About this role
Director of Major and Planned Gifts
This position is primarily responsible to: Testify to personal experience of salvation in Jesus Christ, affirm belief in the University’s Statement of Faith, abide by and practice our Life Together Covenant, and both personally agree with and support the Foundational Documents of Taylor University. Implement a regional identification, engagement, and fundraising program that identifies alumni, parents, and friends who feel a strong affinity for the Taylor mission and the potential to advance it through contributions of their time, talent, and treasure. Interview prospects meeting the aforementioned criteria, determine which are most promising, and develop individual strategies to engage them in the life of the University. Determine which activities in the region and on campus, as well as which communications and university representatives will have the greatest resonance with the most promising prospects. Orchestrate a series of positive, personal, productive, and progressive interactions with each significant prospect as a means of deepening their commitment to the Taylor mission. Solicit support after orchestrating substantive engagement activities and alignment of purposes between the prospect and the University. Steward major and planned gifts according to major and planned gift best practices, including discovery visits, cultivation, soft ask, written proposals delivered and discussed in person, follow-up, and stewardship. Coordinate work with Advancement and University colleagues, including Development, Campaigns, Alumni, Parents, Marketing, Admissions, Faculty, Administrative leadership, Board Members, and the President. This includes periodically making fundraising calls with the VP and the President. Diagnose and refer more complex planned giving opportunities to the Director of Stewardship Planning and VP. Participate in weekly phone calls with the Major and Planned Gifts team, monthly one-on-one meetings with the Director of Development, attend one or two-day monthly meetings on campus, and travel to campus for other selected events (e.g., Homecoming & Family Weekend, Heritage Weekend, Commencement, etc.). Seek to develop personal knowledge and expertise in a wide variety of areas around Taylor University to be able to answer questions with confidence and authority. Make a minimum of 150 face-to-face visits each year (manage a portfolio of 150 top prospects). While this includes asking for gifts of $10K or more, you will place greater focus on gifts of $100K or more. Aim to secure $1 million yearly in commitments from cash/pledges, irrevocable (charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts), and revocable (bequests, beneficiary designation of life insurance, retirement plans, etc.) categories in the first two years and $1.5 million in subsequent years. Other duties as assigned.