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Cleveland State University
Senior Director, Gift and Estate Planning
🇺🇸
Cleveland, Ohio
🕑
Full-Time
💰
TBD
💻
Development & Advancement
🗓️
September 23rd, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
Cleveland State University is hiring a Senior Director, Gift and Estate Planning. This role involves planning and executing all planned giving programs, identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors for various planned gifts, and overseeing gift agreement processes and policies. The position requires strong interpersonal skills to interact with internal and external stakeholders effectively.
Highlights
- Plan and execute planned giving programs for Cleveland State University and the CSU Foundation
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit donors for bequests, trusts, annuities, and real estate gifts
- Oversee gift agreement writing and development/implementation of gift acceptance policies
- Requires knowledge of tax laws and fundraising ethics
- Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields and five years professional experience in planned giving, legal, or financial sectors
- Preferred qualifications: Master’s or JD degree and five years experience in higher education planned giving
- Strong skills in strategic planning, data analysis, presentation delivery, and donor stewardship
- Valid driver’s license and ability to comply with the University’s motor vehicle policy required
- Full-time position with a typical schedule of Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Department: Development
Senior Director, Gift and Estate Planning Full Description
Senior Director, Gift and Estate Planning
Posting Details
Posting Details
Business Title | Senior Director, Gift and Estate Planning
Posting Category |
Salary Grade | 09
Salary Plan | Professional Non Bargaining
Hiring Range /Pay Rate |
Department | Development
Department Description |
Position Location | Main Campus
FTE | 1.00
Job Summary | Plans and executes all planned giving programs for Cleveland State University and the CSU Foundation. Identifies, cultivates, and solicits donors for planned giving bequests, trusts, annuities and real estate. Seeks out significant prospect opportunities and secures planned gifts according to agreed upon goals and timelines. Oversees gift agreement writing and gift acceptance policy development/implementation. Interacts professionally with all internal and external customers using strong interpersonal skills.
Minimum Qualifications | Bachelor’s Degree preferably in business, urban studies, communications, public relations or related fields. .Five years professional experience in planned giving development, legal or financial fields.Valid driver’s license and the ability to establish driver eligibility under the University’s motor vehicle policy.
Preferred Qualifications | Master’s or JD degree preferably in business, urban studies, communications, public relations or related fields.Five years experience in Higher Education planned giving field.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) | Knowledge of tax laws and liability.A record of progressive leadership and achievement in Gift and Estate Planning or relevant field.Demonstrated success in multiple facets of fundraising, with emphasis on cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, donor stewardship, and proposal writing in the gift and estate planning area.Proven ability to develop and execute a strategic plan, analyze and prepare data, and develop and deliver presentations.Demonstrated understanding of ethics related to development activities; ability to exercise discretion in interactions with donors and prospects.Ability to articulate the University’s vision, mission, needs, opportunities and aspirations with clarity and enthusiasm.Demonstrated excellent oral, written, organizational and computer proficiency skills.Ability to travel off campus and maintain a flexible schedule.
Requisition Number | PT0703939S
Date grant, position, or appointment expires (For Funds Available, Temporary, and Waiver of Posting |
Special Instructions to Applicants |
Applicant Instructions | Applications will be exclusively accepted online at http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/hrd/employment.html. Mailed or emailed application materials will not be accepted.
Hours per week | 40
Work Schedule | Monday-Friday, typically 8:00- 5:00 pm.
Advertising Copy |
Full Time/Part Time | Full Time
Posted Date | 08/26/2026
Close Date/Application Deadline |
Open Until Filled | No
Review Begins | 09/02/2026
Tentative Start Date |
Posting Category |
Salary Grade | 09
Salary Plan | Professional Non Bargaining
Hiring Range /Pay Rate |
Department | Development
Department Description |
Position Location | Main Campus
FTE | 1.00
Job Summary | Plans and executes all planned giving programs for Cleveland State University and the CSU Foundation. Identifies, cultivates, and solicits donors for planned giving bequests, trusts, annuities and real estate. Seeks out significant prospect opportunities and secures planned gifts according to agreed upon goals and timelines. Oversees gift agreement writing and gift acceptance policy development/implementation. Interacts professionally with all internal and external customers using strong interpersonal skills.
Minimum Qualifications | Bachelor’s Degree preferably in business, urban studies, communications, public relations or related fields. .Five years professional experience in planned giving development, legal or financial fields.Valid driver’s license and the ability to establish driver eligibility under the University’s motor vehicle policy.
Preferred Qualifications | Master’s or JD degree preferably in business, urban studies, communications, public relations or related fields.Five years experience in Higher Education planned giving field.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) | Knowledge of tax laws and liability.A record of progressive leadership and achievement in Gift and Estate Planning or relevant field.Demonstrated success in multiple facets of fundraising, with emphasis on cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, donor stewardship, and proposal writing in the gift and estate planning area.Proven ability to develop and execute a strategic plan, analyze and prepare data, and develop and deliver presentations.Demonstrated understanding of ethics related to development activities; ability to exercise discretion in interactions with donors and prospects.Ability to articulate the University’s vision, mission, needs, opportunities and aspirations with clarity and enthusiasm.Demonstrated excellent oral, written, organizational and computer proficiency skills.Ability to travel off campus and maintain a flexible schedule.
Requisition Number | PT0703939S
Date grant, position, or appointment expires (For Funds Available, Temporary, and Waiver of Posting |
Special Instructions to Applicants |
Applicant Instructions | Applications will be exclusively accepted online at http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/hrd/employment.html. Mailed or emailed application materials will not be accepted.
Hours per week | 40
Work Schedule | Monday-Friday, typically 8:00- 5:00 pm.
Advertising Copy |
Full Time/Part Time | Full Time
Posted Date | 08/26/2026
Close Date/Application Deadline |
Open Until Filled | No
Review Begins | 09/02/2026
Tentative Start Date |
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Do you have a bachelor’s Degree preferably in business, urban studies, communications, public relations or related field?
- Yes
- No
- * Do you have Five years professional experience in planned giving development, legal or financial fields?
- Yes
- No
- * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
- Public Job Posting
- Internal Job Posting
- Agency Referral
- Advertisement/Publication
- Personal Referral
- CSU Website
- Other
- If you selected 'Public Job Posting" or "Other" please provide source.
(Open Ended Question) - * Do you require any type of accommodation, should you be invited to campus for further screening? Please contact CSU at (216) 687-3636 if you need accommodation.
- Yes
- No
- * Are you able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation?
- Yes
- No
- * Do you have a valid driver’s license and ability to establish driver eligibility under the University’s Driving and Motor Vehicle Policy?
- Yes
- No
- No Response
Application Documents
Required Documents
- Resume
Optional Documents
- Cover Letter/Letter of Application
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