Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Estate and Gift Planning
🇺🇸
Columbia, SC
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$116K
💻
Development & Advancement
🗓️
August 29th, 2025
BlackbaudCRM
Edtech.com's Summary
University of South Carolina is hiring a Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Estate and Gift Planning. This role directs and manages blended, planned, and estate gifts, working closely with university leadership and donors to develop and solicit major tax-advantaged donations. The advisor proactively identifies prospects, coordinates fundraising strategies across departments, and supports communication of donation options to cultivate sustained philanthropic engagement.
Highlights
Direct and manage estate and planned gift fundraising activities, focusing on significant donors capable of large contributions.
Partner with university leadership including Deans, President, VP for Development, and volunteers to cultivate and solicit gifts.
Use Blackbaud CRM for donor relationship management, solicitation documentation, and tracking fundraising goals.
Develop and execute strategies in collaboration with development staff to identify and cultivate new prospects.
Bachelor's degree plus minimum 4 years of related experience; preferred 8 years in estate and planned giving with higher education campaign background.
Gift planning solicitation experience and ability to educate donors on various gift planning vehicles required.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills with strong organizational ability and donor-centric approach.
Willingness to travel and work flexible hours including evenings and weekends as needed.
Starting salary is $116,104 with salary commensurate with qualifications.
Serves within the Division of Development and reports to Associate Vice President for Development and Legal Liaison to University Foundations.
Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Estate and Gift Planning Full Description
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by September 29, 2025
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
Health and Life Insurance
Retirement Programs
Paid Tuition
Dependent Scholarships
Annual Leave
Sick Leave
13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
Paid Parental Leave
Professional Development Opportunities
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Posting Details
Posting Summary
Logo | Posting Number | STA00714PO25 Job Family | Alumni Relations and Development Job Function | Development USC Market Title | Senior Philanthropic Advisor Link to USC Market Title | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/193897 Job Level | P4 - Professional Business Title (Internal Title) | Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Estate and Gift Planning Campus | Columbia Work County | Richland College/Division | Division of Development Department | DEV Development Office State Pay Band | Unclassified Approved Starting Salary | $116,104 Advertised Salary Range | $116,104 - commensurate with qualifications Location of Vacancy | Columbia, SC Part/Full Time | Full Time Hours per Week | 37.5 Work Schedule | Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department. Basis | 12 months Job Search Category | Alumni Development
About USC
About University of South Carolina | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Benefits for FTE Positions The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.
Position Description
Advertised Job Summary | Under limited supervision, reporting to the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Development and Legal Liaison to University Foundations, the Senior Philanthropic Advisor (SPA): Directs and manages blended, planned and estate gifts, both deferred and major tax-advantaged for the University of South Carolina. Partners closely with the colleges/units serving as an expert to provide advice and guidance to donors and prospective donors capable of giving large donations to the University. Responsibilities include focusing on particularly alumni and non-alumni friends that require interaction with the Dean’s, University’s President, Vice President for Development, other key leadership positions, and top volunteers. This position : Proactively identifies significant prospects and works with other fundraisers to determine specific strategies, coordinate all gift planning cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship steps, both those managed centrally and across all units and colleges. Will be part of the University Development team and will operate within the system and procedures of USC Development to ensure consistent and well-coordinated activities. Provides significant support to the AVP to communicate to a variety of audiences the different vehicle options available to donors and prospective donors to donate to the University. Actively engage externally through creativity, discovery, and outreach efforts to cultivate donors and prospective donors for estate and planned gifts. Performs duties requiring the analysis of broad problems and the planning of various inter-related departmental activities; must be able to aggressively pursue prospective donors with great diplomacy and tact. Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience | Bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience. Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials | Preferred Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree and 8 years proven experience estate and planned gifts/development in higher education and/or hybrid development model. Previous campaign experience including experience soliciting and closing estate and planned gifts. Familiarity with Blackbaud CRM donor database preferred. Acceptable certifications include law degree, accounting degree, trust and estates background (trust officer), and financial planner. Knowledge/Skills/Abilities | Thorough knowledge of principles and methods of gift planning and contributing to a comprehensive, large scale fundraising program. Proven track record of visiting and qualifying major and/or gift planning donors and cultivation towards large, significant gifts. Gift planning solicitation experience is required. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses and the general public. Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to travel, work evenings and weekends, as required inside and outside of South Carolina to cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects for the teams to which they are assigned and for others as needed. Must be able to present to small and large groups about “planned giving” with a knowledge of basic and complex gifts. Effective computer experience including database operation and word processing. Experience in developing, mentoring and training development directors are required to learn estate and gift planning. Proven ability to develop relationships with leaders in a broad range of professions. Ability to relate and comprehend fundraising programs to University program goals and objectives. Very strong organizational skills, tact, diplomacy, and very donor-centric are required.
Job Duties
Job Duty | Serves as Prospect Manager for potential donors with capacity for major gift levels or higher contributions to the University. Directs and manages estate and gift planning fundraising activities with donors and prospective donors. Responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting gifts that benefits the assigned programs priorities of the University. An expert in sharing knowledge of estate and gift planning through strategic planning sessions on how best to involve prospects/donors in the University by matching their interests with USC’s diverse programs and activities. Directs, develops, and assesses ongoing cultivation, personally and by other USC and volunteer leaders, to build sense of ownership and commitment. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 20%Job Duty | Plans and directs fundraising with alumni and non-alumni friends that require interaction with the Dean’s, University President, VP for Development, and top volunteers. Solicits prospective donors and leads the efforts through coordination and establishing priorities for estate and planned gifts, both deferred and major tax-advantaged, to benefit the university by matching donor’s personal goals with university needs and priorities. Number of solicitations are set and established by the AVP with consultation with the Senior Philanthropic Advisor that may include individual and team solicitation goals. All solicitations are documented within a Plan and Opportunity in Blackbaud CRM. Establish a donor pipeline by entering all opportunities in Blackbaud CRM. Adheres to Prospect Development policies and procedures. Manage solicitations, personally and by other USC and volunteer leaders, to seek significant private support from prospects/donors. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 15%Job Duty | Meets process performance goals set and established by the AVP with consultation with the Senior Philanthropic Advisor that includes individual and team goals. These goals include a set number of individual dollar goals and team/unit dollar goals with a focus on closures selected at the beginning of the fiscal year and tracked via the Fundraiser Dashboard through timely documentation in Blackbaud CRM. Stewardship visits are strongly encouraged. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 15%Job Duty | Meets meaningful contact performance goals set and established by the AVP with consultation with the Senior Philanthropic Advisor that includes individual and team goals. Work closely with the AVP to identify significant prospects to lend advice to fundraisers and other university partners to determine specific strategies, and coordinates all estate and gift planning cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship steps. Identify new estate and gift planning prospects through working with the staff of Research and Prospect Management. and encouraging referrals from volunteers, USC faculty and staff, and current prospects and donors. Conducts research on legal and tax issues to assists others to gain helpful background information on prospects/donors to determine the most appropriate estate or gift planning vehicle to meet philanthropic interest and capacity. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 15%Job Duty | Meets qualification visit performance goals set and established by the AVP with consultation with the Senior Philanthropic Advisor that includes individual and team goals. Actively works with AVP, Vice President for Development, unit deans or director, department chairs, faculty, alumni and key volunteers in fundraising efforts. Partners closely with key university partners to share expertise in estate and gift planning vehicle options and assist donors to best understand ways to maximize their gifts and donations to the university. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 10%Job Duty | In collaboration with the AVP, develops an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising, campaign, research and prospect management, stewardship and programmatic goals, priorities and needs. Prepares reports and other required information as requested. May work with university development senior budget analyst/director on program budget allocation. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 10%Job Duty | Accepts and implements other specific assignments as directed. Essential Function | No Percentage of Time | 5%Job Duty | Maintains good relations with past and current donors to ensure continued involvement and to encourage future contributions. Works closely with Development stewardship/donor relations to provide effective and efficient ongoing recognition and appreciation. Serves as a member of the overall USC development team by collaborating with colleagues across disciplines on donor strategies. Files timely meaningful contact reports timed with reimbursement requests; maintains accurate records and provides timely updated information in Blackbaud CRM as appropriate. Serves on committees and attends staff meetings as required. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 10%
Position Attributes Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.
Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive | No Hazardous weather category | Non-Essential
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies | 2 Desired Start Date | 11/03/2025 Job Open Date | 08/27/2025 Job Close Date | 09/29/2025 Open Until Filled | No Special Instructions to Applicant | Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by September 29, 2025
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
Health and Life Insurance Retirement Programs Paid Tuition Dependent Scholarships Annual Leave Sick Leave 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday) Paid Parental Leave Professional Development Opportunities Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC. Quicklink for Posting | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/194048 EEO Statement | The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* Do you have at least a Bachelor's degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience?
Yes
No
* If so, please tell us how you qualify? (Open Ended Question)
* Do you have work experience in estate and gift planning solicitations?
Yes
No
* Although we accept resumes for review, the application is the official hiring document maintained by the university. Offers of employment and starting salaries are based on the education and work experience (including beginning and end dates) included in the university application only, not your resume. Have you included all details for all education, volunteer and work experiences in your job application?
Yes
No
No Answer
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Cover Letter
Resume
List of References and Contact Information
Optional Documents
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