Feb 12th, 2026
Appalachian Mountain Club
Job Description
Director, Gift Planning
Appalachian Mountain Club
Winter 2026 | Remote/Northeast, US
The Appalachian Mountain Club seeks a collaborative Director, Gift Planning to lead its strategic planned giving program as the organization embarks on its largest comprehensive campaign in its 150-year history.
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the United States. AMC’s mission is simple yet powerful: foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors.
The Director, Gift Planning is responsible for overall strategic leadership and management of AMC’s planned giving program. Reporting to the Senior Director, Principal Gifts, this position will work closely with all frontline fundraising staff, including the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and AMC management team at a time of transformation and growth, as the organization launches its largest fundraising campaign in its 150-year history. Informed by a new strategic plan and guided by the leadership of CEO & President Nicole Zussman and a freshly invigorated senior management team, this is an exceptionally special moment to help set the future course for AMC by co-creating transformational funding opportunities in partnership with AMC’s program leadership, and to collaboratively advance relationships with major and principal gift donors and prospects.
AMC's comprehensive fundraising campaign goal will incorporate a significant planned giving portion (from gifts including realized bequest revenue, irrevocable and revocable gifts). This position will be pivotal in driving strategic initiatives to maximize planned giving efforts during this campaign. The Director, Gift Planning is responsible for securing planned and complex gift assets and/or blended gifts (i.e., a combination of annual, outright, revocable, and irrevocable deferred gifts) with a particular focus on gifts of $100,000 and above.
The Director, Gift Planning will collaborate with frontline funders, AMC’s management team and Board members to identify and qualify prospects. This position will partner with the Development Operations team to utilize top industry tools to cultivate, solicit, administer, and steward planned gifts.
Immediate cash revenue from realized planned gifts averages $1.3 million annually; AMC is approaching $100 million in charitable assets under management. These revenue streams are expected to grow proportionately as AMC advances its comprehensive campaign. AMC has nearly 400 members in the Summit Trust, its legacy society, and very few of these gifts have been documented. Growing this pool of donors while simultaneously cultivating and soliciting them for current and deferred gifts is a key priority of this position.
To express interest, please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence here: https://apptrkr.com/6921385