Posting Details (Default Section)
Posting Number:20254348SPosition Title:Planned Giving OfficerPosition Type:StaffLocation:Villanova, PARecruitment Type:Internal/External ApplicantsWork Schedule:full-time/12-monthsAvg Hours WeekDepartment:604 - University AdvancementPosition Summary:
Ignite Your Career at Villanova University! Whether undergraduate or graduate, faculty or staff, each community member brings with them a wealth of experiences that enrich our University and shift our perspectives. As a part of this community, your work will improve lives and ignite change!
Why work at Villanova?
- Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
- Villanova has been included among the nation’s best colleges and universities. VU’s inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 “Best Colleges” rankings is another indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.
- Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.
Villanova University has embarked on a 10-year strategic plan, Rooted. Restless., with the goal of enhancing the Augustinian Catholic living and learning experience for all members of our community. University Advancement is seeking exceptional talent to join our mission-driven team working together toward our shared vision for Villanova, fueled by the generosity of the University’s philanthropic supporters as we “keep moving” in the spirit of St. Augustine in the public phase of Villanova’s comprehensive capital campaign: Espiritus Nova.
The Planned Giving Officer, reporting to the Director of Gift & Estate Planning, serves as part of Villanova’s Office of University Advancement. This position will be primarily responsible for educating and inspiring Villanova University alumni, faculty, staff and friends to support the upcoming campaign through cash and planned gifts. The Planned Giving Officer will also serve as a resource to and partner with colleagues within Villanova’s Office of University Advancement, as well as carry an individual portfolio of donors and donor prospects. The Planned Giving Officer must be comfortable with discussing and effectively communicating deferred giving concepts and tax advantageous philanthropy tools. The Planned Giving Officer will be tasked with project-based responsibilities at the discretion of the Director of Gift & Estate Planning.
Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage and develop sincere and professional relationships with individuals, families, and their advisors within a dynamic portfolio of 125 major and planned gift donors and donor prospects. Set stretch, but realistic, annual objectives for personal visits, portfolio penetration, solicitations, and closed gifts. Conduct a minimum of 12 personal visits per month and assume stewardship responsibilities for assigned prospects.
- Establish thoughtful, appropriate, and holistic strategies for donors and donor prospects within the portfolio. Help donors and their families achieve their philanthropic objectives at Villanova University, and encourage them to make philanthropic investments to support other passions and to pass along the value of philanthropy to future generations. Lead and inspire donors and donor prospects through the Moves Management process from Identification to Qualification and Cultivation to Solicitation and Stewardship. Discover new donors by thoroughly, efficiently, and effectively working a Planned Giving donor pipeline.
- Partner with University Advancement frontline fundraising colleagues on how to listen for, respond to, and act on opportunities to engage donors and donor prospects in blended gift conversations that maximize donor impact today and in the future.
- Enhance personal knowledge of philanthropic topics through ongoing professional development.
- Perform additional duties and assist with special projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 3+ years of experience in fundraising or sales/business development.
- Knowledge and application of or ability and interest in learning a broad suite of charitable tools, including but not limited to charitable bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, donor advised funds, real estate, and securities.
- Commitment to higher education and a strong desire to associate with Villanova University and champion its mission required. Understanding of the University culture and the process for decision making and program development required.
- A genuine interest in people and community, and the power of philanthropy to effect positive change.
- Experience with volume customer/donor outreach attempts.
- Ability to clearly and effectively communicate complex philanthropic topics to a diverse constituency.
- Experience working as an independent contributor within a team environment, and the ability to manage up.
- Experience managing projects within budget, on-time, and with successful outcomes.
- Knowledge of general office equipment and software, including use of personal computers, smart phones, printers, and Microsoft Office Suite software (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
Preferred Qualifications:
- The following are not necessary, but can be helpful for this position: Juris Doctor, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or other demonstrated advanced study of or certification in philanthropy.
- Experience with PG Calc software and the SalesForce environment a plus.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:
Ability and willingness to travel throughout the continental United States as required by the geographic diversity of the portfolio.
Special Message to Applicants:Posting Date:04/28/2025Closing Date (11:59pm ET):Salary Posting Information:
Commensurate with experience.
Salary Band:17Job Classification:exempt
