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Director of Planned Giving

2/17/2026

The Director of Planned Giving will manage a portfolio of 100-150 prospects to secure $3-5 million in documented planned gift commitments annually, focusing on pipeline development, donor cultivation, and stewardship. This role also involves executing marketing strategies to promote planned giving opportunities and educating donors on estate planning vehicles.

Salary

80000 - 90000 USD

Working Hours

40 hours/week

Company Size

51-200 employees

Language

English

Visa Sponsorship

About The Company

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s largest maritime museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience. The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT and include a recreated 19th century coastal village, a working shipyard, exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship still in existence. With a full-time staff of 150 that swells to 350 during the summer season, the Museum hosts over 250,000 visitors annually. Mystic Seaport employs a diverse staff of scholars, librarians, historic interpreters, educators, scientists, musicians, and skilled artisans. A stroll through the historic village transports visitors back to the mid-1800s where they can experience firsthand from staff historians, storytellers, musicians, and craftspeople just what life was like to earn one's living from the sea. In the Henry B. du Pont Preservation Shipyard, they can watch shipwrights keeping the skills and techniques of traditional shipbuilding alive as they restore and maintain the Museum’s watercraft collection. The Museum’s 41,000 sq. ft. Collections Research Center (CRC) offers access to more than 2 million artifacts and is also home to the G.W. Blunt White Library, a 75,000-volume research library where scholars from around the world come to study America’s maritime history. For more than 80 years, visitors, students, and scholars have turned to Mystic Seaport to preserve and interpret America’s maritime experience. The Museum’s commitment to that mission is as strong as ever.

About the Role

Description

Purpose of Position:

Mystic Seaport Museum seeks an experienced Director of Planned Giving to expand our planned giving program and secure the Museum's long-term financial sustainability. Manage a portfolio of 100-150 prospects to secure $3-5 million in documented planned gift commitments annually.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Advancement, this position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on one of America's leading maritime museums while working with donors who are passionate about preserving our nation's maritime heritage.

Essential Functions

Pipeline Development and Donor Management

Identify, qualify, and cultivate 100-150 planned giving prospects through research and strategic outreach

Develop comprehensive cultivation strategies moving prospects from identification to commitment

Collaborate with major gifts team to integrate planned giving into donor engagement

Maintain accurate records in donor database

Cultivation and Stewardship

Conduct personalized visits, calls, and correspondence to build long-term donor relationships

Design recognition programs that engage planned giving donors

Create customized gift proposals demonstrating impact and benefits

Marketing and Donor Education

Execute marketing strategy promoting planned giving opportunities

Develop educational materials (brochures, newsletters, website content, presentations)

Organize seminars and webinars on estate planning and charitable giving

Professional Collaboration

Build relationships with estate attorneys, financial advisors, and accountants

Serve as Museum expert on planned giving vehicles and tax implications

Stay current on tax law changes and planned giving best practices

Requirements

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor's degree
4-7 years in planned giving, major gifts fundraising, or related development work
Proven track record securing planned gifts (bequests, estate gifts, charitable gift annuities, trusts)
Strong understanding of planned giving vehicles and tax implications
Excellent communication skills with ability to explain complex concepts
Experience managing donor portfolios and achieving fundraising goals
Proficiency with donor databases and Microsoft Office
Valid driver's license and ability to travel

Preferred

Background in law, financial planning, accounting, or related field
Cultural institution or museum experience
CFRE certification or willingness to pursue
Interest in maritime history

Key Competencies

Strategic thinking, exceptional listening, donor-centered approach, strong organizational skills, ability to work independently and collaboratively, cultural sensitivity, passion for the Museum's mission

Success Metrics

Performance evaluated on annual documented planned gift commitments, pipeline growth and quality, cultivation effectiveness, and advancement of long-term fundraising goals.

Work Environment and Compensation

This position offers flexible work arrangements based on the needs of the role and the selected candidate, with expectations for regular on-site presence at the Museum in Mystic, Connecticut for team collaboration, donor meetings, and Museum events.

The Director of Planned Giving will join a dedicated advancement team committed to supporting the Museum's mission of inspiring an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.

Mystic Seaport Museum offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, along with comprehensive benefits.

Mystic Seaport Museum is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Key Skills

Planned GivingMajor Gifts FundraisingProspect CultivationDonor Relationship ManagementGift Proposal CreationMarketing StrategyDonor EducationEstate PlanningFinancial Advising CollaborationTax Law KnowledgeStrategic ThinkingOrganizational SkillsCultural SensitivityDatabase ManagementCommunication SkillsIndependent Work