Director of Endowments & Gift Planning

About Seattle Pacific University:

Founded in 1891, Seattle Pacific University has a long and distinguished history in Christian higher education. Located just minutes from downtown Seattle, SPU seeks to be a premier Christian University fully committed to engaging the culture and changing the world by graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community. Seattle Pacific University seeks applicants committed to its Christian mission.

Diversity Statement

As part of our mission of cultural engagement, SPU is committed to building an excellent and diverse staff and faculty. Diversity is an ethos that is inseparable from our Christian faith. At SPU, we recognize diversity as a basic feature of God's creation and a core theme of the gospel. At the heart of our mission-centered commitment to becoming a more diverse community is a desire to represent the breadth of God's kingdom more fully.

We strive to become a workplace of choice and to recruit, develop, and retain faculty and staff who can embrace, value, and engage differences with humility and care. We invite you to join us on our journey by starting a career at SPU! Learn more about SPU's commitment to diversity and opportunities for our employees to deepen their capacity to serve our increasingly diverse student body.

Seattle Pacific University provides reasonable accommodation to applicants. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the application or hiring process please contact the Human Resources Department at (206)281-2809, or email hr@spu.edu. Notification must be given at least five (5) working days before the accommodation is needed.

Job Description:

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) is a vibrant community that is committed to engaging the culture and changing the world. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to join our team as the Director of Endowments and Gift Planning.

As the Director of Endowments and Gift Planning, you will play a crucial role in planning and executing a comprehensive endowment and gift planning program. Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, you will steward relationships with university constituents who include SPU in their estate plans (Wellspring Society members) and those who establish endowments, with the ultimate goal of growing the bequest pipeline and endowment contributions.

Responsibilities

• Models and promotes the mission and objectives of Seattle Pacific University, University Advancement and the Seattle Pacific Foundation. Adopts a caring and ministerial attitude in cultivating prospects and in obtaining endowment and planned gifts.
• Is the institutional expert for estate planning and deferred gift planning, possessing an extensive and current knowledge of Federal and State laws governing various gift planning vehicles and asset types in addition to a complete understanding of institutional policy and processes for accepting and completing gift planning transactions.
• Manages a personal portfolio of prospects capable of making major current and planned gifts with an emphasis on irrevocable planned gifts, bequests and gifts to endowment.
• Oversees the establishment of new endowments to insure compliance with University standards and procedures.
• Works closely with the major gift officers, Seattle Pacific Foundation staff and other University personnel to promote the acquisition of major current and deferred gifts, working independently while also working as a member of the overall  University Advancement team.
• Manages all bequest administration processes and communicates with personal representatives and estate counsel to secure estate gifts to the University.
• Designs a comprehensive strategic plan and marketing initiative to promote gifts to endowment and planned gifts. Cultivates relationships with donors, educates and teaches about the benefits of planned gifts, and presents Estate and Gift Planning seminars.
• Responsible to conceive, direct, and assist with stewardship activities related to Wellspring Society members and Endowments and Gift Planning constituents, collaborating closely with the the Associate Vice President and staff members.
• Provides supervision to the Senior Gift Planning Officer and assist gift planning and foundation support staff. Provides training and assistance to major gift officers and other Advancement staff with regard to gift planning issues and donor proposals.

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in a related field or equivalent.
• Five years of progressively responsible related experience with evidence of professional gift planning competency.
• Demonstrated professional gift planning training or JD with estate planning specialization.
• Ability to work independently and to thrive in a self-directed environment.  Strong interpersonal and communication skills and aptitude to work well with diverse constituencies.
• Knowledgeable about business and current tax law dealing with Planned Gifts and current in education relative to this field. Includes as a minimum being proficient with charitable remainder unitrusts and annuity trusts, lead trusts, gift annuities, pooled income funds, wills and real estate.
• Must be able and willing to travel within United States.
• A maturing and contagious Christian faith., knowledge of and the willingness to actively support the Christian mission of the University and accept the lifestyle standards of the Christian community.

Additional Information:

Position will remain open until filled. After an initial training period, the employee may be able to work a hybrid schedule arranged with the department. Employee must reside in the state of Washington.

Salary:  $110,000 - 118,000 DOE

This is a full time position with excellent benefits. SPU pays the employee premium for medical, dental, and vision insurance. SPU makes generous contributions to an employee HSA account and a 7% contribution to a retirement account, for eligible employees, with immediate vesting in the plan. Tuition discount program (50% - 90%) available for the employee and qualified immediate family members.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a cover letter and resume along with the online application.