Position: Planned Giving Officer
Department: Development
Reports to: Senior Director, Philanthropy
Status: 100% Full-Time, Exempt
Probation: 180 Days
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, and a 403B retirement plan
CENTER MISSION: Building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Development department is responsible for the fundraising to support the Center’s many programs and services that are not financially supported by government grants. The department raises nearly $20 million through individual gifts, private foundation grants, corporate donations, estate and legacy gifts, as well as several fundraising events such as the annual Vanguard Awards Gala.
JOB SUMMARY: The Planned Giving Officer is responsible for developing, managing, and growing the organization’s Planned Giving program, with a primary focus on building long-term relationships that result in legacy gifts, including bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, trusts, and other deferred gift vehicles. Working closely with the Senior Director of Philanthropy, senior leadership, and the Major Gifts team, the Planned Giving Officer will cultivate donors, steward legacy society members, and integrate Planned Giving into broader fundraising and long-term sustainability strategies.
This role balances donor-facing relationship management with internal project coordination, ethical administration, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure Planned Giving is embedded across the development program and aligned with organizational priorities, endowment goals, and long-range financial sustainability.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
30% - Donor Portfolio Management
- Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 500 Planned Giving households, including legacy society members and qualified major gift donors
- Conduct donor meetings (in-person, virtual, phone) to discuss philanthropic goals and Planned Giving opportunities
- Track donor interactions, gift intentions, and documentation in the CRM system
- Maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards in all donor engagements
20% - Gift Strategy & Solicitation
- Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors for planned and blended gifts
- Promote a full range of Planned Giving vehicles including bequests, beneficiary designations, CGAs, CRTs, CLTs, and other estate-based gifts
- Collaborate with Major Gifts and Annual Giving teams to integrate Planned Giving into donor strategies and campaigns
- Assist with campaign-related Planned Giving strategies, including endowment initiatives and feasibility studies
15% - Legacy Society & Donor Engagement
- Recruit, steward, and engage members of the legacy/Planned Giving society
- Lead planning and execution of the annual Circle of Life Luncheon and other cultivation receptions
- Support additional Planned Giving events, donor briefings, and recognition activities
15% Gift Administration & Compliance
- Manage and track estates under administration; liaise with executors, trustees, attorneys, and advisors to ensure timely gift realization
- Partner with internal Finance and Legal teams and external financial institutions to support gift documentation, compliance, and processing
- Provide administrative support including organization and upkeep of estate files and account records
15% - Tools, Reporting, & Analytics
- Lead use of Planned Giving digital platforms (MarketSmart, FreeWill, iWave) for prospecting and stewardship
- Prepare reports, projections, and analysis related to Planned Giving activity and pipeline health
- Ensure accurate database maintenance and documentation of Planned Giving records
10% - Professional Collaboration & Outreach
- Cultivate relationships with professional advisors to increase awareness and referrals
- Serve in a consultative role for Major Gift Officers on Planned Giving strategy and solicitations
- Perform other duties as needed to support the Development department’s success
QUALIFICATIONS:
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Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience
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Minimum of 3 years of fundraising experience, with at least 2 years in Planned Giving, major gifts, or a closely related field
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Demonstrated ability to build and manage long-term donor relationships and conduct effective donor-facing conversations
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Working knowledge of Planned Giving vehicles and charitable estate planning concepts
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Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ+ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ+ people, with a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion
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Strong passion for the Center’s mission and ability to represent the organization with authenticity and professionalism
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Proven ability to manage multiple responsibilities with competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment
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Collaborative team orientation and commitment to achieving departmental and organizational goals
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Excellent customer service skills, including professional phone, written, and in-person donor communications
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Strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
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Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel), word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and related software systems
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Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, language abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment
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Experience working in a nonprofit, healthcare, social services, or advocacy organization preferred
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Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM systems preferred
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Experience supporting or participating in endowment, capital, or comprehensive campaigns preferred
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Comfortable working with board members, volunteers, and professional advisors (attorneys, financial planners, CPAs) preferred
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CFRE certification with Planned Giving experience, Certified Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), or other relevant professional accreditation (preferred but not required; willingness to pursue encouraged) preferred
The Los Angeles LGBT Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from all persons regardless of their race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical/physical/mental condition, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical condition, age, marital status, or veteran status.
The Center requires that all staff working in Health Services clinical site locations receive the most up-to-date Influenza vaccinations and strongly recommends that staff also receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Staff not working at any of the Center’s clinical sites are encouraged to receive the latest COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines but are not required to do so. For more information, please contact [email protected].
