University of Kentucky
Philanthropy Assoc Spec/Gift & Est Plan
🇺🇸
Lexington, KY
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$47K - $78K
💻
Development & Advancement
🗓️
March 12th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
University of Kentucky is hiring a Philanthropy Associate Specialist/Gift & Estate Planning Operations Manager. This role manages trust and estate distributions, coordinates with external and internal partners to facilitate transfers of various legacy gifts, oversees charitable life insurance administration, maintains giving databases, produces gift illustrations, and supports the full gift agreement lifecycle to ensure donor intent and compliance.
Highlights
- Manage trust and estate distributions from initiation through receipt and closeout.
- Coordinate with executors, trustees, attorneys, fund administrators, and investment advisors for asset transfers.
- Oversee administration of charitable life insurance pool, including premium communications and record keeping.
- Maintain planned giving databases and reporting tools.
- Produce gift illustrations for solicitations and donor stewardship.
- Develop and manage marketing and communications for planned giving outreach and stewardship of Limestone Society members.
- Draft and coordinate routine and complex gift agreements ensuring alignment with donor intent and compliance standards.
- Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite required; strong relationship-building and communication skills essential.
- Requires a BA degree and minimum of 4 years of related experience; Juris Doctor and certifications like Paralegal or Chartered Life Underwriter preferred.
- Salary range is $47,278 to $78,000 per year; full-time staff position with supervisory responsibilities.
Philanthropy Assoc Spec/Gift & Est Plan Full Description
Philanthropy Assoc Spec/Gift & Est Plan
Posting Details
Job Title | Philanthropy Assoc Spec/Gift & Est Plan
Requisition Number | RE53574
Working Title | Gift Planning Operations Manager
Department Name | 14000:Office Of Development
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 45
Salary Range | $47,278-78,000/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 | 4 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Must have ability to maneuver through different buildings on and off campus. Be seated for long periods of time and performing repetitive motion work.
Shift | 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Monday – Friday; Some nights and weekends
Job Summary | The University of Kentucky Office of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (PAE), Gift Planning team is seeking a detail-driven, relationship-minded Operations Manager to help ensure legacy gifts are received smoothly, documented accurately, and applied exactly as donors intend, advancing UK’s mission for generations to come.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, this role helps manage trust and estate distributions from initiation through receipt and closeout. You will coordinate with external partners including executors, trustees, attorneys, fund administrators, and investment advisors to facilitate transfers of estate, trust, beneficiary-designated assets (retirement and bank accounts), insurance, and annuity gifts. Internally, you’ll partner across PAE and campus stakeholders to route proceeds efficiently, prepare and manage documentation, and support the implementation of donor intent.
This position blends operational judgment, data fluency, and stewardship communications. You will oversee day-to-day administration of the charitable life insurance pool (premium communications, policy actions, and record keeping), maintain planned giving databases and reporting tools, and produce gift illustrations that support both solicitations and donor stewardship. You’ll also help strengthen planned giving outreach by developing and managing marketing and communications that build awareness, identify new legacy prospects, and steward Limestone Society members. In addition, you will support the full gift agreement life cycle by drafting and coordinating routine and complex agreements serving as a trusted liaison who aligns stakeholders around donor intent, institutional standards, and compliance requirements.
The culture within the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement 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!
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities | Expertise with Microsoft Office Suite; Ability to build relationships and communicate effectively and persuasively.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | Yes
Preferred Education/Experience | Juris Doctor (JD) is strongly preferred along with the following certifications: Paralegal Certification; Chartered Life Underwriter (“CLU”)
Deadline to Apply | 03/24/2026
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.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
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.
Requisition Number | RE53574
Working Title | Gift Planning Operations Manager
Department Name | 14000:Office Of Development
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 45
Salary Range | $47,278-78,000/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 | 4 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Must have ability to maneuver through different buildings on and off campus. Be seated for long periods of time and performing repetitive motion work.
Shift | 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Monday – Friday; Some nights and weekends
Job Summary | The University of Kentucky Office of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (PAE), Gift Planning team is seeking a detail-driven, relationship-minded Operations Manager to help ensure legacy gifts are received smoothly, documented accurately, and applied exactly as donors intend, advancing UK’s mission for generations to come.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, this role helps manage trust and estate distributions from initiation through receipt and closeout. You will coordinate with external partners including executors, trustees, attorneys, fund administrators, and investment advisors to facilitate transfers of estate, trust, beneficiary-designated assets (retirement and bank accounts), insurance, and annuity gifts. Internally, you’ll partner across PAE and campus stakeholders to route proceeds efficiently, prepare and manage documentation, and support the implementation of donor intent.
This position blends operational judgment, data fluency, and stewardship communications. You will oversee day-to-day administration of the charitable life insurance pool (premium communications, policy actions, and record keeping), maintain planned giving databases and reporting tools, and produce gift illustrations that support both solicitations and donor stewardship. You’ll also help strengthen planned giving outreach by developing and managing marketing and communications that build awareness, identify new legacy prospects, and steward Limestone Society members. In addition, you will support the full gift agreement life cycle by drafting and coordinating routine and complex agreements serving as a trusted liaison who aligns stakeholders around donor intent, institutional standards, and compliance requirements.
The culture within the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement 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!
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities | Expertise with Microsoft Office Suite; Ability to build relationships and communicate effectively and persuasively.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | Yes
Preferred Education/Experience | Juris Doctor (JD) is strongly preferred along with the following certifications: Paralegal Certification; Chartered Life Underwriter (“CLU”)
Deadline to Apply | 03/24/2026
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.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
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.
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * 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.
(Open Ended Question)
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents
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