Senior Director, Estates and Special Gifts

About the role

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. Planned Parenthood organizations serve all people with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care.

Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates, which operate non-profit health centers across the U.S. PPFA also works to educate the public on and advocate for issues of sexual and reproductive health.

Formed as the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a separate non-profit membership organization tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4). The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and limited electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education in furtherance of the Planned Parenthood mission.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund (Action Fund) seek a strategic and results-driven Sr. Director, Estates & Special Gifts. This job reports to the National Director of Gift Planning in the Individual Giving department within Development. The Individual Giving department raises philanthropic revenue for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund by working with donors and their advisors, as well as estates.

Purpose

The Sr. Director, Estates & Special Gifts leads the team charged with three revenue streams: estates-in-probate, life income gifts, and special gifts, including endowments. The Sr. Director ensures these programs meet revenue targets, deliver excellent gift planning services to donors and estates, and fulfill regulatory and compliance requirements.

Delivery

• Drives revenue performance across all three Gift Planning streams: estates-in-probate, life income gifts, and special giving
• Propels the estates-in-probate team to resolve matured estates and trusts as expediently as possible, advancing PPFA and the Action Fund's interests, and increasing the annual count of realized bequests.
• Partners with the National Director, and Vice President to explore, and assess innovative approaches to the team's work.
• Champions a diverse, and inclusive working environment and builds the team's capacity to sustain an equitable fundraising program
• Applies subject matter expertise in tax law, charitable gifts regulations, and all aspects of administering estates-in-probate, life income gifts, and special gifts programs.
• Directs the life income gifts, endowment, and IRA special gifts programs, resolving unusual circumstances, securing legal assistance internally or externally as appropriate, and escalating issues to the National Director as needed.
• Steers the Federation's life income gifts program, delivering expert services and economies of scale across all Planned Parenthood affiliates.
• Delivers timely, and accurate contracts, tax forms, substantiation letters, and related documents to donors, and equips pooled income fund, charitable trust, and endowment participants with reporting they need to continue investing in Planned Parenthood programs.
• Upholds compliance across internal deadlines (national and affiliate auditors and finance teams) and external requirements (state regulators, government agencies).
• Partners with the National Director on departmental planning, annual revenue goals, and expense budget.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Engagement

• Collaborates with national and affiliate finance and development teams, delivering information, technical assistance, and training on life income gift reporting.
• Negotiates with vendors providing banking, accounting, legal, and software services
• Leads search for and evaluation of estates-in-probate services in order to streamline and scale the estates-in-probate program to position PPFA and the Action Fund for the "great wealth transfer."
• Works cross-divisionally to modernize reporting operations for Estates & Special Gifts
• Strategizes internally and externally with donors, family members, executors, attorneys, and/or staff at financial institutions as needed

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• BA/BS degree required with additional credentials like CAP, CFP, or JD preferred
• 10+ years of development or equivalent client-facing experience, including a minimum of 3-5 years in Gift Planning
• Direct experience closing complex life income gifts, including charitable gift annuities, trusts, pooled income fund, and real estate gifts
• Strong grasp of tax laws, wills, and financial planning
• Strong CRM software skills to track donor stages and goals as well as high proficiency in Google Suite, especially Docs and Sheets.
• Demonstrated experience using gift calculation software, preferably PG Calc products
• Knowledge of diverse groups, working with a multicultural workforce, and sensitivity and appreciation to cultural differences. Contributes to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive gift planning program by applying knowledge of the gift planning needs of diverse communities and those in a range of family structures.
• Interpersonal skills to successfully mentor junior staff, confidence presenting and training, and intellectual interest to advance gift planning knowledge.

• Travel: 5% domestic travel
• The Planned Parenthood cultural ethos, "In This Together", reflects our commitment to building a workplace culture that fosters belonging, promotes learning throughout the employee lifecycle, and recognizes individual contributions to our mission.