Application Guide

How to Apply for Associate Director, Planned Giving (Legacy Giving Advisor)

at The Humane League

🏢 About The Humane League

The Humane League is a unique nonprofit focused exclusively on reducing farmed animal suffering through strategic programs and advocacy, making it an ideal workplace for mission-driven professionals passionate about animal welfare. Unlike general animal charities, THL employs evidence-based approaches and corporate campaigns to create systemic change, offering the opportunity to contribute to a focused, impactful cause in a remote-first environment.

About This Role

This Associate Director role involves leading the vision and strategy for THL's planned giving program, managing a portfolio of 500+ donors and prospects, and overseeing estate administration and gift vehicles. It's impactful because you'll directly build the long-term financial sustainability of the organization, ensuring resources are available to continue reducing farmed animal suffering for generations through legacy gifts.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing your donor portfolio in THL's CRM to identify engagement opportunities, collaborating with the legal team on estate administration cases, and developing content for an upcoming planned giving webinar. You'd likely spend time analyzing marketing metrics from recent legacy giving campaigns and strategizing how to integrate planned giving messaging into THL's broader communications about their farmed animal advocacy work.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who The Humane League Is Looking For

  • Has 7+ years fundraising experience with 5+ years specifically in planned giving, including hands-on experience with bequests and charitable gift annuities
  • Possesses advanced education/certification like CAP and stays current on IRS regulations and legislative trends affecting planned giving
  • Demonstrates experience designing and executing integrated marketing plans for legacy giving, including email, direct mail, and educational webinars
  • Shows proven ability to manage complex donor portfolios (200+ donors) while building long-term relationships in a CRM-driven environment

📝 Tips for Applying to The Humane League

1

Quantify your planned giving achievements: include specific metrics like portfolio size, revenue growth percentages, or number of estate commitments secured in previous roles

2

Demonstrate knowledge of THL's specific programs by mentioning how planned giving could support campaigns like their corporate outreach or advocacy work

3

Highlight any experience with animal welfare or vegan/vegetarian organizations, as this shows cultural alignment with THL's mission-driven staff

4

Showcase your technical proficiency with CRM systems specifically for donor management, as THL emphasizes CRM use in the job description

5

Include examples of how you've integrated planned giving messaging into broader fundraising communications, as this is a core responsibility

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with planned giving vehicles like charitable gift annuities and bequests, with concrete examples', "How your approach to donor relationship management aligns with THL's mission of reducing farmed animal suffering", 'Your ability to develop and execute innovative marketing plans for legacy giving in a remote environment', 'Experience collaborating with legal teams on estate administration and ensuring IRS compliance']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → THL's specific programs like their corporate outreach campaigns and how they measure impact on farmed animal suffering
  • → The organization's current fundraising communications and annual reports to understand their existing donor messaging
  • → THL's leadership team and board members to understand their strategic priorities
  • → Recent news about THL's advocacy work to understand current initiatives your planned giving program would support
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop a planned giving strategy specifically for THL's donor base, which likely includes many younger, cause-driven supporters?
2 Describe your process for managing a portfolio of 200+ Legacy Society donors while also cultivating 300+ prospects remotely
3 How do you stay current on IRS regulations affecting planned giving, and what recent changes should THL be aware of?
4 What metrics would you track to measure the success of THL's planned giving program, and how would you report these to leadership?
5 How would you integrate planned giving messaging into THL's existing communications about their farmed animal advocacy work?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only general fundraising experience without specific planned giving examples and terminology
  • Failing to demonstrate knowledge of IRS regulations and compliance requirements for planned giving programs
  • Submitting generic materials that don't reference THL's specific mission of reducing farmed animal suffering

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Humane League!

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