Planned Giving Advisor

Planned giving sits where philanthropy, estate planning, taxes, financial planning, and personal legacy meet.

• The work can happen on either side of the table — Some planned giving professionals work for nonprofits, while others advise individuals and families.
• Many gifts are connected to estate plans — Bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable trusts, and other arrangements may take effect at or after death.
• Relationship-building matters — Major and planned gifts may develop through conversations that continue for months or years.
• Technical knowledge matters too — Taxes, trusts, retirement assets, estate planning, and charitable-giving structures can all be part of the work.
• You work with other advisors — Attorneys, accountants, financial planners, and trust professionals are frequently involved.
• There is no single required license — The credentials needed depend on the professional services you personally provide.
• The work is about more than fundraising — Strong planned giving focuses on matching a donor’s charitable intentions with an appropriate strategy.

If you are interested in what people leave behind and want to combine relationship-building with estate, tax, and charitable planning, planned giving offers a distinctive way to help people turn values into legacy.

• Help donors support causes they care about beyond their lifetime.
• Work at the intersection of philanthropy and estate planning.
• Build deep relationships with donors and families.
• Collaborate with attorneys, accountants, financial planners, and nonprofit leaders.
• Learn sophisticated charitable-planning strategies.
• Work for nonprofits, universities, hospitals, foundations, community foundations, financial institutions, advisory firms, or independently.
• Help organizations build long-term financial sustainability.

Planned giving advisors help donors and organizations explore charitable gifts that may involve estates, trusts, retirement assets, securities, insurance, real estate, or other property.

• Meet with donors to understand charitable goals.
• Discuss ways charitable giving can fit into estate and legacy plans.
• Educate donors about common planned-giving options.
• Work with attorneys and tax advisors on gift structure.
• Help donors consider charitable beneficiary designations.
• Support bequest and legacy-giving programs.
• Develop relationships with prospective and existing donors.
• Maintain accurate donor records and documentation.
• Coordinate gift acceptance within an organization’s policies.
• Explain proposed gifts internally to development, finance, and leadership teams.
• Steward long-term donor relationships.
• Work with executors or advisors when a testamentary charitable gift is received.
• Stay current on charitable-planning and tax developments.

Planned giving has several entry paths. Professionals may come from fundraising, law, financial planning, accounting, trust services, nonprofit management, or philanthropy.

• A particular degree is not universally required — Relevant backgrounds include nonprofit management, finance, accounting, law, communications, business, and fundraising.
• Fundraising experience is valuable — Professionals working inside nonprofits often move into planned giving after experience in major gifts, development, donor relations, or advancement.
• CAP is especially relevant — The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy program covers philanthropic planning, charitable strategies, estate and legacy planning, and collaboration among donors, advisors, and nonprofits.
• CFRE may apply to fundraising professionals — CFRE is a voluntary credential for professional fundraisers who meet education, professional-practice, and performance requirements and pass the examination.
• AEP can also be relevant — Philanthropy is specifically recognized as one of the disciplines that can qualify an experienced professional for the AEP designation.
• Professional boundaries matter — Planned giving professionals should involve qualified legal, tax, investment, and financial professionals when advice falls outside their own credentials.

• Learn how nonprofit fundraising works.
• Develop experience in donor relations, major gifts, advancement, financial planning, estate planning, or a related profession.
• Learn the basics of wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and charitable gifts.
• Seek exposure to planned-giving conversations and donor stewardship.
• Learn how different assets can be used for charitable giving.
• Understand when legal or tax advisors need to be involved.
• Consider specialized charitable-planning education.
• Pursue CAP if philanthropic planning will be a significant part of your work.
• Consider CFRE if your career is primarily professional fundraising.
• Build relationships with estate attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, and trust officers.

This role suits people who are:

• Relationship-oriented
• Comfortable discussing death and legacy
• Curious about estate and tax planning
• Strong communicators
• Patient with long decision cycles
• Comfortable working with affluent donors without being intimidated by wealth
• Ethical and respectful of donor intent
• Able to explain complicated concepts simply
• Collaborative with lawyers and financial professionals
• Genuinely interested in philanthropy