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Director of Planned Giving

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Director of Planned Giving

Simmons University

Onsite Boston, Massachusetts

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway neighborhood, Simmons University is a private, nonprofit institution rooted in a bold founding vision of expanding opportunity through education.

Established in 1899, Simmons has long championed the idea that education empowers individuals to lead independent, purposeful lives. Today, the University continues that tradition through its distinctive model: a four-year undergraduate program for women paired with highly regarded coeducational graduate programs in fields including nursing, social work, library and information science, health sciences, management, and the liberal arts.

Simmons blends the strengths of a small university with a deep commitment to social progress and professional preparation. Its academic programs emphasize intellectual exploration, community engagement, and career readiness, reflecting the University’s belief that meaningful leadership requires both knowledge and action. With a legacy of inclusion and a mission centered on advancing equity and opportunity, Simmons prepares graduates who are ready to make a difference in their communities and professions.

The Opportunity

Simmons University seeks an experienced and entrepreneurial Director of Planned Giving to build and lead a comprehensive planned giving program that strengthens the institution’s long-term philanthropic future.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Advancement and Campaign Director, the Director will serve as the University’s technical expert in charitable estate planning while developing and executing innovative strategies to grow deferred and complex gifts.

This role comes at a dynamic moment for Simmons’ advancement efforts. With new leadership in University Advancement and a renewed focus on expanding philanthropic support, the Director of Planned Giving will play a central role in shaping a modern, integrated gift planning program that complements major gift fundraising and broader campaign priorities. The Director will lead efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward planned gifts from alumnae/i, trustees, parents, and friends while managing a portfolio of more than 150 prospects.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned gift planning professional who is energized by building programs and advancing mission-driven philanthropy. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in planned giving, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for cultivating enduring donor relationships that support Simmons University and its students for generations to come.

The salary range for this position is $135,000–$140,000.

Simmons University

Past searches and placements for Simmons University

  • Vice President for Advancement and Chief Development Officer
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    By admin|2026-09-23T21:27:03-04:00February 10, 2026|Comments Off on Director of Planned Giving

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    A respected professional services leader and a sought-after advisor to organizations across the nonprofit sector, Jackie Sullivan draws on an extensive toolkit of problem-solving strategies to consistently deliver innovative solutions and actionable recommendations for her clients. With a focus on tactical implementation, big-picture thinking, and high-touch relationships with stakeholders, she has earned the trust of numerous organizations engaged in life-changing work around the world.

    Known for approaching challenges with tenacity and determination, Jackie brings a wealth of experience in independent school, higher education, and global and social nonprofit leadership and consulting that positions her as the ideal partner for recruiting top-tier talent.

    Expertise

    Jackie’s core strengths lie in her profound understanding of organizations and their operational intricacies, coupled with her ability to assess and fulfill the unique needs of development offices within these institutions. Her deep well of knowledge regarding the inner workings of institutions allows her to navigate their complexities with precision and insight, while her breadth of experience gives her an industry-level perspective.

    Jackie has partnered with the full range of independent schools, including boarding and day schools, faith-based schools, single-gender schools, and specialty programs, as well as an array of higher education, global, and social nonprofits.

    Experience

    Jackie’s experience as a seasoned development officer within independent schools and higher education, as well as her extensive experience as a strategic consultant partnering with these institutions, uniquely positions her as a top expert and advisor for leaders in education.

    Before joining Lindauer, Jackie honed her expertise in navigating the complexities of a range of educational and nonprofit environments working both in-house in development offices at institutions like Syracuse University, the Pingry School, and Delbarton School as well as externally as a principal consultant at Graham-Pelton, a global leader in nonprofit consulting.

    Her commitment to the field includes serving on the Board of Directors for The Giving Institute and, previously, on the board of the Morris Education Foundation.

    Education

    Jackie holds a BA in Math and Psychology from Syracuse University.

    Taylor Beard brings to Lindauer and its clients several years of philanthropic consulting and project management experience in the non-profit sector.

    Prior to joining Lindauer, Taylor was the Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving at the University of Chicago Law School where she managed the school’s reunion volunteer committees to foster a culture of engagement and philanthropy and increase annual support from alumni and friends. Taylor also spent several years at Grenzebach Glier and Associates (GG+A), a premier nonprofit philanthropic consulting firm, where she held multiple roles. As Senior Project Manager, Taylor partnered with the firm’s senior leaders to develop and execute client training projects, along with managing the firm’s internal professional development program. She managed upwards of 15 client projects at any given time, ranging in sectors from arts and culture, academic medicine and healthcare, higher education, independent schools, to advocacy.

    Throughout her career, Taylor has partnered with a range of clients including American University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Chicago Urban League, Colgate University, Da Vinci Science Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Englewood Health Foundation, Folger Shakespeare Library, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Germantown Friends School, Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Macalester College, Milwaukee Art Museum, Louisiana State University Athletics, National Cathedral School, Oregon Health and Science University Foundation, Pennsylvania State University Athletics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Minnesota Foundation, University of New Mexico Foundation, University of the Arctic, Trinity College, and Upper Canada College.

    Taylor serves as Co-Chair of the Young Professional Board at Deborah’s Place, a nonprofit that provides housing and supportive services to women experiencing homelessness in Chicago.

    Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Ohio State University.

    Brandalyn Patton serves as Senior Search Administrator, acting as the liaison between Lindauer clients, candidates and consultants. She provides high-level strategic coordination and detailed administrative, client service and communications support to facilitate each search, balancing an array of clients and assignments. This role provides an exciting opportunity for Brandalyn to combine her background in fundraising and workforce development.

    Brandalyn began her career in development as a consulting projects manager for Dini Partners, a Houston-based fundraising consulting firm, working exclusively with nonprofit organizations. She has worked for many years in administrative, development, and research positions supporting major gift officers and teams at Rice University, the Bipartisan Policy Center, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and The University of Texas at Austin. In these roles, she assisted in coordinating prospect research, prospect management, database management, and donor stewardship.

    She has also served on the staffs of Workforce Investment Boards in Houston, TX, and San Diego, CA, working closely with educational, nonprofit, and government organizations to develop a strong regional workforce.

    Brandalyn holds a Bachelor’s in social work from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

    Carol Tosh is a seasoned research and data professional who takes a holistic, people-centered approach to executive search. With over 10 years of experience in education and health and human services, she brings a deep understanding of the leadership needs for a wide range of organizations.

    Carol’s passion for relational-driven research has been an integral part of her success. She sees herself as a detective, synthesizing unique combinations of search criteria—skills, backgrounds, and qualities—to uncover exceptional and diverse groups of candidates that meet each client’s goals. With a lifelong commitment to learning and growth, Carol applies a fresh perspective to every search, immersing herself in the details of each new project and equipping herself with an impressive breadth of industry-specific knowledge.

    Expertise

    Carol’s expertise lies at the intersection of data analysis and human-centric methodologies. Her approach to research is both meticulous and conceptual, allowing her to balance highly specific requirements for candidates with the need to align with the larger mission and goals of an organization. Her collaborative and integrated approach plays a critical role in Lindauer’s ability to present the best possible range of candidates to our clients.

    Experience

    Before joining Lindauer, Carol worked as a Speech Language Pathologist with Houston ISD, where she managed a team of 26 SLP professionals, serving thousands of students across nearly 300 campuses.

    Transitioning into the realm of research and data management, Carol has leveraged her ability to solve problems for and across communities with diverse sets of needs and backgrounds to bring an innovative and cooperative approach to the Lindauer research process. Her combination of adaptability and organizational competence drawn from her career in public education administration and service has allowed Carol to excel at bridging the gap between data analysis and human experience.

    Education

    Carol holds an MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston.

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