Planned Giving Startup -- Executive Search

Planned Giving Startup was started in 1999 primarily as a low-cost way for charitable organizations to add a bequest and planned giving element to their fund raising programs. For existing programs, the firm offers the services of an experienced gift planner to consult with and advise staff who have responsibility for planned gifts. In addition, because the principal of the firm has been active in planned giving on the east coast, the west coast, and in the mid-west, and on state, regional and national levels, PGS Executive Search was added in 2002 as an additional service to clients. The firm accepts only searches for planned giving positions.

Working with PGS Executive Search to fill a planned giving vacancy has the following advantages:

Our staff only works in the field of planned giving, which sharpens the focus of every search.
Our staff has over 30 years of personal experience in the field of planned giving, and has personal relationships with many gift planners throughout the USA.
A small firm can offer highly personalized service and our full attention to filling your vacancy.
We have the ability to help you define the type of person who will be the best fit for your program and your organization.
We offer very reasonable fees in line with our desire to provide high quality services at low cost to all of our clients.

Having the right person in the right job is probably the most important factor in the success of any planned giving program. To attract the right candidates, the search firm must be able to understand the organization's planned giving program, its history, its goals for the future, and the culture of the organization. Personal experience with establishing and operating planned giving programs gives our staff an advantage in asking the right institutional questions. We are then in the best position to communicate to candidates what is needed and what will be expected. We speak the language of the candidates, and of planned giving, and we are excellent communicators.

Unlike many executive search firms which may develop a pool of candidates from a list of people they call for recommendations, our list of planned giving contacts has been developed over 30 years, and we personally know many if not all of the candidates whom we may recommend. Personal knowledge of candidates helps us match individuals more closely with the needs and desires of the organization. It also reduces the potential for any "surprises" after a candidate is selected. We are so confident in our ability to provide outstanding candidates that we guarantee to redo the search at no charge within the first year after hire should our candidate not be as represented.

Working with our firm and its knowledge of the planned giving field protects your organization from only reviewing applications from individuals actively seeking a new position. We work hard to convince qualified candidates who would be ideal for your position, but who may be content in their current job, to give your opportunity serious consideration. Again, our knowledge of individual gift planners gives our firm a distinct advantage.

Our reputation is based on honesty, non-discrimination, confidentiality, reliability and thrift. We price our services at a rate we feel is reasonable for the task that is to be performed. We are proud to provide superior results at modest cost.

Our search begins with detailed and frank conversations with the organization about its planned giving program; its history, results, direction and expectations for the future, and strengths and weaknesses.
Further conversations with senior management, current planned giving staff, and other development officers help us understand the culture of the organization, and the type of individual who would be the best fit for the organization.
An accurate position description is developed along with a candidate profile.
Appropriate wording for an advertisement of the position is developed in partnership with the organization. The advertisement will be placed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy and perhaps in several local and regional publications. Advertising is designed primarily to seek out qualified candidates who are not uncovered by our own extensive network of contacts. The strongest candidates are usually not found through advertising.
Individuals whom we think would be excellent candidates for the position are contacted, and we meet with the best candidates in person to describe the opportunity.
Phone interviews are conducted with candidates who apply to the advertisement and appear to have the appropriate qualifications. We check our own sources for confidential information about these candidates.
In consultation with the organization, the sequence of interviews and the decision-making process for hiring the best candidate are agreed upon.
The list of qualified candidates is narrowed to no more than 10, and we begin to check references by phone. These references include those furnished by the candidates and confidential sources which we have identified.
Each candidate is interviewed extensively in person by us.
A final short list of two to four candidates is presented to the organization, and interviews on-site at the organization are arranged for each candidate.
In consultation with us, the organization develops an appropriate employment offer for the preferred candidate, and negotiates the final contract.
From time to time over the following 12 months, we check with the organization and with the new hire to be sure that both parties are satisfied with the relationship.

Our fee structure is based on our desire to provide the best service at the lowest cost. Each search is conducted on a retainer basis. We charge 20% of the first year's final negotiated base compensation, plus out-of-pocket expenses. The fee is payable 25% at inception, 25% approximately 4 weeks into the search, and the remainder at the completion of the search, when the actual negotiated base compensation is known. Out-of-pocket expenses are limited to advertising costs, consultant and candidate travel, and meal interviews. Items such as phone charges, fax charges, postage, supplies, and the like are included in the fee and are not billed separately.