Planned Giving Advisor

About the role

American Bible Society is an historic organization and an engaging place to work. The Planned Giving Advisor is a member of the Development team, responsible for inviting and cultivating high-value donor relationships that generate near-term and long-term revenue in support of American Bible Society and its mission. With a primary focus on planned and legacy giving, the Advisor designs and executes customized engagement strategies that inspire donors toward lifetime and estate-based generosity—including bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, and other asset-based gifts—aligning each donor’s values with the work of ABS.

Responsibilities

• Build and develop a caseload of new and existing donor relationships with the capacity and inclination to make planned gifts; guide and steward these relationships through virtual and face-to-face qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ensure each donor and prospect has a clear, multi-year strategy and timeline that advances them toward documented legacy commitments; pursue creative, entrepreneurial ways to build generous, lasting relationships.
• Meet or exceed individual and team planned-gift revenue goals, which are set annually on the basis of caseload maturity, organizational needs, and individual experience; actively advance long-term revenue growth.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure deferred and asset-based gifts—including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and other estate and non-cash gifts—aligning donors’ philanthropic, financial, and estate-planning goals with ABS’s mission.
• Design personalized legacy strategies and advise donors of planned-gift benefits in a manner that builds interest and participation.
• Build trusted relationships through consultative, values-based conversations, including estate-planning discussions and, where helpful, family conversations; collaborate with donors’ professional advisors—attorneys, financial planners, and accountants—to structure gifts that are mutually beneficial and consistent with ABS policies.
• Engage personal and professional networks and mine for connections among donors and partners; identify and qualify new planned-gift prospects and apply relational fundraising to grow their giving inclination and capacity.
• Determine appropriate cultivation steps and, through the Senior Director of Planned Gifts, recommend engagement by other staff, the Chief Development Officer, and/or the President when appropriate; partner with Major Gift Advisors and other ABS teams where beneficial.
• Inform donors of ABS ministries and programs, represent ABS publicly to inspire legacy generosity and promote planned gifts, and pursue an active program of professional growth and development.
• Maintain donor records and opportunities in Salesforce within one week of contact; keep opportunities current to support accurate forecasting; check the CRM regularly for gifts from your caseload so you can provide timely follow-up.
• Meet or exceed core lead indicators, potentially including:
  • 10–12 face-to-face donor visits (or significant conversations) per month
  • 20 letters, cards, or proposals prepared and sent per month
  • 40+ donor phone calls initiated or returned per month
  • Follow up on high-level gift opportunities and qualified leads within two weeks of a gift or new lead
• Attend at least one training conference or twelve training webinars annually, including chapter or webinar meetings of AFP or other fundraising organizations; stay current on ABS ministries, projects, and major-donor proposals; maintain a professional development plan, such as working toward or maintaining CFP, CFRE, CAP or similar credential.

Qualifications

• Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; a degree in a related field is preferred.
• Experience: A minimum of five years in relationship fundraising, planned giving, charitable gift planning, or estate planning, with a clear record of achievement in a complex, mission-driven organization; demonstrated success cultivating and securing planned or deferred gifts—or transferable experience in financial planning, estate planning, or complex gift-strategy development.
• Knowledge: Working knowledge of planned-giving vehicles, non-cash gifts, and tax, financial, and estate-planning concepts.
• Technical Skills: Experience using a donor CRM (Salesforce preferred) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Certification: Certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization (e.g., CFRE, CAP®, or similar) is preferred.
• Other: A valid driver’s license is required.

Key Competencies

• Demonstrate desire and ability to support organizational biblical and religious goals and participate in regular work-related spiritual activities without reservation.
• Have a personal passion for and belief in the Word of God, its ability to transform lives, and the mission of American Bible Society.
• Demonstrate alignment with the vision, mission, and values of American Bible Society.
• Complex Communication: Proficient in communicating complex ideas to various stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Team Facilitation: Facilitates teamwork, encourages collaboration, and resolves conflict within the team.
• Cultural Awareness: Respects and values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Service Solutions: Understands service recipients’ needs, develops solutions to meet those needs, and builds relationships.
• Responsive Adjustment: Adjusts strategies based on new information, remains flexible in dynamic environments.
• Efficient Coordination: Prioritizes tasks, manages multiple projects, and ensures team deadlines are met.
• Analytical Problem Solving: Analyzes complex problems, develops solutions, and makes decisions independently.
• Team Leadership: Guides, supports and leads team members to achieve goals, engage in cross-company collaboration and pivot when needed to achieve strategic change.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer, both in-office/remote and while traveling.
• Occasional standing, walking, or reaching with hands and arms.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 10 pounds occasionally (e.g., laptop, briefcase, presentation materials) during travel.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings or weekends, to accommodate travel schedules and time zone differences with donors, partners, or team members.
• Visual acuity to read and produce reports, proposals, and other written communication.
• Verbal communication required frequently in meetings, presentations, and via phone or video conferencing, including with remote or traveling team members.

Office Location: Remote. Candidates must reside within the Western or Southwestern United States, or in a location providing equivalent access to the territory, with convenient access to a major airport to support regular in-territory travel required for this position.

Core Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST

Travel Required: Several trips to HQ per year; ability to travel for events, donor meetings, conferences, etc. primarily in the continental U.S. but occasionally internationally. Expected field meetings and/or travel: 40–60%. Balance of time in office ensuring every donor is properly served and accountability standards met for record keeping and donor follow-up.