THE PENSION BOARDS — UNITED
THE PENSION BOARDS — UNITED
MAJOR GIFTS AND PLANNED
GIVING OFFICER
Position Specification
THE SITUATION
The
Pension Boards – United Church of Christ (PBUCC) provide pension, health, and allied
benefit programs for employees of churches and affiliated organizations of the United
Church of Christ. The number of participants in the programs is about 21,000, and it has
about $2.6 billion under management. The Pension Boards’ offices are in the
Morningside Heights area of New York City, while the national headquarters of the United
Church of Christ are in Cleveland, Ohio. To learn more about the mission and programs of
The Pension Boards, go to www.pbucc.org.
The
purpose of the Ministerial Assistance program of The Pension Boards is to provide support
to current and retired clergy and lay employees in need. Financial support for these
efforts comes from the Christmas Fund, an annual appeal that generates about $1.6 million,
and an Endowment, which currently stands at about $50 million. The Pension Boards has set
a goal of doubling the Endowment.
The
Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer (MG&PGO) is a new position within the
Ministerial Assistance department. Its role will be to promote Legacy Giving among members
and friends of the UCC for the purpose of supporting Church pastors and lay employees in
need. Among the strategies for meeting the goals is to lay the groundwork for bequests and
to develop donor prospects for major gifts.
ATTRACTIONS
The
Pension Boards as a whole is a strong and vital branch of the UCC, which has resources to
engage in its ministry and looks forward to implementing new programs. The MG & PGO
will have the tools he or she needs to start the Legacy Program and develop it.
The
PBUCC is a diverse and small (70 employees) organization. It is more personal than a large
advancement or development office. The challenges are interesting and a person can see the
results of his or her work quickly. One can make a real difference in the lives of
ordained and lay UCC employees. Also, The Pension Boards is forward thinking and always
looking for ways to offer more services and products.
The
case for legacy giving and major gift fundraising for Ministerial Assistance is clear and
compelling. Given the long-term perspective of building an endowment for this mission, the
position also affords the time it needs to develop a strong and effective giving program.
While
the Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer will report to the President/CEO of PBUCC and
the Director of Ministerial Assistance in New York, the position itself could be based in
the incumbent’s home city and office.
The
Raiser’s Edge database has been reviewed and culled and now contains approximately
5,000 names that are quality prospects for getting started.
CRITICAL ISSUES
Cultivation
for legacy giving and major gifts has been minimal to date. The new MG & PGO will need
to approach the position as a “start-up” operation and get up to speed quickly
on all the systems and structures of PBUCC and the wider UCC organization.
The
Cleveland headquarters of the UCC conducts planned giving solicitations for the distinct
purpose of supporting churches and the national agencies of the greater UCC. It will be
important for the MG & PGO at PBUCC to distinguish its own efforts, which are aimed at
supporting individuals in need.
THE POSITION
Reports
to: President/CEO & Director, Ministerial Assistance, PBUCC, New York
The role of the Major
Gifts and Planned Giving Officer is to promote a Legacy Gift program among the members and
friends of the United Church of Christ. Also, the MG & PGO will train Annuitant
Visitors and other staff to increase their awareness of the legacy giving and hone their
sensitivity toward identifying potential donors.
Principle Duties
·
Design promotional
material to elicit interest in Legacy Gifts supporting the work of the Pension Boards and
the Board for Ministerial Assistance.
·
Design educational
materials and provide training for Annuitant visitors and other staff.
·
Conduct workshops
concerning Legacy Giving at retiree meetings.
·
Make direct contact, by
phone or in person as appropriate, with persons indicating a desire to provide Legacy
Gifts.
·
Provide interface with
the technical services of the National Planned Giving Office of UCC to execute gift
instruments.
·
Expand and maintain the
potential donor database in the Pension Boards’ Raiser’s
Edge software.
·
Mine the Raiser’s Edge software to identify specific
individuals for directed education about Legacy Gifts.
·
Cultivate potential major
donors with regular contacts, as appropriate.
·
Other duties as may be
assigned.
Key Accountabilities
·
Working in a coordinated
manner with the Annual Giving program of the Christmas Fund, develop and execute a program
which will add $50 - $100 million dollars to the endowment by 2015.
·
Develop at least 50 gifts
through bequests per year.
·
Develop at least six life
income gifts per year.
·
Develop at least one
major endowment gift per year.
Key Challenges
·
Accomplish these goals in
a climate where only minimal effort has occurred in the last 30 years.
·
Accomplish these goals in
an atmosphere of declining contributions and loyalty to the United Church of Christ
nationally.
Background/Experience/Qualifications
Required
·
Previous work experience
in either major gifts or planned giving.
·
A bachelor’s degree
from an accredited college or university.
·
Specialized training in
Legacy Gift recruitment a plus.
·
Track record of
cultivating and soliciting major and planned gifts.
·
Self-starter. One who
sets goals, develops a plan, and gets the job done.
·
Membership in United
Church of Christ preferred.
Key Relationships
·
Internal: Director,
Ministerial Assistance, President/CEO
·
External: Annuitant
Visitors and potential Donors
Candidates and sources, please communicate with Bob Sellery or Katie
Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.,
R
OBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
