A Career Opportunity

UNICEF is the world’s farthest-reaching humanitarian organization for children. Across 190 countries and territories, and in the world’s toughest places, we workday in and day out to help children survive. To defend their rights. To keep them protected, healthy and educated. To give them a fair chance to fulfil their potential. Our work for every child relies entirely on voluntary support, including donations from generous Canadians.

Manager, Planned Giving

(Full-time, Permanent; Flexible-Hybrid; based in Toronto)

The successful candidate will work closely with the Director, Development (Major Gifts) to design and implement fundraising strategies to achieve the Planned Giving program’s annual goals and secure a pipeline of confirmed bequests gifts.  This role will also collaborate with the Individual Giving team and Marketing team to support integrated strategies to identify and engage new planned giving donors, prospects and professional advisors.

The growth of the Planned Giving program is a priority for the organization, and we are seeking a charismatic, relationship-building individual who is interested in a dynamic opportunity to grow this strategic area of support at UNICEF Canada.

Purpose and General Description

With support from the Director, Development (Major Gifts), the Manager, Planning Giving is responsible for the development and execution of an integrated and long-range cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plan for current and prospective planned giving donors across Canada.

The incumbent will focus on building philanthropic relationships with individuals and facilitating the confirmation and realization of planned gifts. The candidate should expect to spend time on the phone and at in person meetings with prospective donors and should be willing to travel.  This role would also implement strategic group engagement events for planned donors, prospects, financial advisors and other gift planning professionals.

The candidate will be a self-directed and self-motivated individual with proven, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with people from all walks of life and age ranges. The incumbent must have an excellent proven record of donor relationship building, cultivation and solicitation of planned gifts.

The incumbent will be part of the National Development Team and will work cross-functionally to achieve goals in support of UNICEF Canada’s strategic plan.

The responsibilities of the position will include:

Revenue Generation & Stewardship (75%)

  • In alignment with Development Team program goals, support the Director of Development with annual budgeting and timely reforecasting of the Planned Giving program. 
  • Manage a portfolio of 300 to 400 prospects and donors with one third of each in cultivation, solicitation and stewardship at any given time. 
  • Provide a timely, thoughtful and professional response to all planned giving inquiries received by phone, direct mail, emails, and surveys. Develop a follow-up plan, implement relationship management strategies and timetables for both planned giving prospects and donors. 
  • Work in collaboration with and support the Digital Marketing and Individual Giving teams to promote planned giving, to identify new prospects and to grow current and deferred planned giving revenue. 
  • In consultation with the Director, develop and execute strategic plans for engaging planned giving donors and prospects through visits, calls, meetings, mailings, emails and events to achieve the highest level of support from donors across Canada, through confirmed estate gifts and current or deferred gifts. 
  • Contribute to engagement and cultivation initiatives that generate a higher conversion of current planned giving prospects to committed planned giving donors. 
    Support the development of new strategies for the ongoing stewardship and recognition of planned giving donors and the recognition of realized estate gifts. 
  • Collaborate with national and regional Development Team members and other teams in developing funding proposals, gift agreements, and provide support on complex estate and planned gifts. 
  • Develop programs and tools to engage professional advisors to increase their understanding of UNICEF, encourage their partnership in sharing and/or developing expertise about planned giving vehicles, promoting asset-based giving and encouraging their support and advocacy for UNICE. 
  • Support the execution of Planned Giving events and attend other major gifts and campaign events. Cultivate and steward relationships with the attendees. 
  • Actively work to increase visibility through CAGP and wealth advisor networks and position UNICEF Canada as a top charitable partner of choice for planned giving within the charitable sector. 
  • Keep current on all planned giving vehicles, pertaining to laws and new rulings and build effective relationships with professional advisors in the financial and legal sectors. 
  • Effectively communicate the importance of legacy giving to UNICEF Canada’s vision and values with stakeholders through storytelling of donor impact.

Administration & Operations (25%)

  • Provide support and expertise in the management and administration of estate files to guarantee the receipt of gift expectancies in a timely matter. 
  • Liaise and coordinate with Estate executors, lawyers, legal administrators, and co-beneficiaries as required to support the liquidation and release of assets as required. 
  • Work with other members of the team to ensure the maintenance of the CRM database for assigned prospects and donors including updating CRM, tracking actions and implementing a moves management system. 
  • Monitor planned giving gifts reports and ensure that gifts are captured in the CRM and coded correctly. 
  • Maintain best practices and the implementation of UNICEF Canada’s Planned Giving program in compliance with CRA Guidelines and in line with UNICEF Canada’s Gift Acceptance Policy. 
  • Other duties as required

The ideal candidate will have:

  • University education or equivalent. 
  • Minimum of five years of fundraising experience in planned giving or major gifts. 
  • Proven exceptional donor relations experience and solid understanding of best practices in cultivation, closing gifts, gift acknowledgement, recognition and stewardship.  
  • Expertise and knowledge of gift planning vehicles, estate administration and asset based giving process and other current/deferred giving options. 
  • Exceptional active listening skills and excellent attention to detail. 
  • Excellent communication skills, oral and written, with the ability to effectively persuade and inspire others to support UNICEF Canada’s work.  
  • Ability to work independently, communicate at all levels with confidence and exercise sound judgment.  
  • Demonstrate tact and maintain confidentiality in relation to donors and the general public. 
  • Proven ability to develop annual plans, set priorities, use planning and analytical skills, complete work with minimal supervision and meet deadlines.  
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritize and multitask.  
  • Strong interpersonal skills and team player.  
  • Experience in use of Raiser’s Edge or other CRM software and general proficiency in the use of MS Office software.  
  • Ability to travel from time to time to meet with planned giving donors and prospects and for events.
  • Active membership and/or involvement in CAGP considered an asset 
  • Valid driver’s licence is required.  
  • French language an asset.

Salary range: $68,000 to $75,000 per year.

For consideration, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@unicef.ca by Aug 23rd, 2024. Please attach your cover letter (including salary expectations) and resume as one document and reference “Manager, Planned Giving” clearly in the subject heading. 

UNICEF Canada sincerely thanks all applicants for their expressed interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Consistent with our Child Safeguarding Policy, the successful candidate must receive clearance by a police background check, including a vulnerable sector screen.

UNICEF Canada is an inclusive workplace and is committed to championing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the requirements for the position.