Sterling, Illinois
Portland, Oregon
Florham Park, New Jersey
Freehold, New Jersey
Posted: 14-Sep-25
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Internal Number: 943900
Position Summary
Phoenix Children’s Foundation seeks a strategic and innovative Director of Gift Planning to lead the advancement of our gift planning program, encompassing both current and deferred giving strategies. As a key member of the Individual Giving leadership team, the Director will oversee a team of three Gift Planning Officers and one Coordinator, working in partnership with Major Gift Officers and professional advisors to drive significant philanthropic revenue through blended gifts, asset-based contributions, and legacy commitments.
The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in charitable estate planning, a collaborative leadership style, and a passion for transforming pediatric healthcare through philanthropic investment. This is a leadership role that requires both strategic vision and frontline fundraising success, with a focus on scaling impact through integration across the development enterprise.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Program Design
•Lead the vision and strategy for an integrated gift planning program that maximizes current and future support through complex and blended gift structures.
•Establish annual goals and long-term growth strategies aligned with Phoenix Children’s fundraising priorities and revenue targets.
•Serve as an internal subject matter expert on planned giving instruments including bequests, donor-advised funds, charitable remainder and lead trusts, retained life estates, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and gifts of appreciated assets.
Team Management
•Supervise and coach three Gift Planning Officers and one Coordinator, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance.
•Support team members in portfolio management, proposal development, and professional growth.
•Collaborate with peers in Major Gifts, Principal Gifts, and Development Services to ensure integration and consistency across the donor experience.
Donor and Advisor Engagement
•Manage a personal portfolio of high-net-worth donors and prospects with an emphasis on blended and complex gifts.
•Cultivate and steward relationships with estate attorneys, financial advisors, and wealth managers to promote philanthropic planning among Phoenix Children’s constituents.
•Represent Phoenix Children’s at estate planning councils, advisor forums, and donor education events to grow the Foundation’s reach and reputation.
Innovation & Integration
•Drive innovation in digital will-making tools, legacy marketing campaigns, and advisor engagement strategies.
•Partner with Major Gift Officers to develop customized gift plans that align with donor goals and institutional priorities.
•Lead cross-functional initiatives to increase asset-based giving, including real estate, business interests, and non-cash assets.
Stewardship and Compliance
•Oversee the management and reporting of expectancies, ensuring accurate documentation, forecasting, and stewardship.
•Maintain compliance with ethical standards, internal policies, and applicable tax and legal regulations.
•Work with Development Services and Finance teams to ensure timely realization and documentation of estate distributions.
Qualifications
•Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in gift planning, estate administration, or financial planning, preferably in a healthcare or higher education setting.
•Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing complex and blended gifts.
•Strong knowledge of charitable estate and tax planning strategies, current trends in philanthropy, and legal aspects of gift planning.
•Proven leadership experience with staff management, mentorship, and program development.
•Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust and credibility with donors, advisors, and colleagues.
•Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or relevant certification (JD, CFP, CAP®, AEP®, or CGPP™) strongly preferred.
Key Competencies
•Strategic and forward-thinking with a growth mindset
•Technically proficient in planned giving vehicles and donor engagement strategies
•Collaborative and diplomatic, with a high degree of emotional intelligence
•Results-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills
•Committed to the mission and values of Phoenix Children’s
Working in close collaboration with the Vice President (VP), the Director of Foundation Development designs and executes on a comprehensive development strategy for the Phoenix Children’s Foundation. The Director oversees and executes on both capital campaigns and ongoing fundraising efforts. This position also forms and manages the Phoenix Children’s Foundation development team, and reports directly to the Vice President.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in related field OR equivalent relevant experience. (Required)
- Master’s degree. (Preferred)
Experience
- 10 years of related experience including 3 years in a team management role. (Required)
- Proven success in development for a large nonprofit or relatable environment. (Required)
- Experience in planning, leading, and managing development projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress to senior managers/board of directors. (Required)
- Experience running campaigns and successful fundraising from multiple donor channels. (Preferred)
Special Skills
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: Takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and to forge new ones. (Required)
- Communications: Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising. Ability to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials. Experience and credibility when presenting materials to external audiences. (Required)
- Influencing: Gets others to accept ideas by using convincing arguments, creates a win-win situation and responds appropriately to key stakeholders. (Required)
- Collaboration: Effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives. (Required)
- Relationship Building: Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships with peers, across different levels of the organization and externally. (Required)