Charitable Estate Planning Advisor

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

The American Heart Association has a phenomenal opportunity for an Advisor, Charitable Estate Planning, in our Mission Advancement department. Location preferably based in  Southern California.

This position can be home-based, but must be located near a major airport. This individual will be responsible for engaging in key activities within a defined regional territory (AK, CA, HI, ID, OR, MT,  NV, UT) in support of the national Charitable Estate Planning program. 

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmony as your needs and life situations change. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects and donors to designate charitable estate gifts. Responsible for partnering with Mission Advancement staff to ensure full philanthropic opportunities are provided to every association supporter.

• →Initiates communication to all leads received from individuals requesting charitable estate planning information from the American Heart Association in the assigned territory
• →Develops a dynamic cultivation plan for nurturing the most promising leads to make the best use of time and efforts
• →Provides consultation and information regarding estate and tax planning, estate administration and charitable giving as necessary. Must remain up-to-date on all tax law changes as they relate to charitable giving
• →Fosters a culture of stewardship among Paul Dudley White Legacy Society members, customizing communication and demonstrating the impact of charitable estate gifts on the association’s mission
• →Creates and maintains personalized detailed prospect plans toward the successful solicitation of the territory’s most engaged prospects and donors. Establishes and maintains information in Salesforce (customer relationship database) including those of charitable estate planning donors, prospects, volunteers and estate planning professionals
• →Supplies charitable estate planning illustrations using Crescendo Interactive software. Supplies information and reviews estate plans with prospects in hopes of obtaining a gift for the association. Recommends specific estate planning actions to achieve goals and meets with donors’ estate planner or financial advisor in tandem with other association staff as appropriate
• →Makes presentations on gift planning techniques at association board meetings, staff meetings and community events
• →Works with local association staff to coordinate charitable estate planning program activities with other organizational efforts and approaches to identify priority prospects. Keeps appropriate staff and volunteers updated on activities and progress as necessary
• →Implements standard procedures for the tracking of charitable estate planning income. Reviews legal documents related to planned gifts as needed

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• At least three (3) years of relevant experience
• Experience in planned giving (or individual fundraising), estate planning, working knowledge of intestacy laws, federal estate tax, federal income tax, and state inheritance taxes, and estate planning strategies
• Successful proven record of completing gift agreements (specifically, split-interest gifts) through personal interviews; public speaking skills and communication skills
• Comprehensive knowledge of deferred gift and estate planning vehicles
• Thorough knowledge of charitable estate fund raising and demonstrated skills in donor relationship building and stewardship, conducting effective sales/solicitation calls, and effectively closing/sales solicitations
• Excellent public speaking and one-on-one communication skills
• Thorough knowledge of the process of identifying prospects for deferred gift commitments, prospect/donor cultivation processes and charitable gift commitment vehicles is necessary
• Demonstrated ability to successfully implement charitable estate planning strategies
• Ability to travel 60% of the time, local and overnight stay, working to develop programs in major metropolitan areas within the designated territory assigned. Willingness to work weekends and evenings as necessary

• Certified Fundraising Executive or other fundraising designation

The American Heart Association’s 2028 Goal: Building on over 100 years of trusted leadership in cardiovascular and brain health, by 2028 the Association will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities. The greatest discoveries in health must reach everyone where they are.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities