Title: Director of Major and Planned Giving Reports to: Vice President for Advancement FLSA: Exempt The Director of Major and Planned Giving leads a frontline fundraising operation that builds deep and lasting individual relationships with donors and prospects across the philanthropic continuum. The Director is responsible for securing philanthropic support to advance Knox College's mission in conjunction with the strategic framework Venture Boldly. This position develops and executes integrated strategies for major gifts ($50,000+) and planned giving, manages a robust portfolio of high-capacity prospects, and oversees the planned giving program and major giving team, ensuring coordinated cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities that maximize philanthropic support for the institution.Knox College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college committed to preparing students to flourish in a diverse world through transformative learning experiences. As Director of Major and Planned Giving, you'll serve as a strategic partner to donors who want their philanthropy to make a profound, lasting impact on this mission. You'll think relationally about each donor's full philanthropic potential, working across the giving continuum to structure gifts that achieve donors' charitable objectives while advancing Knox's most critical priorities.
Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Director is a key member of the Advancement Leadership Team and works collaboratively with colleagues to promote the institution's mission, deepen donor relationships, and increase transformational philanthropy.
Key Responsibilities:- Lead all aspects of major gifts and planned giving programs to secure $15-20M+ annually in endowed, capital, and unrestricted funding.
- Manage a portfolio of 75-100 major gift prospects while overseeing team cultivation of additional prospects.
- Develop and implement strategies for leadership gifts, complex gifts, and deferred giving that integrate seamlessly across donor lifecycles.
- Manage and mentor major giving staff, establishing metrics, training protocols, and professional development opportunities.
- Serve as the institution's primary resource on charitable estate planning, tax-advantaged giving strategies, and complex gift structures.
- Oversee planned giving program operations,including bequests, trusts, and charitable gift annuities.
Strategic Planning & Analysis (20%)- Collaborate with the Vice President for Advancement and advancement leadership in developing strategic and operational plans for major gifts and planned giving growth as part of comprehensive campaign planning.
- Analyze pipeline data and trends to identify opportunities for portfolio growth, prospect identification, and program enhancement.
- Work with Prospect Development to identify major gift and planned giving prospects, applying analytics and gift planning indicators to build sustainable pipelines.
- Utilize CRM and other advancement technologies to track activities, analyze trends, and evaluate strategies for achieving fundraising goals.
- Understand institutional vision and priorities, develop clear and compelling messages, and craft giving opportunities aligned with donor interests and institutional needs.
- Represent the institution within the advancement network of professionals to create opportunities for talent recruitment, best-practice sharing, and learning.
Planned Giving Program (30%)- Lead the continued development, growth, and strategic direction of Knox's planned giving program.
- Oversee all aspects of the institution's planned giving program, including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and other deferred gift vehicles.
- Create and manage the plan for marketing the planned giving program and communicating with identified donor segments about smart giving and planned giving options, which includes print collateral, email outreach, website content, and newsletters.
- Use available data and gift planning indicators to identify planned giving prospects. Oversee development and execution of marketing strategies, including topic-specific pieces, newsletters, and other communications for planned giving prospects.
- Promote planned giving opportunities to increase participation and the Old Main Society membership; serve as internal expert on planned giving vehicles, donor motivations, and best practices.
- Serve as primary contact between Advancement and Finance for planned gift administration, including but not limited to, contract production for life income gifts and appropriate processes for termination and release of remainders.
- Manage bequest acceptance operations, including communication with estate executors and attorneys during distribution processes, acknowledgment of distributions, and appropriate documentation.
- Oversee qualification materials and recognition activities for the legacy society, collaborating with Donor Relations on planned giving stewardship efforts.
- Maintain detailed knowledge of tax and estate law for purposes of proposing efficient support strategies to be shared with donors' tax and legal advisors.
Portfolio Management & Personal Solicitation (30%)- Maintain and actively manage a portfolio of 100-150 major gift and planned giving prospects, with emphasis on donors capable of six- and seven-figure commitments.
- Execute comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects, employing a relational approach that considers all gift types and opportunities throughout the donor lifecycle.
- Conduct 75-100+ personal visits annually with prospects and donors, including national travel as needed to advance relationships and secure commitments.
- Develop and propose sophisticated giving strategies for prospects, including outright major gifts, multi-year pledges, and complex/deferred gifts such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, remainder trusts, and gifts of appreciated assets.
- Prepare comprehensive gift proposals with appropriate software calculations, written explanations, and oral presentations. Work closely with donors and their advisors to structure gifts that optimize benefits for both the donor and the institution.
- Partner with institutional leadership, Board members, faculty, and volunteers to ensure appropriate involvement in cultivation and solicitation activities.
Team Leadership & Program Management (20%)- Manage and mentor major gift officers to build expertise and fundraising excellence.
- Develop and implement formal goals, tools, training programs, and metrics designed to ensure excellence in frontline fundraising and team management.
- Establish and monitor staff performance goals, providing consistent feedback and support. In collaboration with the Associate Director of Prospect Research, conduct regular portfolio reviews and strategy sessions with direct reports.
- Set and track metrics for major gifts and planned giving programs, ensuring alignment with overall advancement goals and campaign priorities.
- Serve as technical consultant to advancement colleagues on complex and deferred gifts, providing expertise and coaching to support their cultivation and solicitation efforts.
- Work with other advancement leaders to ensure effective coordination and efficiency across engagement, communications, stewardship, and prospect development functions.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership gifts at all levels, including six- and seven-figure commitments.
- Deep understanding of planned giving vehicles, tax law, and estate planning strategies with the ability to explain complex concepts to donors and their advisors.
- Demonstrated success in managing and mentoring development professionals, with commitment to building team capacity and fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build deep, lasting relationships across diverse constituencies, including donors, volunteers, institutional leaders, and professional advisors.
- Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and deliver persuasive presentations.
- Strong strategic and analytical skills with the ability to develop data-informed strategies and make sound judgments about complex fundraising situations.
- Metrics-based approach to fundraising with demonstrated ability to set goals, track progress, and achieve results.
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
- Creative problem-solver with entrepreneurial spirit and solution-oriented mindset.
- Cultural competency and sensitivity to working with diverse constituencies.
- Strong familiarity with development systems, CRM platforms, and fundraising best practices.
- Ability to work independently and as part of an energetic team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion and tact.
- Willingness and ability to attend events outside of business hours and travel regularly for donor visits.
- Deep appreciation for the institution's mission and higher education advancement work.
Minimum Education Required:Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum Experience Required:7+ years of progressive development experience in major gifts and planned giving work, with demonstrated success in securing leadership gifts. Higher education fundraising experience is strongly preferred.
Minimum Licenses/Certifications Required:N/A
Additional Qualifications: (Preferred qualifications)
- Experience with capital campaigns and comprehensive fundraising initiatives.
- Direct management experience supervising gift officers and development professionals.
- Advanced training or certification in planned giving (e.g., CAP®, CFRE).
- Experience with Blackbaud products (Raiser's Edge NXT, Financial Edge) or similar advancement CRM platforms.
- Familiarity with gift planning software and illustration tools.
Cross-cultural competency and knowledge of international
Summary Pay Range: Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance, and experience. Please note that pay is only one component of total compensation.
Benefits:Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
FSA/ HSA/ FSA Dependent Care
Employer Paid Basic Life & LTD
Voluntary Life
Retirement Plan
Paid Time Off
Employee Assistance Program
Parental Leave
In keeping with its commitment to equal rights since it was founded in 1837, Knox College particularly welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups. Knox College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, religion or religious affiliation, sexual orientation or preference, age, marital or family status, disability, veteran status, or other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in admission, financial aid, employment, athletics, or any other aspect of its educational programs or activities. In addition, Knox College is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its accompanying regulations from discriminating on the basis of sex.
The College official responsible for coordinating compliance with this Notice of Non-Discrimination is the Director of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance. Any inquiries regarding policies that prohibit discrimination and harassment, including Title IX sexual harassment, as well as the policy prohibiting hazing, should be directed to the Director of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance identified below. Staff in the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance are available to meet with or talk to students, staff, and faculty regarding issues relating to this Notice of Non-Discrimination and the College's policies and procedures.
Director of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance
Old Jail 12 | Campus Box K-209
337 South Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-341-7751
Email:
cultureofrespect@knox.eduInquiries about the application of Title IX to Knox may be referred to the Director of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance, the United States Department of Education's Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, or both. Individuals may also contact the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights for additional information.
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education-Chicago Office
500 W Madison St., Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661-4544
Phone: 312-730-1560
Email:
ocr@ed.govInquiries regarding the College's policies regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504") should be directed to the ADA/504 Coordinator identified below:
Knox College ADA/504 Coordinator
Jennie Hemingway, PhD
Old Jail 12 | Campus Box K-209
337 South Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-341-7751
Email:
jhemingway@knox.eduEmployees requesting accommodations may contact:
Human Resources
52 W South St., Alumni Hall, Suite 100 | Campus Box K-200
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-341-7162 or 309-341-7543
Email:
hr@knox.eduStudents requesting accommodations may contact:
Director of Disability Support Services
Stephanie Grimes
Umbeck Science and Math Center E111 | Campus Box K183
340 South West Street
Phone: 309-341-7478
Email:
sgrimes@knox.edu
