Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. seeks an experienced and results-oriented professional to lead the Gift Planning program.  The Director of Gift Planning is a senior level position within the 17 member Alumni and Development Office and reports to the Assistant Head for Development.

Founded in 1864, Peddie School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school of 545 students, grades 9 through post-graduate. It is primarily a boarding school, with 63 percent of students and 90 percent of the faculty living on campus. In addition to its engaged and accomplished student body, Peddie’s extraordinary resources include the highly professional, collaborative and dedicated faculty, its innovative and rigorous curriculum and an attractive, modern 280-acre campus located midway between New York City and Philadelphia.

Thanks to the generosity of Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg ’27 and other donors, Peddie now ranks among the most highly endowed independent schools in the nation. Its $321 million endowment enables the school to offer over $8 million in financial aid to 40 percent of the student body.

This is an exciting time for Peddie under the leadership of Headmaster Peter Quinn who alongside newly appointed Assistant Head for Development Karyn Vella embarks upon an $80 to $100 million comprehensive campaign.  The Director of Gift Planning will play a significant role in the campaign and be pivotal to the success in growing Peddie’s legacy society, The Bell Society, and to achieving a minimum of $20 million in new documented planned gifts during the active campaign timeline (2018-2022).

Position Description:

Peddie School is seeking an experienced, driven and passionate fundraising professional to join the Alumni and Development Office and lead Peddie’s Gift Planning program. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned professional to join a dynamic and growing team and to be a leader in the largest campaign in the history of the school.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Reporting to the Assistant Head for Development, the Director of Gift Planning is responsible for leading the Gift Planning team in providing sustainable, best-practice gift planning services including the acceptance of estate gifts from trusts and probate estates, the administration of charitable trusts and gift annuities;

• Develop meaningful and productive relationships with a portfolio of 180-200 prospects for planned gifts and current Bell Society members being stewarded and cultivated for additional gifts;

• On an annual basis, complete a minimum of 80 face-to-face visits, 200 phone or email contacts and a minimum of 40 written proposals for new gifts;

• Provide technical support to donors and their trusted advisors on the structuring, benefits and implications of various planned gift vehicles including bequest intentions, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts;

• Attain robust growth in Bell Society membership, consisting of 196 members (275 living and deceased); design and implement a comprehensive gift planning marketing strategy to develop new planned gifts; collaborate with the Assistant Director of Development Communications to illustrate donor profiles and stories for the Peddie Chronicle, Stories from the Bell, printed postcards, class appeal letters from Bell Society volunteers and gift planning webpages; moreover, collaborate with the Director of Special Events to offer several stewardship events annually for current and prospective Bell Society members on campus and in regional areas;

• Provide comprehensive leadership to the Gift Planning team and work closely with front-line fundraisers to keep them abreast of any tax incentives, best practices and opportunities for planned gift conversations;

• Oversee gift planning administrator on life income plan administration;

• Provide leadership for volunteers serving on the Planned Giving Committee and as Class Gift Planning Chairs;

• Effectively manage the budget for the gift planning program;

• Continually evaluate and improve the gift planning program’s methods and approaches, stay current on technical developments in industry practices; participate in gift planning conferences and quality professional associations.