounts, and a unique environment in an educational setting that values collaboration.

For consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter.