Director, Planned Giving & Program Development

Organization: United Way of the Midlands

Job Title: Director, Planned Giving & Program Development

Department: Development

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Omaha, NE

About United Way of the Midlands:

Since 1923, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro by bringing together the business, government, and not-for-profit sectors and raising money to support our community’s most impactful health and human service programs. UWM’s funded programs and direct services – including JAG Nebraska, 211, and the Weatherization Assistance Program – focus on four key areas to improve health and well-being for all, build financial stability and strength, help young people realize their full potential, and address urgent needs today to advance a better tomorrow. At United Way, we are committed to fostering integrity, inclusion, and responsibility across our work where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the table.

UWM’s Mission:

United Way of the Midlands UNITES our community’s CARING SPIRIT to build a STRONGER tomorrow.

Guiding Principles:

At United Way of the Midlands, we…

• Build TRUST in everything we do.

• Extend GRACE by thinking beyond ourselves.

• Show GRIT by bringing it everyday.

• Be OPEN to embracing others’ differences.

• Actively ENGAGE by listening and sharing.

• Live CURIOUSLY to learn constantly.

Director, Planned Giving & Program Development Summary:

The Director, Planned Giving & Program Development, is a key member of the development team, responsible for generating philanthropic support for UWM’s strategic priorities and direct-service programs while developing and leading a comprehensive planned giving program.

Working closely with the Vice President, Program Development, this position manages and grows a portfolio of individual, corporate, and planned giving donors and prospects. The Director builds meaningful relationships, identifies donor interests, and connects those interests with opportunities to support UWM programs and initiatives, including JAG Nebraska, 211, Volunteerism, and other organizational priorities.

Responsibilities:

Planned Giving

• Develops and leads a comprehensive planned giving strategy designed to increase long-term philanthropic support for UWM.

• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors and prospects for planned and deferred gifts, including bequests, charitable trusts, gift annuities, beneficiary designations, and other appropriate giving vehicles.

• Works with donors and, as appropriate, their professional advisors to explore charitable giving strategies that align donors’ philanthropic, financial, and estate-planning goals with UWM priorities.

• Maintains a strong working knowledge of planned, deferred, and tax-advantaged charitable giving strategies and serves as an internal resource to Development colleagues.

• Develops strategies to expand UWM’s planned giving donor pipeline through prospect identification, donor education, networking, referrals, and meaningful engagement.

• Provides ongoing stewardship for donors who have documented planned gift commitments, strengthening long-term relationships with UWM.

Program Development & Fundraising

• Develops and executes fundraising strategies to generate new and increased philanthropic support for UWM programs and organizational priorities.

• Partners with the Vice President, Program Development and other Development team members to build and steward a strong pipeline of individual, corporate, and institutional funding prospects.

• Supports fundraising efforts for priority program areas, including JAG Nebraska, 211, Volunteerism, special initiatives, and other UWM programs.

• Develops and maintains strong relationships with individuals, businesses, community leaders, and other partners throughout Nebraska who participate in or support UWM programming, with particular emphasis on JAG Nebraska.

• Cultivates relationships with key corporate decision-makers, including senior leaders and C-suite executives, to identify opportunities for philanthropic investment and engagement.

• Represents UWM at community events, donor meetings, networking opportunities, and other external engagements to strengthen relationships and increase awareness of UWM’s mission and impact.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• No supervisory responsibilities

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Mission-focused, strategic, collaborative, and highly relationship-oriented.

• Demonstrated ability to develop, cultivate, solicit, and steward meaningful donor and partner relationships.

• Strong understanding of fundraising principles, donor cultivation, major gifts, corporate philanthropy, and planned giving.

• Strong consultative and relationship-development skills, including effective listening and the ability to identify donor and partner needs and connect them with meaningful philanthropic opportunities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling messages and effectively communicate UWM’s mission and impact.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, take initiative, and achieve results in a dynamic and changing environment.

• Collaborative team member with the ability to work effectively across departments, manage expectations, and build productive internal and external relationships.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and donor relationship management/CRM systems.

• Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend donor, community, and organizational events.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree (required) from a four-year accredited college or university.

• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in not-for-profit fundraising including major giving and corporate relations/giving.

• Demonstrated success in cultivating and securing philanthropic support through major gifts, corporate giving, planned giving, or other relationship-based fundraising.

• Experience working with high-level donors, corporate executives, community leaders, or other key stakeholders required.

• Experience with planned giving, estate gifts, or complex charitable giving strategies strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Benefits:

• Shared health, dental and vision insurance

• Generous 401(k) Retirement plan

• Paid vacation and sick time

• Employer paid life and disability insurance

• Professional development assistance

• Tuition reimbursement

United Way of the Midlands is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.