Director, Complex Assets (Principal Gifts)

FOR EXTERNAL APPLICANTS: Pomona College has retained the Executive Search Firm, Aspen Leadership Group, to lead the search efforts. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Don Hasseltine: [email protected] and reference “Pomona College” in the subject line. If you are an internal applicant, please apply here.

ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE: Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for small classes, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Director, Complex Assets (Principal Gifts) is a talented, self-motivated, and intellectually curious fundraising professional with primary responsibility for the strategic growth of the principal gift program. Charged with contributing significant resources to develop and grow a sustainable pipeline of complex gifts with a focus on principal gifts, the director will cultivate and close principal gifts of $1M+ from alumni, families, friends, donors, and prospects in support of the division’s annual and multi-year campaign fundraising goals and will effectively collaborate with the assistant vice president of complex, legacy and principal gifts, direct of complex assets (legacy), campaign director, assistant vice president of development, and other colleagues across the division and College.

A primary responsibility for the director is securing new principal gifts of $1M+ that align, catalyze, and support institutional priorities and campaign initiatives. The director will manage a portfolio of assigned alumni, families, friends, donors and prospects to generate interest in and to secure principal gift commitments, partnering with the campaign director and assistant vice president for development on blended giving opportunities for alumni and families.

Reporting to the assistant vice president of complex, legacy, and principal gifts, the director will activate and support colleagues in sustained, donor-centric complex assets fundraising for the College’s top priorities and campaign initiatives. The director will provide vision and leadership for a comprehensive and well-integrated complex assets fundraising and principal gift program for Pomona in support of the most aspirational, comprehensive capital campaign in the history of the College, while also raising the level of giving beyond the campaign.

The director must demonstrate familiarity in building collaborations with other high-performing fundraising teams. This position requires judgment and the ability to act independently to plan and accomplish goals. The successful candidate will be an inspiring leader, good listener, and an effective advocate for the value of a liberal arts education. The director will actively contribute to a healthy team environment, inspire colleagues toward excellence, and lead by example.

Pomona is committed to a donor-centric approach to development. Every member of the Advancement staff plays a role in providing the College’s donors with the service and attention that ensures an exceptionally positive and fulfilling philanthropic experience.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Complex, Legacy, and Principal Gifts, the Director must work independently and collaboratively to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities:

• Lead the growth and development of a robust pipeline of principal gifts, ensuring alignment with Pomona College’s long-term fundraising strategy and achievement of annual and multi-year campaign goals.
• Maintain a personal portfolio of high-level donors and prospects, including complex assets and principal gifts, and demonstrate frontline fundraising success through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Serve as one of the College’s recognized experts in complex assets, collaborating with senior leadership and donors' financial, tax, and estate advisors to develop and present tailored principal gift cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Lead in the creation, design and execution of Pomona College’s principal gift strategies and goals and develop metrics to measure ongoing success and ROI. Achieve personal annual fundraising goals with a focus on principal gifts from alumni, families, donors, and prospects.
• Develop a comprehensive, metrics-based, fundraising plan and set aspirational goals for principal gifts.
• Operationalize short and long-term complex assets goals and strategies, with an emphasis on principal giving, to build upon existing commitments and expand the current donor base of support.
• Collaborate with and support major gift, life-income gift (Pomona Plan), reunion and family giving fundraisers in cultivating complex assets and principal gifts from alumni, families, donors, and prospects that may combine major, life-income, complex assets and legacy gifts into their annual planning and strategy sessions.
• Develop and implement strategies to maximize the acquisition and retention of alumni, families, donors, and complex assets and principal gift prospects.
• Develop and coordinate annual marketing strategies and materials that promote complex assets and principal gifts, in partnership with the Office of Advancement Communications.
• In collaboration with the stewardship team, help oversee the stewardship of alumni, families, legacy giving donors and prospects, strategically increasing membership in the College’s inaugural $1M+ giving society.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with financial, legal and tax advisors in support of complex assets and principal gifts to Pomona College.
• Foster a leadership style that inspires, empowers, and motivates staff while promoting a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Partner, coach, equip and encourage development staff to pursue complex assets gift opportunities, assisting them in the design and implementation of individualized strategies for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of planned, major and blended gifts as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as requested, delegated, or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: A bachelor’s degree with complex assets and principal gifts experience are preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience, such as a professional designation like Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG).

Experience: The ideal candidate has a minimum of seven years of professional work with high-net-worth clients or donors in the areas of principal gifts of $1M+. Management experience is preferred. Experience in an academic setting is strongly preferred, as is working in a campaign environment.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL SKILLS:

This individual must possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job or must be able to demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed through knowledge, skills, and abilities not listed below.

• Understand and communicate the mission and history of the College’s liberal arts environment.
• Thorough knowledge of the methods and means of principal gifts, including various gift planning options including bequests, trusts, outright gifts, gifts of securities, insurance, real estate and other financial vehicles; and charitable giving tax laws.
• An understanding of basic investment concepts in addition to familiarity with charitable trust accounting. 
• Have experience in tax, estate, and financial planning and in dealing with and advising donors and prospects.
• Remain current on tax laws and be willing to learn every day as donors present new issues to be resolved.
• Experience working in a comprehensive capital campaign, preferably in a higher education setting.
• A proven track record of success in personally identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding principal gifts of complex assets or complex giving vehicles from individuals.  
• Comfort and effectiveness in working with high-net-worth individuals; experience in international settings a plus.
• Demonstrated effectiveness and clarity of verbal and written communication with excellent interpersonal communication skills, cultural competency, and ability to work with, facilitate, motivate and inspire a diverse group of donors, prospects, colleagues, volunteers, and constituents.
• Must handle all activities with discretion, tact, and a keen eye for detail.
• Working knowledge of basic math and statistics.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Word, Excel, Outlook) and customer relationship management software (such as Salesforce).
• Able to meet multiple deadlines and work both independently and as a collaborative member of advancement and the College in support of the College’s strategic vision and the division’s annual goals with a high standard of integrity and ethics.

ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAILS:  Regular, full-time, exempt position. Annual Salary: $175,000 to $195,000.The specific factors that the College will consider when offering a salary to an individual will include, but not be limited to: education, training, relevant prior experience, and performance in prior roles. All staff positions are ineligible for visa or permanent resident card sponsorship. As a California employer, Pomona College requires all employees to be residents of California.

REQUIRED HOURS:

The regular hours for this full-time position are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Holiday, weekend and evening work hours may be required. Travel may be required. Regular hours may vary due to needs of the College or division.

ADA/OSHA: This job description defines the essential job duties of this position.  The College expects that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of this job without imposing risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others.  It may also include marginal functions, generally defined within Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

DISCLAIMER: This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position.  When duties and responsibilities change and develop, the College will review this job description and make changes of business necessity.