About this role
Senior Director of Major Gifts & Legacy Planning
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious freedom for all Americans. We believe that true religious liberty means recognizing the fundamental right of every individual—including all ages, races, genders, and faiths—to follow their conscience and to live according to their beliefs. Founded in 1997 and based in Plano, Texas, our legal team partners with elite volunteer attorneys across the country to secure religious freedom, from local matters to the Supreme Court, at no cost to our clients. For more information, please visit www.FirstLiberty.org.
Position Summary:
First Liberty Institute’s Major Gift Officer will design, launch, and grow First Liberty’s major gifts program.
Responsibilities:
Major Gifts Development
o Partner with the Chief Legacy Officer to design, build, and scale a high-impact major gifts program, setting ambitious goals and clear performance metrics
o Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward high-net-worth individuals and families for transformation gifts in support of First Liberty’s mission
o Create personalized strategies for donor engagement, ensuring alignment with donors’ legacy planning objectives
o Develop a portfolio of qualified donor prospects
Legacy and Estate Planning
o Collaborate with donors, their advisors, and the Development team in discussions about charitable giving as part of estate and legacy plans
o Leverage financial expertise (CFP or CFA) to navigate and fluently discuss various giving vehicles, tax-advantaged strategies, and philanthropic trusts (we do not engage in planning or offer estate tax advice)
Relationship Management & Business Development
o Build long-term, values-based relationships with major donors and prospects around building family legacies
o Represent First Liberty at events, private meetings, and speaking engagements to expand donor networks
o Develop strategic partnerships with allied professionals and institutions to support legacy planning engagement
Collaboration & Leadership
o Work closely with the Development team to ensure seamless donor communications and coordinated fundraising efforts
o Contribute to team strategy sessions, goal setting, and performance measurement for the major gifts program
Requirements:
o Must agree with and sign First Liberty’s Articles of Faith
o Bachelor’s degree in finance, or related business field required
o MBA from a business school required
o CFP (Certified Financial Planner) or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation or commitment to obtain credential, required
o 7-10 years of combined experience in the private sector and nonprofit fundraising with significant exposure to wealth management, philanthropy, and business development is essential
o Strong understanding of legacy and estate planning strategies
o Demonstrated success securing major gifts ($100K +) and building long-term relationships with individual donors
o Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire trust and clearly articulate complex financial and philanthropic concepts
o An entrepreneurial mindset with proven business development capabilities
o A deep passion for and commitment to advancing religious liberty
o Ability to build authentic, lasting relationships with sophisticated donors based on shared values
Physical Requirements:
o Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
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