Director, Gift Planning and Complex Assets University Advancement

External Applicants:  Please ensure all required documents are ready to upload before beginning your application, including your resume, cover letter, and any additional materials specified in the job description. Cover Letter and Supporting Documents: Navigate to the "My Experience" application page. Locate the "Resume/CV" document upload section at the bottom of the page. Use the "Select Files" button to upload your cover letter, resume, and any other required supporting documents. You can select multiple files. Important Note: The "My Experience" page is the only opportunity to attach your cover letter, resume, and supporting documents. You will not be able to modify your application or add attachments after submission. Current Employees: Apply from your existing Workday account in the Jobs Hub. Do not apply from this website.  A cover letter is required for all positions; optional for facilities, campus services, and hospitality roles unless otherwise specified. Job Description Summary The Director, Gift Planning and Complex Assets serves as Wake Forest University’s resource for sophisticated charitable planning and complex gift opportunities. This position brings together philanthropic strategy, financial and asset expertise, and donor relationship management to help achieve charitable goals while advancing Wake Forest’s institutional priorities. Working closely with donors, professional advisors, and frontline development officers, the Director provides counsel on complex and advanced charitable giving strategies and helps transform sophisticated assets into meaningful philanthropic opportunities. The Director plays an active role throughout the gift development process—from identifying opportunities and developing donor strategies to structuring gifts, facilitating due diligence, and successfully completing complex transactions. The Director will proactively identify opportunities for complex and planned gifts, serving as a partner for development officers across University Advancement. The position will also help strengthen Wake Forest’s culture and capacity for sophisticated gift planning through education, consultation, market development, and collaboration. The Director brings expertise across a broad range of assets and charitable vehicles, including real estate, trusts, annuities, bequests, artwork, closely held business interests, restricted securities, and other complex assets. The position works closely with Finance and Accounting Services, the Office of General Counsel, donors, and their professional advisors to ensure that complex gifts are thoughtfully structured, appropriately evaluated, and aligned with University policy and applicable regulations. ** This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply. Job Description Essential Functions: Donor and Philanthropic Advisory: ● Serves as a trusted advisor to donors and their professional advisors, helping them explore sophisticated charitable planning strategies that align their philanthropic, financial, and personal objectives. ● Partners with frontline fundraisers to develop individualized strategies for complex and planned gifts, particularly among Wake Forest’s highest-capacity prospects and donors. ● Serves as a strategic philanthropic advisor and technical expert on planned and complex gift scenarios. ● Develops cultivation and solicitation strategies for prospective donors. ● Translates complex financial, legal, and tax considerations into clear, donor-centered recommendations and opportunities. ● Builds and maintains strong relationships with donors, attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, estate planners, and other professional advisors. ● Develops and executes a marketing plan to help prospective donors think about how they might achieve their philanthropic goals with a focus on life income gifts and other complex gift arrangements. Complex Gift Strategy and Opportunity Development: ● Serves as Wake Forest’s subject matter expert on complex assets and advanced charitable gift planning strategies. ● Evaluates potential gifts for feasibility, income potential, risk, liquidity, administrative considerations, and alignment with University priorities and Gift Acceptance Policy. ● Develops creative and appropriate strategies for gifts involving real estate, trusts, annuities, bequests, artwork, closely held business interests, restricted securities, and other sophisticated assets. ● Helps development officers recognize opportunities where a donor’s assets, financial circumstances, or philanthropic objectives may lend themselves to an advanced giving strategy. Fundraising Partnership and Revenue Growth: ● Serves as a partner and force multiplier for development officers across University Advancement, Athletics, Reynolda House, and WFDD. ● Collaborates with frontline fundraisers to build and advance a pipeline of complex gift opportunities and develop strategies to increase the number and value of gifts utilizing sophisticated charitable planning. ● Provides technical and strategic support for major and principal gift opportunities where complex assets or advanced planning strategies may be appropriate. ● Participates in joint solicitations and strategy sessions for high-capacity prospects and donors. Gift Structuring, Due Diligence and Compliance: ● Partners with donors and their professional advisors to structure complex gifts in ways that advance donor objectives while protecting Wake Forest’s interests. ● Leads or facilitates due diligence for potentially viable complex and non-cash gifts, evaluating relevant financial, legal, tax, administrative, and risk considerations. ● Serves as a key liaison with Finance and Accounting Services and the Office of General Counsel regarding complex assets, asset liquidation, gift recording, reporting, and related mat