Population Connection seeks a Development Officer, Planned Giving to join its San Diego, California development office. The Development Officer, Planned Giving (DO) will help to secure funds for the organization by developing and managing a portfolio of planned giving donors and prospects, as well as overseeing any open estates. This position will report to the Vice President for Marketing & Development and will work closely with other members of the Development team, including the President.

The DO will be responsible for qualifying new planned giving prospects and for building relationships between the donors in her/his portfolio and Population Connection. The DO will spend a significant amount of time interacting with donors and helping them to accomplish their own vision for a better world through Population Connection.

About Population Connection

Founded in 1968 and based in Washington, DC, Population Connection is the national grassroots organization seeking to end rapid global population growth. Rapid population growth harms and endangers the lives of women and children around the world and contributes to climate change, over-consumption of natural resources, biodiversity loss, and a host of other environmental problems.

To achieve a sustainable balance between people and our planet, Population Connection advocates at the highest levels of government for universal, affordable access to modern contraception and basic reproductive health care. Our Population Education program trains more than 11,000 teachers and reaches three million students to help young people understand how population growth impacts our environment and human well-being. We recently launched two affiliated organizations: Population Connection Action Fund and Population Connection Action Fund PAC.

Population Connection has experienced a period of growth over the past five years. Increased investment from major donors, a growing membership base of 38,000, and a well-established legacy program allow Population Connection to embark on an ambitious fundraising plan over the next five years.

Planned Giving Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship

The primary role for the Development Officer, Planned Giving will be to enhance Population Connection’s planned giving program and to contribute toward overall fundraising goals by increasing the number of expected and closed planned gifts through appropriate identification, cultivation, and stewardship. Population Connection has engaged the Sharpe Group to provide consulting and marketing assistance.

Duties would include:

Building relationships and communicating regularly with planned giving donors and qualified planned giving prospects to ensure high levels of engagement.
Meeting personally and calling prospects and donors via telephone (significant phone-work will be expected).
Responding promptly to all planned giving inquiries via mail, phone, and online.
Identifying likely planned giving prospects within our membership base and establishing contact.
Serving as the primary point of contact for all ZPG Society members.
Working with the marketing team and Sharpe Group consultants to produce effective planned giving promotional materials directed to the appropriate audience within our membership base.
Completing Contact Reports for each donor meeting and other substantive donor interactions and tracking all progress within the database.
Supporting and working collaboratively with other members of the development team to increase donors’ knowledge of and interest in planned giving options.
Reviewing and drafting new planned giving policies and procedures as necessary.
Pursuing professional development on an ongoing basis.
Maintaining a working knowledge of Population Connection program priorities and activities.
Other duties as assigned.

Charitable Gift Annuity Program & Estate Management

Manage all pending estates, including examining all estate documents and following up with estate executors, to ensure timely and accurate distributions.
Provide Charitable Gift Annuity illustrations for prospective annuitants using PG Calc’s Planned Giving Manager software; draft and disseminate CGA agreements and ensure that all steps are completed for the successful issuance of CGAs.
Serve as primary point of contact for current gift annuitants.
Work with advisors at PNC Bank to maintain up-to-date records for annuitants.
Assist with filing annual statements in the states where Population Connection is registered to offer CGAs; notify or register in new states as applicable.

Qualifications

Required: A Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of experience in major gifts or planned giving, with an emphasis upon relationship building and Moves Management. (If major gift experience, please discuss your level of training or experience in planned giving within your cover letter.)
Superb interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills; demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, comfortably, and respectfully with donors, staff, volunteers and financial advisors.
A passion for advancing women’s reproductive rights and protecting the environment. Ability to understand and speak compellingly about Population Connection’s mission. Ability to simplify complex themes into short, persuasive presentations or proposals.
Excellent organizational skills; detail oriented with ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and to meet deadlines.
A confident and professional work style. An ability to take personal initiative and work independently as well as to collaborate with others on donor strategies in a team-oriented approach.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, familiarity with constituent relationship management databases and planned giving software such as PG Calc.
Ability to travel as well as work occasional overtime or irregular hours.
Flexibility and a willingness to take on new tasks as the responsibilities of the position evolve.
Desired: A Master’s level degree, advanced certification, or other demonstrable planned giving knowledge.

How to apply

Please email the following documents to Shauna Scherer, Vice President for Marketing & Development, at shauna@popconnect.org. Please reference Planned Giving in your subject line. Within your cover letter, please discuss how your past experience and achievements will lead to success in acquiring planned gifts for Population Connection.

Resume and cover letter (letter may be included in the body of the email).
Writing sample for which you were the sole author.