Manager, Gift Planning

Job Description

Major Function

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, seeks a Manager, Gift Planning Under the direction of the Senior Director of Gift Planning. The Manager, Gift Planning acts as the department's deputy, leading the donor-facing part of the Gift Planning program. This includes guiding follow-up strategies for all donor inquiries and ensuring effective cultivation, qualification, and closing planned gifts. This role supervises Gift Planning Officers (GPOs) in securing bequests, life income arrangements, and other current and deferred gift commitments. The manager also oversees the Gift Planning Development Coordinator to ensure timely entry and management of all marketing leads, accurate data tracking, and smooth execution of administrative operations. In addition to team leadership responsibilities, the manager maintains a personal portfolio of donor inquiries and oversees pipeline management and reporting processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Pipeline Management

• Lead and manage the activities of Gift Planning Officers to ensure prompt follow-up on all new leads and effective progression through cultivation, qualification, and closing stages.

• Review, refine, and improve processes and procedures for donor cultivation and gift tracking.

• Refine and implement measurable goals for outreach calls and donor contacts as part of comprehensive pipeline management.

• Monitor and evaluate team performance based on progress toward established goals and key performance indicators.

• Create and implement work processes that increase efficiency and effectiveness through strategic use of tools, data, and analysis.

• Manage inquiry pipeline reporting and ensure accurate forecasting of planned gift activity.

Program Development & Strategy

• Partner with the Senior Director of Gift Planning to develop and execute annual and long-term gift planning goals.

• Focus on increasing the number of documented planned gift intentions.

• Ensure meaningful and personalized stewardship of Legacy Circle members within GPO portfolios.

• Refine outreach strategies to engage and qualify gift planning prospects.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage, mentor, and motivate Gift Planning Officers to achieve individual and team goals.

• Foster strong collaboration with Annual Giving and Regional Philanthropy Officers to support integrated fundraising strategies.

• Provide mentoring, coaching, and cross-training opportunities across regional teams to build capacity and strengthen performance.

Portfolio Management & Stewardship

• Maintain a balanced personal portfolio of donor inquiries and existing donors.

• Provide appropriate stewardship and engagement to donors while fulfilling broader program management responsibilities.

Administrative & Operational Oversight

• Supervise the Gift Planning Development Coordinator to ensure:

• Timely entry and assignment of all marketing leads.

• Effective coverage of phone and email inquiries.

• Accurate tracking of GPO travel and expense reporting.

• Management of departmental data systems and administrative projects assigned.

Qualifications

Key Competencies

• Partnership Engagement - Builds and sustains collaborative relationships across teams and stakeholders to align strategies, strengthen donor engagement and commitment, improve department effectiveness, and achieve shared fundraising and organizational goals.
• Interpersonal Communications & Collaboration - Communicates effectively with both donors and colleagues, prioritizing creating and developing relationships to further organizational goals. Uses those relationships to collaborate across teams to strengthen relationships, support integrated fundraising strategies, and drive accountability, teamwork, and shared success.
• Coaching/Management Performance--Demonstrates the ability to guide, develop, motivate, and hold others accountable to achieve individual and organizational goals. Creates an environment that supports performance, growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Time Management/Organization & Attention To Detail --Effectively plans, prioritizes, and organizes work to meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy, completeness, and standards. Demonstrates careful attention to detail, follows established procedures, and manages multiple responsibilities efficiently.
• Strategic Execution and Implementation--Demonstrates the ability to align actions with organizational goals, prioritize effectively, mobilize resources, overcome obstacles, and deliver results through well-planned and timely execution.

Skills and Experience

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required, with a minimum of 8 years of demonstrated success in planned giving, including staff supervision required
• Demonstrated success required in implementation of strategies and systems to substantially increase efficiency in a gift planning program; effective collaboration externally with allied professionals and internally with peers, and broader staff; working knowledge of technical, legal, and financial requirements associated with planned giving.
• Demonstrated effective collaboration skills with external allied professionals and internally with peers, and broader staff; working knowledge of technical, legal, and financial requirements associated with planned giving.

• Relevant professional credential or planned giving certification preferred (e.g. CPA, JD, CFP, CAP, CGPA, CFRE.)
• Demonstrated expertise in working with donors, volunteers, and allied professionals is required.

• Expertise working with donors, volunteers, and allied professionals.

• Able to conceptualize and implement qualification and solicitation strategies and pipeline management systems involving high volume of inquiries.

• Knowledge of direct mail, marketing, and legal and technical aspects of planned giving.

• Excellent management, supervision, and organizational skills, as well as oral and written communication skills, are required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word suite to include; Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Experience with planned gift calculation software (PG Calc, Crescendo, for example) required.

• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
• Identifies and aligns with WWF's core values:
  • COURAGE - We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it's needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY - We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT - We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION - We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Location: Washington, DC hybrid is preferred. We will consider candidates that are interested in working in the Chicago, Illinois or San Francisco, California offices. Must work in office minimum two days per week for all locations.

Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone

Please note: Strong preference for position to be based out of our Washington, DC office. If necessary, will basing position out of either our Chicago, IL or San Francisco, CA office.

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Relocation is not provided for this position.