Planned Giving Officer

The New England Conservatory, an independent not-for-profit institution, is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world. With approximately 750 music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz, and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Division of Expanded Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, the Planned Giving Officer (PGO) will administer a holistic approach to fundraising, seamlessly blending planned giving expertise with major gift fundraising to maximize philanthropic support for New England Conservatory (NEC). Recognizing that a donor’s greatest impact often lies at the intersection of outright giving and estate planning, the PGO crafts comprehensive strategies to secure five- to seven-figure current, deferred, and blended gifts that advance NEC’s annual priorities, special initiatives, and endowment.

The PGO will collaborate with key internal and external partners to implement marketing, stewardship, and solicitation strategies for the planned giving program. As the team’s subject matter expert, the PGO is committed to staying up-to-date on best practices with regard to gift documentation and related tax and estate consequences of gift plans. This position works closely with the Business Office and internal and external Counsel to ensure that bequests, life income gifts, and complex gift transactions are documented appropriately. In addition to tracking gift commitments and probate notices, the position will also collaborate with trustees and executors to facilitate realized estate gifts.

The PGO will cultivate, solicit, and steward a dynamic portfolio of approximately 75 alumni, parents, friends, and high net worth prospects. Serving as a trusted partner in the development of fundraising collateral, proposals, and stewardship plans, the PGO will focus on building a planned and major gift pipeline to help advance NEC’s strategic initiatives and will actively partner with Advancement colleagues to create gift proposals that meet donors’ personal, financial and philanthropic goals.

The incorporation of digital gift officer strategy is also a key part of this role, as is the development of reports and statistical analysis of the prospect pool and donor pipeline in coordination with the broader Advancement team. This role will require monthly travel and the occasional evening or weekend to attend donor events and receptions.

This role is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement.

Essential Functions:

• Work with the Director of Major Gifts to plan and implement a comprehensive fundraising program for planned giving and major gifts.

• Develop and oversee the implementation of all marketing for planned giving at NEC, which includes direct mail, email, social media, website and publications.

• Increase membership of the Tourjée Society, which recognizes planned giving donors at NEC and work in collaboration with the Director of Donor Relations and Events to develop and maintain a stewardship program for the Society.

• Cultivate, solicit, and manage a dynamic portfolio of approximately 75 planned gift, major gift, and prospective donor households. Conduct approximately 5-7 meetings a month.

• Partner with Advancement leadership and gift officers in developing donor strategies and/or presenting planned gift options to potential prospects.

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Business Office for reconciliation and financial tracking of all planned gifts.

• Work with Advancement Manager to prepare monthly and quarterly progress reports on planned gift fundraising activities;

• Prepare reports, briefing materials, correspondence, proposals, and related documents for solicitation of planned gift prospects;

• Meet quarterly annual fundraising goals as determined by the Director of Major Gifts and Chief Development Officer;

• Responsible for assisting the entire department, including other business units, to reach financial goals;

• Attend and staff events as required, including travel, weekend and evening work;

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required

• 5-7 years of development/fundraising experience with proven record of marketing, soliciting and closing major and planned gifts in the 5-7 figure range

• Previous experience with Raiser’s Edge Prospect Management or a similar prospect system and metrics—compiling, analyzing and reporting data

• Strong organizational and leadership skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines

• The ability and willingness to travel up to 30% of the time is required

NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Annual Clery Report

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.