Director, Complex Assets (Principal Gifts)

FOR EXTERNAL APPLICANTS: Pomona College has retained the Executive Search Firm Aspen Leadership Group to lead the search efforts. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Don Hasseltine:and reference Pomona College in the subject line. If you are an internal applicant please apply here.

ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE:Located near Los Angeles California Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nations premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887 Pomona College is known for small classes a challenging curriculum close relationships between students and faculty and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Director Complex Assets (Principal Gifts) is a talented self-motivated and intellectually curious fundraising professional with primary responsibility for the strategic growth of the principal gift program. Charged with contributing significant resources to develop and grow a sustainable pipeline of complex gifts with a focus on principal gifts the director will cultivate and close principal gifts of $1M from alumni families friends donors and prospects in support of the divisions annual and multi-year campaign fundraising goals and will effectively collaborate with the assistant vice president of complex legacy and principal gifts direct of complex assets (legacy) campaign director assistant vice president of development and other colleagues across the division and College.

A primary responsibility for the director is securing new principal gifts of $1M that align catalyze and support institutional priorities and campaign initiatives. The director will manage a portfolio of assigned alumni families friends donors and prospects to generate interest in and to secure principal gift commitments partnering with the campaign director and assistant vice president for development on blended giving opportunities for alumni and families.

Reporting to the assistant vice president of complex legacy and principal gifts the director will activate and support colleagues in sustained donor-centric complex assets fundraising for the Colleges top priorities and campaign initiatives. The director will provide vision and leadership for a comprehensive and well-integrated complex assets fundraising and principal gift program for Pomona in support of the most aspirational comprehensive capital campaign in the history of the College while also raising the level of giving beyond the campaign.

The director must demonstrate familiarity in building collaborations with other high-performing fundraising teams. This position requires judgment and the ability to act independently to plan and accomplish goals. The successful candidate will be an inspiring leader good listener and an effective advocate for the value of a liberal arts education. The director will actively contribute to a healthy team environment inspire colleagues toward excellence and lead by example.

Pomona is committed to a donor-centric approach to development. Every member of the Advancement staff plays a role in providing the Colleges donors with the service and attention that ensures an exceptionally positive and fulfilling philanthropic experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Complex Legacy and Principal Gifts the Director must work independently and collaboratively to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities:

• Lead the growth and development of a robust pipeline of principal gifts ensuring alignment with Pomona Colleges long-term fundraising strategy and achievement of annual and multi-year campaign goals.
• Maintain a personal portfolio of high-level donors and prospects including complex assets and principal gifts and demonstrate frontline fundraising success through identification cultivation solicitation and stewardship. Serve as one of the Colleges recognized experts in complex assets collaborating with senior leadership and donors financial tax and estate advisors to develop and present tailored principal gift cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Lead in the creation design and execution of Pomona Colleges principal gift strategies and goals and develop metrics to measure ongoing success and ROI. Achieve personal annual fundraising goals with a focus on principal gifts from alumni families donors and prospects.
• Develop a comprehensive metrics-based fundraising plan and set aspirational goals for principal gifts.
• Operationalize short and long-term complex assets goals and strategies with an emphasis on principal giving to build upon existing commitments and expand the current donor base of support.
• Collaborate with and support major gift life-income gift (Pomona Plan) reunion and family giving fundraisers in cultivating complex assets and principal gifts from alumni families donors and prospects that may combine major life-income complex assets and legacy gifts into their annual planning and strategy sessions.
• Develop and implement strategies to maximize the acquisition and retention of alumni families donors and complex assets and principal gift prospects.
• Develop and coordinate annual marketing strategies and materials that promote complex assets and principal gifts in partnership with the Office of Advancement Communications.
• In collaboration with the stewardship team help oversee the stewardship of alumni families legacy giving donors and prospects strategically increasing membership in the Colleges inaugural $1M giving society.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with financial legal and tax advisors in support of complex assets and principal gifts to Pomona College.
• Foster a leadership style that inspires empowers and motivates staff while promoting a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Partner coach equip and encourage development staff to pursue complex assets gift opportunities assisting them in the design and implementation of individualized strategies for the identification qualification cultivation solicitation and stewardship of planned major and blended gifts as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as requested delegated or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: A bachelors degree with complex assets and principal gifts experience are preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience such as a professional designation like Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG).

Experience: The ideal candidate has a minimum of seven years of professional work with high-net-worth clients or donors in the areas of principal gifts of $1M. Management experience is preferred. Experience in an academic setting is strongly preferred as is working in a campaign environment.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL SKILLS:

This individual must possess the knowledge skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job or must be able to demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed through knowledge skills and abilities not listed below.

• Understand and communicate the mission and history of the Colleges liberal arts environment.
• Thorough knowledge of the methods and means of principal gifts including various gift planning options including bequests trusts outright gifts gifts of securities insurance real estate and other financial vehicles; and charitable giving tax laws.
• An understanding of basic investment concepts in addition to familiarity with charitable trust accounting.
• Have experience in tax estate and financial planning and in dealing with and advising donors and prospects.
• Remain current on tax laws and be willing to learn every day as donors present new issues to be resolved.
• Experience working in a comprehensive capital campaign preferably in a higher education setting.
• A proven track record of success in personally identifying qualifying cultivating soliciting and stewarding principal gifts of complex assets or complex giving vehicles from individuals.
• Comfort and effectiveness in working with high-net-worth individuals; experience in international settings a plus.
• Demonstrated effectiveness and clarity of verbal and written communication with excellent interpersonal communication skills cultural competency and ability to work with facilitate motivate and inspire a diverse group of donors prospects colleagues volunteers and constituents.
• Must handle all activities with discretion tact and a keen eye for detail.
• Working knowledge of basic math and statistics.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Word Excel Outlook) and customer relationship management software (such as Salesforce).
• Able to meet multiple deadlines and work both independently and as a collaborative member of advancement and the College in support of the Colleges strategic vision and the divisions annual goals with a high standard of integrity and ethics.

ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAILS: Regular full-time exempt position. Annual Salary: $175000 to $ specific factors that the College will consider when offering a salary to an individual will include but not be limited to: education training relevant prior experience and performance in prior roles. All staff positions are ineligible for visa or permanent resident card sponsorship. As a California employer Pomona College requires all employees to be residents of California.

REQUIRED HOURS:

The regular hours for this full-time position are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday weekend and evening work hours may be may be hours may vary due to needs of the College or division.

ADA/OSHA: This job description defines the essential job duties of this position. The College expects that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of this job without imposing risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others. It may also include marginal functions generally defined within Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

DISCLAIMER: This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. When duties and responsibilities change and develop the College will review this job description and make changes of business necessity.