Director of Planned Giving at Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc. – Annapolis, Maryland

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Director of Planned Giving in the Philanthropy Department to be based at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center located in Annapolis, MD.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

Established in 1966, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home. Through our education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration efforts, we work together toward our vision of a healthy and resilient Chesapeake Bay ecosystem where people, plants, and animals thrive together.

CBF has a staff of approximately 200 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.

CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

Philanthropy

The mission of the Philanthropy team is to provide financial resources for CBF to meet its long-term vision of saving the Bay. The team establishes and implements strategies to motivate donors to contribute to the organization's programs and projects.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

The Director of Planned Giving provides strategic leadership for CBF’s planned giving program, ensuring long-term philanthropic support through legacy gifts. The Director manages a portfolio of planned giving prospects, serves as a subject matter expert on planned giving and related tax and estate laws, partners with gift officers to advance blended asks, oversees marketing and communications, and enhances stewardship of legacy society members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Strategy and Program Development

• Provide strategic leadership for the planned giving program, designing and implementing approaches that integrate planned giving into fundraising efforts at every donor level.
• Manage a portfolio of prospects to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward.
• Coach and support the Philanthropy team on planned gift cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Design and execute multi-channel marketing strategies, in coordination with experts across the Philanthropy and Marketing and Communications teams, to generate leads and uncover previously undisclosed gift commitments.
• Engage CBF leadership and industry professionals, such as financial advisors and estate planning attorneys, in promoting CBF’s planned gift opportunities.
• Ensure planned giving messaging is consistent, relevant, and engaging throughout proposals, solicitor talking points, and marketing campaigns.
• Analyze program metrics to assess performance, inform strategy, and guide future investment.

Program Administration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for legacy society members, planned gift inquiries, and accepting gifts of property (real estate, vehicles, vessels, personal property).
• Prepare gift illustrations and proposals as needed.
• Oversee the receipt and administration of realized planned gifts, ensuring all legal, financial, and distribution requirements are met.
• Ensure accurate documentation of planned gifts, donor engagement, and marketing campaigns.
• Ensure compliance with state regulatory requirements for charitable gift annuities and adherence to best practices for planned gift counting and valuation.
• Oversee and manage relationships with third-party vendors providing services related to the program.

• Five or more years of progressive experience in planned giving, including soliciting and closing planned gifts, managing donor portfolios, developing marketing strategies, and coaching gift officers.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience, including mentoring staff, anticipating program needs, and setting standards for quality and performance.
• Proven ability to analyze program metrics to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to identify high-impact opportunities and prioritize critical tasks.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to exercise tact, discretion, compassion, and confidentiality.
• Experience working collaboratively in cross-functional environments that require flexibility and adaptability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across audiences and contexts.
• Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and donor CRM databases.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and staying current with industry best practices, tools, and technologies related to planned giving.
• Willingness and ability to travel periodically to CBF regional offices and to engage donors throughout the watershed.