Description

About Philanthropy at WHOI 
Philanthropy has been central to WHOI’s success since its founding in 1930 with a $2.5M gift from the Rockefeller Foundation. Today, contributions from local, national, and international donors continue to advance WHOI’s mission: unraveling the mysteries of the ocean and devising science-based solutions to our planet’s most pressing challenges 
 
Following a trustee-led investment in a new Advancement Initiative, WHOI has expanded its fundraising capacity and launched the Campaign for Our Ocean Planet, the largest ocean-science fundraising effort in history. With a goal of $500M and more than $400M raised to date, the campaign is powered by a highly collaborative 22-person development team. WHOI is proud to be a 12-time consecutive Four-Star Charity with Charity Navigator—an honor achieved by only two percent of U.S. nonprofits. 
 
The Director, Planned Giving and Major Gifts will play a significant role in the successful close of the campaign through the stewardship of current supporters and the strategic solicitation of new donors and prospects. 
  
About the Position 
WHOI seeks an experienced and strategic Director, Planned Giving and Major Gifts to expand and strengthen its planned giving program, which currently accounts for more than 20% of total campaign revenue. The Director will drive WHOI’s planned giving strategy, manage a hybrid major gift/planned gift portfolio, and collaborate closely with Development colleagues to increase philanthropic support across the institution. 
 
A key component of this role is the management of an active portfolio of planned giving and major gift donors, along with identifying and engaging new prospects in priority geographic regions. The Director will serve as WHOI’s subject matter expert on planned giving, developing marketing materials, advising frontline fundraisers, and building organizational capacity in this area. The role also includes volunteer management for WHOI’s Palm Beach Chapter Steering Committee and the Fye Society Steering Committee. 

The position reports to the Director of Development, Annual and Planned Giving, and partners frequently with colleagues across Development, WHOI leadership, and volunteer groups. 
  
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & FUNCTIONS 
Planned Giving Program 

• Lead the continued development, growth, and strategic direction of WHOI’s planned giving program.
• Promote planned giving opportunities to increase participation and Fye Society membership; serve as internal expert on planned giving vehicles, donor motivations, and best practices.
• Collaborate with frontline fundraisers to identify top prospects, using CRM data and ratings to convert annual donors to planned gift donors.
• Work directly with donors to design charitable gift strategies that maximize benefits for both the donor and WHOI, including preparing calculations and illustrations using PG Calc and related tools.
• Partner with the Director of Development, Annual and Planned Giving to create and execute an annual marketing plan for planned giving, including print collateral, email outreach, website content, and newsletters.
• Staff, guide, and steward the Fye Society Steering Committee; ensure appropriate recognition and ongoing stewardship for Fye Society members.
• Serve as WHOI’s primary liaison with all financial institutions and external managers supporting planned giving vehicles (currently State Street Global Advisors).
• Track realized planned gifts; maintain expertise on legal, tax, and financial considerations relevant to planned giving.
• Maintain and update WHOI’s policies for receiving, documenting, and designating planned gifts.
• Coordinate with WHOI’s Finance team and provide auditors with required information on split-interest gifts. 

  
Portfolio Management 

• Grow and manage a portfolio of 100–125 prospects capable of making five- to seven-figure commitments, including both major gift and planned giving prospects.
• Partner with WHOI scientists and engineers to provide mission-driven donor experiences such as tours, briefings, and customized proposal development.
• Meet quarterly activity benchmarks and annual fundraising goals.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new prospects; develop tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies informed by donor history and capacity.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions using moves management systems and CRM reporting tools.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Palm Beach Chapter and its steering committee; collaborate with the Assistant Director of Volunteer Management and Events team to plan small events and donor engagement activities.
• Collaborate strategically with the Vice President for Advancement, Chief Development Officer, Senior Director of Advancement Operations & Stewardship, Development colleagues, and volunteer leaders to communicate fundraising priorities.
• Deliver a high-quality donor experience through personalized correspondence, professional proposals, and timely acknowledgments.
• Lead cultivation and stewardship strategies for planned and major gift donors in partnership with colleagues.
• Represent WHOI at donor events and institutional functions.
• Prepare and present written and verbal briefings, follow-up materials, and contact reports in a timely manner. 

Requirements

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE 

• Strong understanding of WHOI’s mission and the ability to articulate its impact, uniqueness, and global relevance
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in planned giving fundraising
• Demonstrated success securing six-figure or higher philanthropic commitments
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment
• Solution-oriented approach with strong diplomacy, communication, collaboration skills, discretion with confidential information, and a sense of humor
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to inspire and engage donors and build long-term relationships
• Strong strategic thinking and insight across fundraising, donor strategy, and prospect management
• Proficiency with constituent management systems and Microsoft 365
• Understanding of best practices for campaign tracking and major gift fundraising.
• Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends

PREFERRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s and/or advanced degree in Nonprofit Management/Administration, Business Administration, Philanthropic Studies, Public Policy/Administration, or related field
• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge/NXT and PG Calc
• Experience working in complex research, academic, or scientific organizations.
• Familiarity with estate law, tax considerations, and investment vehicles relevant to charitable planning
• Demonstrated success collaborating with volunteer committees or advisory groups.
• Experience with multichannel donor engagement strategies including planned giving marketing, digital outreach, and donor recognition programs