Save the Redwoods League, Director of Gift Planning

ORGANIZATION 

For over a century, Save the Redwoods League has been dedicated to protecting and restoring California’s iconic redwood forests and connecting people to their grandeur. Through land acquisition, restoration, scientific research, and advocacy, the League works to ensure that these forests thrive for future generations. The organization collaborates with conservation partners, tribal communities, and public agencies to restore ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and expand public access to these natural treasures. With a strategic vision for expanding conservation impact, Save the Redwoods League is a leading force in forest preservation and climate resilience.

To learn more about Save the Redwoods League, visit www.savetheredwoods.org.

OPPORTUNITY 

The Director of Gift Planning plays a vital role in ensuring the long-term protection and restoration of California’s iconic redwood forests by securing legacy gifts that will sustain these natural treasures for generations to come. As a key leader within the Major Gifts team, the Director designs and executes strategic initiatives to identify, cultivate, and steward planned giving donors, fostering deep connections between supporters and the League’s mission. In this role, they not only drive the growth of future philanthropic support but also contribute to the broader success of the development team’s revenue goals. Additionally, the Director oversees a Gift Planning Associate, as well as external consultants and vendors, ensuring the seamless execution of gift planning strategies. This is an exciting opportunity for a mission-driven fundraising professional to make a lasting impact by growing a program that helps protect and expand the parks and preserves that connect people to these awe-inspiring forests.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Director of Gift Planning include:

• Design and implement gift planning marketing strategy to promote planned giving opportunities to League volunteers and supporters. 
• Direct efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward gift planning prospects and donors.
• Manage portfolio of 150 qualified active gift planning prospects through the stages of moves management to secure future gifts through planned giving vehicles.
• Steward and manage the Redwood Legacy Circle consisting of 1,000+ existing planned giving donors. Develop and execute strategies for continued engagement and recognition as well as cultivation and solicitation for additional planned gifts.
• Direct administration for all existing and new estates. Maintain communication with the attorney/executor/trustee/family members; analyze and record all gift documentation; prepare year end accruals; verify tracking and receipt of matured investment gifts and charitable remainder trust distributions to beneficiaries.
• Direct all other gift planning program administration: develop program budget; track activity targets and status; monitor payment plan balances and send pledge reminders; design donor acknowledgement and recognition pieces; ensure timely acknowledgment of gifts and pledges; maintain donor and prospect files; and facilitate annual grove revenue grant to California State Parks.
• Recruit and staff a Legacy Circle Chair who serves as a member of the Development Committee; prepare meeting materials, reports and presentations.
• Recruit, manage, train, motivate, support and empower the Gift Planning Associate and supervise various contractors, providing direction and input. 

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Director of Gift Planning candidate will be:

• Personal passion for preserving and protecting the natural world with a belief in the mission, principles, and values of Save the Redwoods League’s approach to conservation.
• Minimum of 5 years’ increasingly responsible gift planning experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with high level volunteers and donors.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise, train and motivate staff.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work successfully in a fast-paced environment with a high degree of attention to detail and minimum supervision.
• Superior interpersonal, oral and written communication and presentation skills with the ability to represent the League’s mission and interests to a diverse group of people and to interact effectively with people across cultures, ethnic groups, and identities.
• Ability to work independently as well as on a team.
• Proficient user of office technology and information systems (including Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint) and donor databases, preferably EveryAction. A strong commitment to the League’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion values and commitments, as well as the League’s cultural attributes – empowering, accountable, continuously improving, supportive and inclusive.
• Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures, ethnic groups, and identities; verbal and written fluency in a language other than English is desirable.

WORK SCHEDULE

This role is hybrid with a minimum of 1-2 days onsite in our San Francisco headquarters per week. Our weekly in office day is Tuesday (when everyone living in the SF Bay Area is required to come in). Additional days are based on business needs.

As a full-time salaried employee, you will be eligible for full benefits, which include medical, dental, and vision insurance, three weeks of vacation annually plus holidays, and a 401k retirement plan, currently with an up to 8% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience and internal/external equity considerations; the salary range for this position is $120,000 -$150,000 per year.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Save the Redwoods League is fully committed to its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Goals. The League welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets. However, we are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria. If you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://apply.workable.com/j/01763A02A4/.

Save the Redwoods League is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.