University of Kentucky
Executive Director of Philanthropy
🇺🇸 Lexington, KY
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $108K - $184K
💻 Development & Advancement
🗓️ July 21st, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
- Lead the university’s legacy giving program and gift planning operations
- Manage a team of gift planning professionals and a portfolio of high-net-worth prospects
- Develop and implement strategic outreach and stewardship efforts, including managing the Limestone Society
- Collaborate with donors, legal and financial advisors, and university colleagues on complex charitable giving strategies
- Required 9 years of related experience with preference for 10 years including leadership roles
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced knowledge of charitable gift planning, estate planning, investments, and real estate
- Strong communication skills and ability to travel across Kentucky and U.S. for donor visits
- Salary range of $107,994 to $183,581 per year
- Must demonstrate commitment to collaboration, communication, mission-driven work, mutual respect, innovation, and transparency
- Position includes full-time, staff-level supervisory responsibilities within the Office of Philanthropy
Executive Director of Philanthropy Full Description
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Requisition Number | RE50956
Working Title | Executive Director of Gift Planning
Department Name | 14000:Office Of Philanthropy
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 52
Salary Range | $107,994-183,581/year
Type of Position | Staff
Position Time Status | Full-Time
Required Education | BA
Click here for more information about equivalencies: | https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience | 9 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Effectively communicating with individuals across a range of professional roles. Must have ability to travel throughout Kentucky and the U.S. for donor visits.
Shift | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with some nights and weekends
Job Summary | The Executive Director of Gift Planning is a strategic, donor-centered leader responsible for advancing the University of Kentucky’s (UK) legacy giving program through expert oversight of gift planning operations and gift agreement administration. This position provides visionary direction for the University’s comprehensive gift planning strategy while leading a team of gift planning professionals and plays a pivotal role in shaping philanthropic investments that support the university and donors legacy.
The Executive Director leads a team of gift planning professionals, manages a personal portfolio of high-net-worth prospects, and serves as a key partner on complex charitable giving strategies. This position drives outreach and engagement efforts, including strategic stewardship of the Limestone Society and integrated marketing campaigns to increase planned giving awareness and pipeline development.
This role partners closely with donors, advisors, and campus colleagues to ensure clarity, compliance, and long-term impact in every commitment secured. The successful candidate will bring a passion for legacy philanthropy, a collaborative mindset, and a track record of building meaningful donor relationships to help elevate the University’s mission through transformational giving.
The culture within the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) is built on our shared core values CoMMIT– Collaboration, Communication, Mission Driven, Mutual Respect, Innovation and Transparency.
By applying for a position within UK PAE, you are indicating your commitment and expressing your agreement to our six values. It is important you share these values in order to be part of our committed team!
Click Here to find out more about how UK provides exceptional benefits in its commitment to taking care of you.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities | Experience in charitable gift planning, estate planning, investments, and real estate; ability to work effectively with a wide range of University constituents. Highly professional and able to maintain the utmost of confidentiality. Unwavering commitment to customer service and providing prompt, professional responses to all prospect inquiries.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | Yes
Preferred Education/Experience | Work requires the ability to provide creative leadership and vision for a comprehensive gift planning program as well as the ability to effectively manage the gift planning staff, generally acquired through ten years of relevant experience in estate, financial, gift, or tax planning, including three to five years in a management/supervisory or project leadership role.
Deadline to Apply | 08/03/2025
Our University Community | We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
- * The Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) recognizes a set of values that guide us in our daily interactions. These values are collaboration, communication, mission driven, mutual respect, innovation and transparency. Please choose one of the PAE values and give a specific example when you exhibited this quality in your professional experience.
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