Planned Giving Coordinator

Join the Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm on the front lines fighting to end widespread abuses of government power and to secure the rights of all Americans.

We’re seeking a detail‑oriented and relationship‑driven individual to help grow and steward IJ’s planned giving program, the Four Pillars Society. In this role, you will support and expand all aspects of the program—from donor cultivation to maintaining accurate data on the program’s membership.

On the administrative side, you’ll manage the processing and acknowledgement of bequests, IRA gifts, and other legacy contributions, while also serving as the primary point of contact for individuals exploring planned giving opportunities or reaching out as already active members of the Four Pillars Society. Ensuring these supporters feel connected to IJ and confident in maintaining their long-term commitment requires effectively communicating the impact of their support and being responsive to their outreach, and delivering on that is a core function of this role. This includes primary responsibility for multiple one-off cultivation projects each year (mailings, email outreach, organizing webinars, etc.) and supporting other efforts, such as the program’s exclusive periodical, Pillars of Justice.

You will also be responsible for marketing the program and growing its membership through creative and thoughtfully designed outreach campaigns. This includes outlining and pitching ideas, coordinating review processes and cross‑team collaboration for those that move forward, and ensuring polished and accurate final communications. In addition, managing the budget for these projects and detailing their success in a quarterly report to IJ’s board fall under the scope of this role.

The ideal candidate is someone who can blend engaging donor outreach with the operational discipline needed to keep a growing planned giving program running smoothly while strengthening it for the future.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Act as first responder for most planned giving inquiries, outreach from Four Pillars Society members, supporters seeking to give through their IRA, and other related matters.
• Ensure “in progress” estates, or those in an active state of administration, are closely monitored and that IJ has provided all details and information necessary to receive the distribution designated for us while follow up occurs as needed.
• Promote and market the Four Pillars Society through regular mailings (at least twice annually) to both broad and targeted prospect audiences.
  • Serve as lead for these efforts, including managing action items, navigating the review process, and coordinating the final outreach with internal and external partners.
• Cultivate existing planned giving-committed members through regular mailings and outreach designated for the club, as well as through timely responses to their questions. Also includes:
  • Onboarding new members of the program through timely execution of predesignated communications (clarifying recognition preferences, securing gift details, ordering and placing wall plaques for an in-office recognition display, etc.).
  • Periodically arranging in-person visits with Four Pillars Society members as IJ staff travel the country.
  • As needed, contribute to Pillars of Justice, the Society’s exclusive periodical, which mails three times annually.
• Support annual solicitation mailings to ensure we request renewed support from these donors in an effective but appropriate manner that recognizes their inclusion of IJ in their long-term plans.
• Process and acknowledge donations made from bequests and IRAs.
• Maintain high standards with respect to the quality of data in the donor database (proper coding and attribution for 4PS members, accurate donation entry and acknowledgement, etc.)

Qualifications:

• 2–3 years of experience in planned giving or estate administration.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects independently while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the capacity to build relationships with donors, colleagues, and external partners.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with enthusiasm for improving processes and taking initiative.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Problem‑solving skills and comfort troubleshooting unexpected issues.
• Proficiency with Outlook and Microsoft Office; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Ability to work from our Arlington, VA office at least three days per week after the probationary period.

Benefits:

• Hybrid work schedule
• Flexible work hours with our core business hours of 10am and 4pm
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance (IJ covers 100% of individual premiums)
• Free Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life insurance plans
• HSA employer contributions
• 401(k) with employer matches
• Smart casual dress code with casual Fridays
• Generous PTO package of accruing sick and vacation hours in addition to a paid personal day and floating and traditional holidays

To Apply:

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter detailing why you are interested in working at the Institute for Justice.

IJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

To learn more about our culture and benefits, visit our Working at IJ page. No phone calls please.

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