Bonsai Leadership Group is honored to partner with Ocean Conservancy in its search for a Senior Planned Giving Advisor. 

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 Senior Planned Giving Advisor (the Advisor) will serve as the Ocean Conservancy’s lead subject matter expert in charitable gift planning. The person in this role will provide strategic counsel, technical expertise and donor engagement strategies that drive significant philanthropic investment. The Advisor will partner closely with frontline gifts officers to identify, cultivate and secure blended gifts that combine current and future commitments, ensuring that donors achieve their philanthropic goals while advancing the mission of the organization.

The Advisor will not have direct reports but will play a highly influential role across the major and planned giving team. They will work closely with gift officers, the Assistant Director of Planned Giving and development operations, finance, legal and program colleagues to advance donor strategies, structure complex gifts and strengthen internal planned giving capacity.

This is a highly collaborative role for a seasoned planned giving professional who enjoys working alongside colleagues, coaching fundraisers, joining complex donor conversations and helping build a more integrated major and planned giving program. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical knowledge, strong donor instincts and a team first approach to growing Ocean Conservancy’s planned giving pipeline and Ocean Legacy Society.

This is an opportunity to help Ocean Conservancy move from a traditional planned giving function to a more integrated, strategic approach.

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.  

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

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with a significant background in planned giving. Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation preferred.

• Demonstrated expertise in structuring complex charitable gifts, including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, beneficiary designations and blended gift strategies.

• Deep understanding of estate planning, charitable trusts, tax law, blended gift vehicles (specifically charitable gift annuities) and the legal, financial and stewardship issues involved in planned giving.

• Proven ability to partner with frontline fundraisers in donor-facing situations, including sharpening donor strategy, joining cultivation and solicitation conversations, preparing proposals and helping move complex gift opportunities toward closure.

• Highly effective approach to long-term relationship-building, donor-centered cultivation and trust-based stewardship.

• Superior communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts for donors and colleagues.

• Advanced familiarity with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM database preferred.

• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage a focused portfolio, set priorities, track activity and advance multiple donor strategies simultaneously.

• Team-oriented working style, with the flexibility, humility and initiative to contribute in a small, collaborative and evolving fundraising environment.

• Commitment to Ocean Conservancy’s mission and values, with the ability to communicate vision, impact and long-term relevance to donors.