POSITION SUMMARY

The Planned Giving Associate is responsible for maintaining and monitoring the Planned Giving budget and implementing all aspects of its marketing program, including: mail, telephone, website and e-mail promotions; information request fulfillment and donor cultivation mailings; communicating with donors and prospects via telephone, mail, e-mail and occasional donor meetings when appropriate; and overseeing the Planned Giving interface within the donor database.

The Planned Giving Associate will create drafts of marketing materials and collaborate with the Planned Giving team, editorial team in the Marketing Department, and will frequently interact with vendors for production of relevant marketing materials.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the Director of Planned Giving to establish and monitor annual budget; create and maintain budget spreadsheets; track invoices; reconcile expenses with monthly Finance reports.
• Work with Director of Planned Giving and Planned Giving Manager to determine annual marketing strategy. Act as liaison to vendors and implement mail, telephone, website, social media and e-mail marketing efforts. Coordinate all aspects of the outbound marketing program including list selection, package design, postage and production. Help conduct analysis and make recommendations based on results.
• Fulfill planned giving information requests and send out Wildlife Legacy Society new member welcome packets on a weekly basis.
• Help research key new Wildlife Legacy Society members; identify and analyze prospects to help with cultivation strategies. Share prospects for mid-level and major giving with appropriate teams.
• Collaborate with Planned Giving Director, Planned Giving Manager and Research Associate to identify best prospects for visits and cultivation using database reports, and in some cases, phone calls or email queries. Research selected donors and assist with visit packets and additional visit logistics as needed.
• Maintain Planned Giving information in ROI database. Input member inquiries, interests, concerns and special requests. Liaise with database operations team to ensure timely delivery of recurring and customized response performance reports. Organize, track and report marketing efforts on a monthly basis.
• Draft marketing copy, donor profiles and correspondence and form letters for Director’s review.
• Ensure integrity of marketing data in ROI database.
• Help Planned Giving Manager manage logistics of legacy webinars including planning, implementation, invitation distribution and follow-up, as needed.
• Assist the major gifts team in the review of acknowledgements and other projects as needed.
• Spearhead creation of a Planned Giving Manual to document and organize all team processes and recurring projects.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent in related discipline.

Experience: 2+ years of relevant development experience.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Planned Giving Associate

• Excellent written communication skills, as well as proofreading skills and knowledge of grammar
• Experience in donor database use and willingness to learn specialized software such as ROI and PG Calc
• Prior gift planning experience preferred
• Background in marketing strongly desired
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact with both management, support staff and vendors
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Proactive approach to problem-solving

Visit www.defenders.org to apply.

All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their positions. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Defenders requires employees who engage in in-person work activities, including business travel or onsite work, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An applicant (i) who is disabled or pregnant or who has a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination or (ii) who objects to being vaccinated on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief, observance or practice may request an exemption from this vaccination policy. This determination will be made on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with applicable law. Any medical information concerning an applicant's disability will be treated as a confidential medical record in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Please be advised this position is union-eligible.