Director, Gift Planning
Ocean Conservancy

JOIN THE CANDIDATE POOL

Bonsai Leadership Group is honored to partner with Ocean Conservancy in its search for a Director, Gift Planning.

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY
For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, Ocean Conservancy continues to unite science, people, and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates, and supporters through its comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, Ocean Conservancy is securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. Learn more about Ocean Conservancy at www.oceanconservancy.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY
Reporting to the Vice President of Major and Planned Giving, the Director, Gift Planning (Director) will lead Ocean Conservancy’s planned and blended giving program, set strategic priorities and drive efforts to grow the pipeline, expand donor engagement, and strengthen the integration of gift planning across the major gifts program.

As Ocean Conservancy’s senior technical expert in charitable gift planning, the Director will provide strategic counsel on complex and blended gifts, guide sophisticated donor strategies, and help fundraisers recognize and advance opportunities that increase philanthropic investment in Ocean Conservancy.

The Director will supervise, coach, and empower the Associate Director, Planned Giving, providing clear direction, ongoing partnership, and the support needed to maximize their impact. The Director will also work closely with gift officers, prospect development, development operations, finance, legal and program colleagues to strengthen the systems, practices, and internal expertise that support a high-performing gift planning program.

This is an opportunity for an experienced gift planning leader to shape the continued evolution of Ocean Conservancy’s program, moving from a traditional planned giving function toward a more integrated, strategic, and growth-oriented approach.


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director will have the following primary responsibilities:

Program Strategy & Growth

  • Lead the strategy and direction of Ocean Conservancy’s planned and blended giving program, establishing priorities, goals, and approaches that strengthen donor engagement and grow philanthropic revenue.

  • Drive growth of the planned giving pipeline by identifying opportunities to expand documented future commitments, increase blended gifts, and deepen engagement with current and prospective Ocean Legacy Society members.

  • Establish and monitor program goals and measures of success, using data, pipeline insights, and donor trends to assess progress, inform decisions, and identify growth opportunities.

  • Strengthen the infrastructure that supports gift planning, including policies, practices, systems, donor communications, and stewardship approaches that enhance program effectiveness and the donor experience.

Gift Planning & Donor Engagement

  • Serve as Ocean Conservancy’s senior technical authority on charitable gift planning, providing expert guidance on complex and blended gifts, estate planning considerations, and sophisticated philanthropic opportunities.

  • Manage a selective portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors where senior-level engagement or advanced technical expertise can meaningfully advance a planned or blended gift opportunity.

  • Partner with frontline fundraisers and prospect development colleagues to identify high-potential donors and shape qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

  • Join complex donor and prospect conversations when specialized gift planning expertise is needed, helping colleagues navigate options, address technical considerations and advance opportunities toward successful outcomes.

  • Partner with legal, finance, and development operations colleagues to structure, document and steward complex gifts while ensuring appropriate coordination and risk management.

  • Develop proposals, talking points, and donor materials that support planned and blended gift conversations.

  • Build and maintain relationships with professional advisors, including estate attorneys, financial advisors, and wealth managers, to strengthen donor support and expand Ocean Conservancy’s external network.

  • Maintain current knowledge of charitable estate planning, deferred gifts, relevant tax considerations, and gift planning best practices, applying that expertise to donor strategy and program decisions.

Team & Organizational Leadership

  • Supervise, coach, and empower the Associate Director, Planned Giving, providing clear direction, meaningful feedback, and the support needed to maximize their impact.

  • Build gift planning knowledge and confidence across the development team through training, coaching, tools and consultation that help fundraisers recognize opportunities and integrate gift planning into broader donor strategy.

  • Create clarity and alignment across the gift planning function, ensuring roles, priorities, and responsibilities are well defined and coordinated.

  • Serve as a trusted organizational partner, building strong relationships across development and with colleagues in finance, legal, operations, and program teams whose expertise supports successful gift planning.

  • Champion a more integrated approach to philanthropy, helping embed planned and blended giving into comprehensive donor strategy rather than treating it as a separate fundraising function.

  • Uphold the highest ethical standards in fundraising, donor engagement, confidentiality, and stewardship.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will possess many of the following attributes and skills, though not all are required for consideration:

  • Seasoned fundraising professional with at least 10 years of progressive experience, including substantial work in planned giving, gift planning, or a closely related area of philanthropy. Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation preferred.

  • Strategic program leader with a record of leading, growing, or significantly advancing a planned program, including setting direction, establishing priorities, strengthening pipelines, and measuring progress toward goals.

  • Technically sophisticated gift planner with advanced knowledge of bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder and lead trusts, beneficiary designations, blended gifts and other complex giving strategies, along with the related estate planning, tax, legal and stewardship considerations.

  • Empowering supervisor with the ability to coach and support accomplished professionals while providing clear direction, encouraging ownership, and sustaining high performance.

  • Credible organizational partner who builds influence across functions and works effectively with frontline fundraisers, senior leaders, finance, legal, development operations, and other colleagues.

  • Collaborative and confident leader who brings sound judgment, curiosity, humility and initiative, and is comfortable making decisions and providing direction when needed.

  • Donor-centered relationship builder with the judgment and interpersonal skill to navigate complex cultivation and solicitation conversations and support donors through highly personal financial and philanthropic decisions.

  • Strategic operator who can balance program leadership with a selective donor portfolio, set priorities and advance multiple complex opportunities and initiatives at once.

  • Compelling communicator who can explain complex gift planning concepts clearly and appropriately to donors, colleagues, and professional advisors.

  • Mission-driven ambassador who can communicate Ocean Conservancy’s impact and long-term vision in ways that resonate with donors and reflect the organization’s values.

  • Systems-savvy fundraiser with experience using Raiser’s Edge or a comparable fundraising CRM to support portfolio management, pipeline tracking, and donor strategy.

TRAVEL
Up to 50% travel may be required to support in-person donor and prospect engagement, with travel varying throughout the year based on donor needs, opportunities, and program priorities.

LOCATION
Ocean Conservancy embraces a hybrid work structure that requires employees to reside in one of the following US states: AK, CA, DC, FL, MD, OR, VA, TX, WA, or WV. This structure allows staff the flexibility to work virtually and in person while building strong connections across the institution.  

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The minimum starting salary range for this position is $140,000 – $145,000 annually. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s specialty skills, years of experience, location, and unique background. In addition, Ocean Conservancy offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:  

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance for employees, spouses (both same sex and opposite sex), domestic partner, and dependent children (effective day one of employment) 

  • Short- and Long-Term Disability (free for employee) 

  • Basic Life Insurance (free for employee) 

  • Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account 

  • Retirement Planning - 100% vested upon hire; can begin contributing at hire. After 1 year, Ocean Conservancy will open a 401(a) account for you and will contribute 6% of your monthly salary whether you participate in the 403(b) or not.  

  • 15 paid vacation days, 11 holidays, 12 sick days, and two personal days

JOIN THE CANDIDATE POOL
Bonsai Leadership Group has been exclusively retained for this search. For consideration, join the candidate pool by submitting your resume and a concise cover letter outlining your interest in the role here.

If you need an accommodation to submit your materials for consideration, please contact us at careers@bonsaileadershipgroup.com.  This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of your interest in this position.  

Expressions of interest will be reviewed and evaluated as received. All expressions of interest, nominations, inquiries, and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Ocean Conservancy encourages applicants with diverse levels and ranges of relevant skills and experience to apply. A 100% match is not required. Ocean Conservancy wants to support employees’ career growth, and in return, its employees help it grow into a stronger, more inclusive institution.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Ocean Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.