Director, Complex Gifts, University Advancement

About the role

The Director of Complex Gifts provides expert counsel regarding non-cash gifts to University Advancement staff, current and potential donors, and their professional advisors. The Director will lead efforts in identifying, cultivating, and securing non-cash gifts such as real estate, artwork, closely held business interests, restricted securities, and other complex assets.

Responsibilities

• Become Wake Forest's subject matter expert on complex assets, evaluate potential gifts for feasibility including income potential and risk, and ensure alignment with the University's Gift Acceptance Policy.
• Working across teams, partner with gift officers to educate potential donors about giving opportunities using non-cash assets.
• Provide training and ongoing education to development staff on non-cash assets and donor conversations about complex gifts.
• Develop an internal library of material about charitable giving vehicles, giving trends, and state and federal tax legislative matters.
• Develop and execute marketing plans to educate Wake Forest constituents about non-cash giving and complex gift opportunities.
• Facilitate due diligence of potentially viable non-cash gifts.
• Assist fundraising staff in University Advancement, Athletic Advancement, Reynolda House, and WFDD with non-standard donor inquiries and requests.
• Participate in joint solicitations and strategy sessions with gift officers for high-capacity donors.
• Partner with donors and their professional advisors to structure gifts effectively.
• Proactively provide guidance and technical support to gift officers.
• Help gift officers identify complex gift opportunities within their portfolios and develop strategies for solicitation.
• Serve as a liaison to the Finance and Accounting Services Office and the Office of the General Counsel on issues of complex assets, asset liquidation, and recording and reporting.
• Ensure complex gift compliance with IRS regulations and the University's Gift Acceptance Policy.
• Manage relationships with life-income gift donors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of seven years of experience in higher education fundraising, non-profit fundraising, or financial services with a focus on complex, non-cash assets.
• Strong understanding of tax implications and legal considerations relative to non-cash gifts.
• Strong understanding of complex gift types including, but not limited to, real estate, trusts, bequests, annuities, art, closely held business interests, and restricted stock.
• Excellent relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively across a variety of teams and functions.
• Broad understanding of and experience with customer relationship management and project management tools.
• Strong customer service orientation, experience and follow through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people and skill levels.
• Excellent logical, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• High degree of self-motivation.
• Respect for the dignity and abilities of all people.

Preferred qualifications

• JD, CPA, or CFP designation.
• Familiarity and facility with PG Calc, Blackbaud CRM, GiveCampus Gift Officer.
• Familiarity with CASE International Reporting Standards.

Supervisory responsibilities

Directly supervises the Complex Gift Administrator.

Accountabilities

Responsible for own work.

Work environment

Sedentary work primarily involving sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned. No adverse environmental conditions expected.

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by the employee's supervisor.