Regional Gift Planner

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,600 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of approximately 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

The ELCA Foundation

The ELCA Foundation is a separately incorporated ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It provides comprehensive giving opportunities for individuals, and educational and gift planning services to congregations, synods, churchwide ministries and related institutions and agencies of this church. Its goal is to increase financial resources for all the ministries of the ELCA.

The Foundation also offers opportunities for congregations and institutions of the ELCA to invest in the Endowment Fund Pooled Trust; provides oversight of the assets including the Endowment Fund, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Trusts; and cares for the accounting, administration and financial reporting of assets and activities.

The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees with separate committees for Investments, Audit, Resource Development and Finance.

Foundation Parameters:

Assets Under Management - $1.3 billion

Annual Budget - $9 million

Foundation Staff Size – 33

Job Summary

The Regional Gift Planner (RGP) is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and securing planned and current gifts from individuals in support of churchwide ministries, congregations, synods, and other ELCA-related ministries. Gift planners work in partnership with synods, ELCA related organizations and institutions to expand the network of prospective donors, increase support for ELCA-related ministries and present opportunities to invest in the Endowment Fund Pooled Trust. Gift Planners provide ongoing, regular stewardship of planned giving donors and participants in the Endowment Fund Pooled Trust.

The Regional Gift Planner will collaborate closely with the bishops within their territory, along with several other regional partners. Additionally, they are expected to collaborate with other regional gift planners, and gift officers of the ELCA, as needed. 

Reporting to the Director of Gift Planning, this position is part of a nationwide network of twenty-three professional gift planners. 

Each Gift Planner lives and works within their assigned territory (home office).

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, location specific remote position. 

The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

1. Meet with prospective donors to conduct discoveries, present gift plan proposals and secure planned and current gifts through estate plans, CRTs, CGAs, named endowments, QCDs, cash, properties, and other gifts.

2. Steward and strengthen the relationship between the ELCA Foundation, synods, and organizational partners. Cultivate and develop additional partnerships with relevant regional ELCA affiliated institutions. Coordinate with partner organizations in identifying gift planning prospects and engage in joint discovery meetings with partner gift officers. 

3. Cultivate and solicit ELCA affiliated institutions to invest funds in the Endowment Fund Pool Trust and provide ongoing stewardship of these institutions.

4. Support congregations and ELCA related ministries in the development and promotion of planned giving programs.

5. Manage ongoing donor/organizational relationships and gift planning activities in CRM software, having regular reviews with the Director of Gift Planning. 

6. Other duties as assigned  

Supervisory Responsibilities

1. n/a

Required Education/Knowledge/Experience/Skills and Abilities

1. Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

2. Experience in resource development, planned giving, financial/estate planning, sales, or related career, with a solid understanding of the development process and planned giving instruments.

3. A commitment to supporting best practices in fundraising and development.

Excellent communications and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively interview potential donors about their passions for ministry and available assets, present proposals, and ask for planned gifts.

4. Ability to utilize a constituent information system as an integral part of the moves management strategy.

5. Ability to work independently from home, while remaining self-disciplined and organized to be most effective.

6. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.).

7. Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA. 

8. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Physical and Travel Requirements:   

Extensive travel – over 12 weeks

Physical Effort: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel Frequency:

Must be willing and able to travel by air and automobile; up to 50% of the time, including overnight stays.

Type of Travel required to perform this job:

Air and automobile

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA's, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact Human Resources.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.