Manager, Estate Administration

*How You'll Contribute*
The Advancement team cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, as well as foundation, government and corporate partners who invest in the Society to drive impact through science, technology, education, exploration, and storytelling. The team collaborates with Society teams – and often works closely with NGP/Disney – to build transformative and impact-driven strategic partnerships. The team also produces global events that deepen connections and leverage the Society's power to convene, and directs robust annual, major and planned giving programs empowering the Society with a broad base of public support.

Planned gifts enable National Geographic to add new dimensions to our research, conservation, exploration and education programs that result in real solutions to our most critical challenges. The Estate Administration Manager is a vital member of the Planned Giving Team, ensuring that legacy gifts left to the Society are realized in an efficient and timely manner, and distributions from various estate sources are processed accurately.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Planned Giving, the Estate Administration Manager will be responsible for the estate administration process for bequests from wills, trusts, split-interest agreements, perpetual trusts, gifts left by beneficiary designation, and other testamentary instruments. This role will also manage the processing and assignment of donor inquiries, creation of gift annuity contracts, and other functions.

Your Impact
*Responsibilities Include
Estate Administration (80%)*

• Serve as the National Geographic Society's primary liaison to manage the bequest/estate administration process from first notification to receipt of final gifts. Communicate with executors, attorneys, and financial institutions to make sure estates are proceeding in a timely manner and according to donor intent.
• Lead the monitoring, review, and processing of all legal documentation, trust statements, receipts, releases, claim forms and related materials for bequest distribution requirements and restrictions.
• Maintain and ensure data and donor information is accurate and up-to-date in both electronic database and physical hard file, while ensuring compliance with organizational procedures and financial and legal requirements.
• Manage planned giving acknowledgments, receipts and thank you notes to ensure that executors or family members are thanked on a timely basis.
• Interface with our internal finance department, internal and external counsel as well as donors, financial institutions, executors, accountants and probate attorneys.
• Serve as point person for matured charitable gift annuities, including communication with bank and donors' next of kin.
• Maintains a tracking system and accurate reporting of open estates and receives gifts to communicate with department leadership on revenue pipeline. Analyze and report on the results and trends of estate distributions, providing strategic insights and recommendations to departmental leadership.
• Responsible for developing and implementing process improvements and best practices for estate administration to optimize efficiency and accuracy.

*Planned Giving Administration (20%)*

• Oversee the creation and review of gift annuity contracts and other planned giving documentation for planned giving fundraisers, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Responsible for planned giving invoices, expense reports, Daily Gift Report, and ordering supplies, and other administrative functions to maintain planned giving office efficiency.
• Manage legacy email, phone number, and other sources of donor inquiries. Responsible for ensuring accurate processing of donor inquiries and assignment to planned giving fundraising staff.

*What You'll Bring
Educational Background*
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, pre-law or liberal arts preferred

Minimum Years And Type Of Experience
5+ years of related experience in gift planning, development, law, accounting or equivalent combination of experience

*Necessary Knowledge and Skills*

• Demonstrated knowledge of planned giving vehicles and associated tax and estate planning issues.
• Demonstrated experience in handling complex estate distributions including from wills, trusts, IRAs, life insurance policies, split interest gifts, and others.
• Comprehensive ability to analyze and understand legal and financial terminology and processes related to legacy giving, with the ability to manage complex cases and provide strategic recommendations to Planned Giving team leadership.
• Experience reviewing and processing legal documentation and communicating with legal professionals.
• Communicates clearly, concisely and appropriately both verbally and in writing. Is courteous and tactful in communications with next of kin and other donors.
• Advanced proficiency with CRM systems with preference forRaiser's Edge. Experience in Microsoft Word and Excel and in generating detailed reports.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving and organization skills, proofreading, accuracy, attention to detail and ability to multitask while meeting deadlines. Demonstrates sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive, complex, and confidential information.
• Ability to work individually as well as with a team.

*Supervision*
No Direct Reports

Salary Information
The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The salary range for this position is $90, $95,000.00.

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (May not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation
Hybrid - At the Society, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are Hybrid. Our Hybrid category requires that staff work at Base Camp two days each week: every Tuesday and Wednesday. Hybrid staff are also always welcome to come in additional days each week if preferred.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
W
e encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.