The client is seeking a Director, Advisor Relations & Gift Planning to provide key leadership within its philanthropy function. This role advances engagement with professional advisors and oversees planned and complex giving strategies, serving as a primary relationship manager for attorneys, financial planners, CPAs, trust officers, and wealth managers. The director supports connections between charitable giving opportunities and the philanthropic goals of donors and their advisors, offering expertise across planned giving, legacy gifts, complex assets, and donor-advised fund strategies.
Key responsibilities include building and strengthening relationships with professional advisors across Greater Los Angeles, and developing and executing strategies to generate donor referrals, planned gifts, and philanthropic partnerships. The director will manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects and legacy donors, act as an internal resource on planned giving vehicles, bequests, charitable trusts, donor-advised funds, and complex asset gifts, and partner with donors, advisors, and internal teams to facilitate charitable gift planning opportunities. The role also includes leading advisor-focused educational events, workshops, and networking, representing the client at industry events, and supervising and mentoring the Officer, Advisor Relations & Gift Planning.
Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree, with an advanced credential or degree in philanthropy, estate planning, financial planning, or a related field preferred. The director is expected to bring 7+ years of experience in planned giving, gift planning, advisor relations, or related fundraising, including experience working with attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, and high-net-worth donors. Strong knowledge of planned giving vehicles and complex gift strategies is required, along with excellent relationship-building, communication, presentation, and leadership skills, as well as the ability to explain complex financial and legal concepts clearly. The role calls for strong strategic thinking, organization, attention to detail, collaboration across teams, proficiency with CRM systems and donor tracking tools, and a commitment to exceptional customer service and confidentiality aligned with the client’s mission and values.