Does the opportunity to devote your talents to a cause much greater than yourself excite you? Are you energized by building meaningful relationships that help donors create a lasting impact for generations to come? The Arbor Day Foundation is a place where you can do work that matters with people who care. As we say at the Foundation: life is short, love where you work.
As one of the world's largest conservation organizations, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. We help people understand and use trees as a solution to global issues (like air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty, and hunger) that are critical to survival.
Join the Arbor Day Foundation as a Gift Planning Officer on the Development team to grow and strengthen our planned giving program. You’ll play a pivotal role in cultivating donor relationships, securing legacy gifts, and building a pipeline that supports long-term mission impact.
Your Support System:
- You’ll report to the Director, Development
- You’ll collaborate with Development Officers, Individual Engagement, Marketing, and cross-functional partners including legal and accounting to secure and steward planned gifts effectively
How we work:
- Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
- Schedule: In-office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; optional remote work on Wednesday and Friday.
- Travel: 10–15% for donor visits, events, and trainings
What you’ll do:
- Cultivate, solicit, and secure planned gifts including bequests, estate gifts, and gifts of non-cash assets
- Build and manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects, guiding donors from initial engagement through commitment
- Develop lead generation strategies and donor experiences in partnership with Marketing and Individual Engagement
- Identify major gift opportunities within the planned giving pipeline and collaborate with Development Officers to grow lifetime giving
- Deliver a high-quality, personalized donor experience through thoughtful outreach, stewardship, and relationship management
- Leverage tools such as CRM, FreeWill, and DonorSearch to support pipeline growth and reporting
- Ensure accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions, commitments, and strategies
- Partner cross-functionally to ensure planned gifts are properly processed, documented, and stewarded
- Identify and implement process improvements to strengthen donor experience and operational efficiency
What you'll bring:
- Passion for the Foundation’s mission, nature, environmental stewardship, and people
- Experience in planned giving, major gifts, financial planning, estate planning, charitable advising, or related relationship-based work
- Working knowledge of planned giving vehicles such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, and gifts of non-cash assets (stock, real estate, etc.)
- Ability to analyze donor data, identify high-potential prospects, and prioritize pipeline opportunities
- Proven ability to build and steward meaningful donor relationships and secure philanthropic commitments
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex giving strategies into clear, compelling conversations
- A highly relational, detail-oriented approach with professionalism, empathy, and discretion
- Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build strong cross-functional partnerships
What success looks like:
- Growth in planned giving pipeline, including qualified prospects and confirmed commitments
- Strong conversion of donor engagement into documented gift intentions
- High-quality donor stewardship and relationship consistency
- Accurate CRM documentation and portfolio management
- Continuous improvement in processes and donor experience
Love Where You Work: Your Benefits & Perks
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being. Highlights include:
Health & Insurance
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage – Multiple plan options, including PPO and HDHP.
- Company-Paid Life Insurance – $15,000 basic coverage, plus voluntary options.
- Short- & Long-Term Disability – Fully covered by the company.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential counseling and resources for you and your family.
- Supplemental Insurance Options – Accident, Critical Illness (includes infertility coverage), and Hospital Indemnity plans available for additional protection.
Financial Wellness
- 401(k) Retirement Plan – Immediate eligibility with company match up to 5%; full vesting after 5 years.
- Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account – Pre-tax savings for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
Time Off & Leave
- Paid Holidays – Eight paid holidays, one floating holiday, and an annual “Unplug Time” during the holidays.
- Parental Leave – 12 weeks paid for birthing parents; 2 weeks paid for non-birthing parents. Also including for adoptions.
- Paid Time Off – Vacation, sick leave, volunteer time off
Learning & Growth
- Professional Development – Access to LinkedIn Learning and tuition reimbursement.
- Annual Learning Goal – Encouraged to spend 40+ hours on development.
Wellness & Perks
- HealthJoy App – Included with health plan for easy care navigation.
- Wellness & Recognition – Incentives, recognition gifts awarded for work anniversaries & birthdays
- Exclusive Discounts & Free Admission – Tree Adventure, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, golf and more.
How to apply
We’re excited you’re considering growing your career with us. After you apply, we aim to follow up within two weeks - and you’ll hear from us either way.
Our hiring process typically includes:
- Recruiter conversation (phone)
- Hiring manager interview (in-person/virtual)
- On-site interview with team members and leadership
You’ll be kept informed at every step. To begin, submit your application with a resume and responses to the application questions. Every application is reviewed by a real person - we do not use AI to select applicants.
The Arbor Day Foundation is an equal opportunity employer
The Arbor Day Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunities. We will not discriminate against Team Members or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis [“protected class”] including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform servicemember status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.
We participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm your authorization to work in the U.S.
If you need reasonable accommodation to complete your application or participate in the interview process, please contact us at 402-474-5655.
Skills Required
- Experience in planned giving, major gifts, financial planning, estate planning, or charitable advising
- Working knowledge of planned giving vehicles such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, and trusts
- Ability to analyze donor data and identify high-potential prospects
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex giving strategies
- Ability to collaborate effectively across departments
What We Do
The Arbor Day Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1972 with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees, fostering a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees.
