Assistant Vice President for Planned Giving
Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN)

The Assistant Vice President for Planned Giving envisions, manages, and implements a creative program for prospects and donors interested in legacy giving. The AVP for Planned Giving builds relationships with individuals connected to Lipscomb University for the purpose of cultivating, soliciting, and securing major and planned/estate gifts for the benefit of the University.  The AVP will provide leadership for the planned giving efforts that will coordinate efforts with the entire development team for successful planned giving campaigns that reach alumni, faculty, staff, retirees, parents, friends and churches.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Reports to the Executive Director of the Capital Campaign; works closely and collaboratively with the Vice President and other members of the gift planning staff; meets annual and longer-term program and fundraising goals.
  • Serves as the key point person and specially-trained staff colleague in the area of planned giving- sharing advice, good counsel, and professional leadership for all aspects of a comprehensive planned giving program; including but not limited to:
  • Managing a prospect portfolio;
  • Creating and delivering seminars on planned and deferred giving locally and nationally;
  • Implementing key marketing initiatives related to planned giving;
  • Teaming with colleagues working toward gift closure;
  • Interfacing with professional fund managers; and
  • Managing the planned giving budget.
  • Spends at least 50% of his/her time in the field with prospective donors; actively engages and participates in the team’s prospect review process.
  • Works closely and collaboratively with the members of the entire Advancement staff, and as required, the President and executive staff, members of the Board of Trustees, senior administrators, and faculty, to accomplish annual and longer-term fundraising and planned giving goals.
  • Develop strategies for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of planned giving prospects.
  • Develop a comprehensive stewardship program to recognize and reinforce planned gifts.
  • Review and maintain planned gift acceptance guidelines.
  • Establish and manage a systematic effort to market and promote planned gifts.
  • Establish and maintain a portfolio of approximately 100 qualified prospective donors for planned giving across all units of the University.
  • Prepare donor proposals and gift agreements, as necessary.
  • Create and file digital contact reports in accordance with office policy, to track and document contacts with assigned prospects.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
  • Minimum of five years of experience in planned giving or the equivalent.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the rationale, life-income benefits, and tax implications with regard to planned and deferred giving required.
  • Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing major outright, deferred, and annual fund gifts.
  • Demonstrated success in effectively leading and managing volunteers for fundraising efforts as well as, working as an effective member of a fundraising team.
  • Demonstrated ability in maintaining high levels of confidentiality.
  • Computer literacy, usage of applicable software, and office technology.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
  • Excellent skill in written, interpersonal, and public communication.
  • Specific professional training and certification in planned and deferred giving preferred.
  • Demonstrated leadership and high-level technical expertise to design strategic plans and implement planned giving program.
  • Demonstrated skills to work effectively with donors and prospects, as well as their legal and financial advisors. Strong experience in collaborating with campus-wide development professionals.
  • Demonstrated expertise in utilizing planned giving techniques and fundraising methodologies that support relationship building, including prospect identification and qualification as well as cultivation, solicitation, and donor stewardship.
  • Management skills to lead and inspire fundraising professionals and other team members. Skills to develop collaborative working relationships needed to accomplish goals.
  • Demonstrated skills in various modes of communication (preparing proposals, gift calculations/illustrations – and other written materials), and skills to be diplomatic with diverse constituencies including professional colleagues, volunteers in academic, business, and medical settings; donors’ professional advisors, and the donors and their families. Skills to present planned giving information to both lay and professional audiences in a way that will inspire philanthropy.
  • Experience as a development professional in a planned giving program in a university setting.

About Lipscomb University:

Lipscomb University is a Christian institution committed to creating students whose academic excellence, faith and practice, and community service reflect ideals of global citizenship. With more than 4,600 students and a 10-year growth rate of 85 percent, Lipscomb is a dynamic university offering students a choice of eight bachelor’s degrees in 136 majors, 24 master’s degrees in 70 fields of study, four education specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees. In addition to Lipscomb’s residential campus in the Green Hills area of Nashville, Tennessee, there are five satellite locations and numerous online programs. U.S. News & World Report, which named Lipscomb University as an up-and-coming university and one of the most innovative universities in the South, ranked Lipscomb for the first time in school history as a national university in the annual “2017 America’s Guide to Colleges.”

Hiring and Nondiscrimination Statement:

Lipscomb University complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, programs and activities.

Lipscomb University is a private, Christian university associated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ and governed by religious tenets held by the Church of Christ. Preference may be given to applicants who are members of the Church of Christ.

Nominations and Applications:

Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:  Chad Jolly  c/o Jacki Hough Gonser Gerber LLP, 1776 Legacy Circle, Suite 100, Naperville, IL 60563; cjolly@gonsergerber.com and jhough@gonsergerber.com.  To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, and three professional references.  References will not be contacted until later in the search process. Completion of the on-line application at https://lipscomb.peopleadmin.com/login is required.