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| Essential Duties and Responsibilities |
Philanthropic Advising & Consultation
- Serve as the Foundation’s leading resource and subject matter expert on charitable estate planning, tax-efficient giving strategies, blended gift opportunities, and complex philanthropic arrangements.
- Collaborate with deans, faculty, foundation professionals, university leadership, and Foundation partners to identify gift opportunities, develop donor strategies, and support fundraising priorities across the institution.
- Advise donors, prospects, and their professional advisors on charitable giving vehicles that align philanthropic objectives with personal, family, financial, and estate-planning goals.
- Provide consultation and strategic guidance to foundation colleagues regarding complex gift opportunities involving real estate, retirement assets, life insurance, closely held business interests, publicly traded securities, donor-advised funds, and other non-cash assets.
- Serve as a trusted partner to members of the advancement team by providing expertise on gift planning strategies, participating in donor meetings, and assisting with proposal development, gift design, and solicitation strategies.
- Partner with legal, financial, and administrative professionals to evaluate complex gift plans and ensure gifts are structured appropriately and in accordance with Foundation and university policies.
- Monitor and interpret emerging trends, tax law developments, and legislative changes affecting charitable giving and proactively advise on implications and opportunities to stakeholders and foundation staff.
- Develop tools, resources, and best practices that strengthen organizational knowledge and enhance gift planning effectiveness across the Foundation.
Managing & Growing the Planned Giving Program
- Provide strategic leadership for the NIU Foundation’s gift planning program by developing and executing a comprehensive, data-informed vision that increases donor participation, strengthens pipeline development, and drives sustained philanthropic revenue growth.
- Establish, implement, and monitor annual and multi-year goals, performance metrics, and benchmarks for planned giving initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional fundraising priorities and strategic objectives.
- Direct all aspects of planned giving program administration, including compliance, documentation, regulatory requirements, stewardship processes, and the timely realization and closure of realized estate gifts.
- Oversee and manage a diverse portfolio of planned gift vehicles, including charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, bequests, beneficiary designations, retained life estates, and other complex gift arrangements.
- Partner with Foundation communications staff and external vendors to develop and execute integrated marketing, stewardship, and donor education strategies that increase awareness and inspire philanthropic investment through charitable planning.
- Evaluate program performance through data analysis and reporting, identifying trends, opportunities, and areas for continuous improvement while ensuring responsible stewardship of financial and organizational resources.
- Lead the planning and execution of educational programs, seminars, and engagement events that promote gift planning opportunities and strengthen relationships with donors, alumni, and professional advisors.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with university leadership, academic partners, Foundation staff, and external stakeholders to advance institutional priorities and maximize philanthropic impact.
- Cultivate and expand a network of attorneys, financial advisors, accountants, trust officers, and other professional advisors to increase awareness of NIU’s charitable planning opportunities and generate new gift planning referrals.
- Serve as a visible ambassador and subject matter expert for gift planning, representing the Foundation in professional associations, donor meetings, campus events, and community engagement opportunities.
Relationship Management
- Manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors with the potential to make major, planned, or blended gifts of $100,000 or more, utilizing strategic qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship practices.
- Personally secure major, planned, and blended gifts by developing meaningful donor relationships and collaborating with institutional leaders, volunteers, faculty, and Foundation colleagues.
- Develop and execute individualized donor engagement and moves management strategies designed to deepen relationships, align donor interests with institutional priorities, and advance prospects toward philanthropic commitments.
- Conduct thoughtful discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship visits with donors and prospects, creating personalized engagement opportunities that inspire transformational giving.
- Collaborate with prospect development and research teams to identify new gift planning opportunities, maintain portfolio health, and ensure a balanced and productive pipeline of prospects.
- Partner with donor relations and foundation services teams to develop comprehensive stewardship strategies, ensure donor intent is honored, and facilitate the completion of gift agreements and supporting documentation.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive records of donor interactions, prospect strategies, proposals, and outcomes within Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) systems, ensuring compliance with reporting standards and portfolio management expectations.
- Regularly evaluate portfolio performance and key activity metrics, adjusting strategies to maximize fundraising effectiveness and donor engagement.
Administration, Supervision, Training, & Coaching
- Provide strategic oversight of the gift documentation process, ensuring gift agreements are accurately drafted, reviewed, executed, and managed in accordance with donor intent, IRS regulations, and Foundation and university policies.
- Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop gift planning staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on accountability, innovation, donor-centered service, and professional growth.
- Establish clear performance expectations, monitor progress toward goals, conduct regular performance evaluations, and provide ongoing coaching and support to maximize individual and team effectiveness.
- Create and implement professional development plans that enhance staff competencies in gift planning, fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and portfolio management.
- Ensure team members have access to the tools, training, technology, and resources needed to successfully identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward planned and complex gifts.
- Develop and deliver training programs, workshops, and educational resources that strengthen gift planning knowledge and fundraising effectiveness across the Foundation.
- Promote adherence to ethical fundraising standards, Foundation policies, and industry best practices while ensuring appropriate risk management and compliance procedures are followed.
- Prepare and present reports, analyses, and recommendations for Foundation leadership regarding program performance, fundraising results, pipeline activity, and strategic opportunities for growth.
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| Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS) |
- Bachelor’s Degree.
- Minimum of eight (8) years of successful experience in development with at least five (5) years in planned giving.
- Three (3) years of experience in not-for-profit higher education.
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| Additional Requirements (SPS) |
- Demonstrable commitment to the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct in accordance with the CASE Statement of Ethics, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, and The Donor Bill of Rights. (Membership not required.)
- Deep, personal commitment to diversity in all forms, the recognition of all individuals to mutual respect, and the acceptance of others without biases. Demonstrable commitment to leading by example, modeling diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the university.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to relate to donors, volunteers, colleagues, and university leadership.
- Self-motivated (a “self-starter”); innovative and ability to work with considerable independence within the context of a team environment and a network of relationships.
- Superior written and oral communication, negotiating, organizational, analytical and fundraising skills, including the ability to interpret financial information and manage data.
- Familiarity with financial planning, tax and charitable gift laws and planned giving vehicles and methods.
- Knowledge of university governance and academic administrative and financial policies and guidelines.
- Must be able to travel frequently; some international travel may be required.
- This position requires the handling of highly sensitive and confidential information and requires an exemplary track record of professionalism, maturity, and discretion.
- Strong communication, organizational, interpersonal, administrative, and managerial skills.
- Strong sales and closing skills.
- Must be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
- Willingness to commit to the mission and goals of Northern Illinois University and the NIU Foundation.
- Familiarity with donor databases and gift planning tools (e.g. SalesForce, The Raiser’s Edge, PG Calc).
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| Preferred Qualifications (SPS) |
- Advanced degree (M.S., M.A., J.D., Ph.D.)
- CFRE and/or Series 65 certification.
- Ten (10) or more years of successful experience in development.
- Three (3) years of experience working within a matrixed organizational structure where performance responsibilities are evaluated in different divisions.
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Salary: $125,000.16/Annually
For full consideration, please visit https://employment.niu.edu/postings/95318 to submit the following materials by September 11, 2026.
Required Documents:
- Cover Letter – Please include your interest in employment with the NIU Foundation and how your previous experience positions you for success in the role for which you are applying.
- Current Resume.
- List of Three current Professional References, including name, email address, and phone number.
- Transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable for initial review of application; official copies required to confirm appointment).
Applications submitted after September 11, 2026 are welcomed, but will be considered as needed.
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