Director of Planned Giving

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all. 

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

Simmons University has partnered with Lindauer, a national search firm, to assist with the initial phases of this recruitment. All interested candidates should direct inquiries, nominations, and application materials to:

Jackie Sullivan, Senior Vice President

[email protected]
 

Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials directly through Lindauer’s website:

https://www.lindauerglobal.com/searches/open-searches/director-planned-giving-simmons-university/#apply-now

____________________________________________________________________________

JOB SUMMARY

Simmons University seeks an experienced and strategic Director of Planned Giving to lead and expand its comprehensive planned giving program. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, the Director will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned and deferred gifts from alumnae/i, trustees, parents, and friends to support the University’s long-term financial strength.

This role requires a seasoned fundraising professional with a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in gift planning, major gifts, or related development work, and a proven track record of securing a wide range of planned gifts at various levels of complexity. The ideal candidate is a results-oriented, collaborative leader with deep technical knowledge of charitable estate planning/planned giving and excellent interpersonal skills.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Develop, lead, and manage the University’s planned giving strategies, incorporating bequests, charitable trusts, gift annuities, and other deferred giving vehicles.

• Personally manage a portfolio of 150+ planned giving prospects and donors, moving them through the donor cycle from identification through stewardship.

• Collaborate with AVP of Advancement and Campaign Director to support the front-line fundraising team to integrate planned giving strategies into broader development and stewardship efforts.

• Develop and implement marketing and communications plans to promote planned giving, including digital campaigns, print materials, and targeted outreach.

• In collaboration with the Donor Relations and Stewardship team, design and implement recognition and stewardship programs and events for the John Simmons Society members.

•  Collaborate with donors and their advisors on complex charitable giving vehicles in coordination with appropriate internal stakeholders, ensuring compliance with IRS and Simmons University policies.

• Working with Advancement Services colleagues, track and report on planned giving activity and metrics; maintain accurate records in the donor CRM, Raiser’s Edge.

• Serve as the subject matter expert on charitable estate and financial planning within the Office of Advancement, including providing training and support to advancement staff on planned giving fundamentals, as deemed necessary.

• Serve as a member of the Advancement Leadership Group, attending meetings and performing other necessary duties.

• Other duties as assigned.
   

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (JD, MBA, or related field) or CFRE designation strongly preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in fundraising, with demonstrated success securing planned gifts and/or major gifts.

• In-depth knowledge of planned giving vehicles, estate planning, and related legal and tax implications.

• Ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
   

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in higher education or nonprofit institutions of similar size and scope.

• Commitment to the mission and values of Simmons University.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and integrity.

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

• Being a strategic thinker with the ability to inspire and build trust with donors and colleagues.

• Proficiency with fundraising CRMs and prospect research tools; experience with Raiser’s Edge/NXT is a plus.

• Strong project management and organizational skills.
   

WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• On-campus or hybrid eligibility

• Twelve month position

• 35 hours/ week 

• Office environment  

• Essential physical requirements include sitting and typing 

• Physical effort required - lifting up to 10 pounds  

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws effective October 29, 2025, Simmons University is committed to pay equity, transparency and clear communication throughout the hiring process. The hourly or annual salary range for this position is:

This is benefits eligible position.

Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, equity, and external market benchmarks that help guide compensation decisions. Our compensation philosophy is centered around a comprehensive package that includes pay, health benefits, and retirement savings offerings that can be seen here, as well as work-life balance initiatives such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities. We are committed to offering a package that empowers individuals to thrive in their roles, contribute meaningfully, and lead with confidence.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.