Title : Planned Gifts Officer
Status : Full Time Exempt
Reports to: Sr. Director, Planned Gifts
JOB OBJECTIVE:
The Planned Giving Officer (PGO) will help nurture and grow WETA’s community of planned giving prospects and steward realized planned gifts through notification to receipt. Managing a planned giving donor portfolio of prospects and legacy society members, this person will manage the planned giving marketing campaigns, and assist with legacy cultivation and stewardship. Responsible for creating CGA illustrations and closing gifts, as well as managing a strategic major donor annual portfolio. The position will include ongoing cultivation with various stakeholders including a mature and loyal donor segment, so strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills are essential. The PGO will report to the Senior Director, Planned Gifts to support a collaborative planned giving program on behalf of WETA and PBS News.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Manage a planned giving donor portfolio of prospects and legacy society members.
- Follow up with leads by meeting face to face with donors to conduct meaningful conversations and determine legacy intentions.
- Conduct substantive meetings with prospects and advisors.
- Qualify leads and solicit legacy commitments.
- Create CGA illustrations; close gifts.
- Manage a major donor portfolio and solicit annual gifts; steward as needed
- Manage PG marketing efforts.
- Assist in the stewardship program for members of Elizabeth P. Campbell Legacy Society (approximately 700 members) through annual gift acknowledgment via in person, call, phone or note.
- Assist with the annual Legacy Society recognition event.
Data Tracking/Administration
- Track and report engagement with donors, including members of the Legacy society.
- Participate in Leadership Circle and other WETA/NH events as necessary.
- Seek training necessary to remain current in knowledge of planned giving.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; must possess strong verbal and written communication skills with experience communicating with a mature donor audience/segment.
- Knowledge of planned giving principles.
- Experience working cooperatively as a member of a team as well as independently with self-direction and ability to meet timelines.
- Must be self-motivated and able to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment, have excellent organizational abilities, judgment, and ethics; able to work with minimal oversight, collaboratively with colleagues, and cooperatively with superiors.
- Strong work ethic with demonstrated experience working independently and in conjunction with other professional fundraising staff.
- Proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects, exceed goals, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to listen well and conduct conversations surrounding sensitive/confidential topics.
- Intermediate computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
- Database proficiency in PG Calc and Crescendo preferred.
- Flexibility to attend evening and weekend events when necessary.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Three to five years’ experience in soliciting and closing planned and estate gifts
- Marketing experience highly desirable
- Experience in major gift fundraising, including prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and donor stewardship, is highly desirable
Salary range: $70,000-$80,000
LOCATION
WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC established media and news organizations. We are a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA. WETA and NewsHour Productions value employee flexibility when possible. Most positions based in our Arlington, VA office will be onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
WETA and its subsidiary NewsHour Productions LLC serve local and national public media audiences by producing and distributing content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit. Through broadcast, digital and community services, the organization offers compelling, diverse programming on five television channels, including primary channel WETA PBS, and on WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the nation’s capital; produces a portfolio of national television productions, including PBS NewsHour, recognized globally for bringing balanced, in-depth news coverage to all Americans; creates impactful documentaries with longtime production partners Ken Burns and Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; features a variety of content offerings on weta.org, WETA Passport, the PBS Video App and the WETA Classical App; and serves communities near and far with education and engagement initiatives that contribute to the company’s mission of public service. Please also see our Benefits: Benefits | WETA
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
WETA/NewsHour Productions is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. Fostering a culture of mutual respect is a top priority and something we take very seriously.
Employment at WETA/NewsHour Productions is based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, age, ethnicity or ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex (including pregnancy), physical, mental or sensory ability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are also committed to demonstrating fair and equitable systems, practices, and processes related to how we recruit, develop, retain, promote, reward, compensate, and terminate talent.
We know that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is fundamental to the success of our business and our people, and we will continue to recognize it as part of our guiding principles.