Trust Officer

Trust Officer

Position Title:  Trust Officer   

Employment Status: Regular Part-time

Department: Planned Giving & Trust​​       
Job Classification: S-22        

Accountable to: Trust Department Director             ​
Wage Type: Exempt

Date Written: May 2026

Job Summary         

Serve the Breath of Life media ministry by communicating its vision and mission to potential donors so they can help fund its evangelistic goals. This will mean representing and effectively communicating gift planning and trust services for the Ministry at events, meetings, and with individual donors.

Authority & Accountability:

As delegated by and accountable to the Speaker/Director and/or the Manager/Treasurer. 

Essential Position Functions:

Report directly to the Speaker/Director and/or the Manager/Treasurer to assist with responsibilities in the Planned Giving & Trust Services Department.

Position Specifications:

This position is performance-based. There is an expectation that the efforts generate confidence in the ministry that is reflected in a rhythmic increase in donations for the ministry. The Speaker/Director and/or the Manager/Treasurer will develop and outline specific expectations for this role.

Be a Spiritual and personable leader who understands the importance of donor relationships as a vital spiritual ministry.

• A mature Christian who is in full agreement with the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• One who maintains a close, growing relationship with Jesus Christ as personal Savior from sin and Lord of life.
• One who is able to discern the spiritual condition of donors and understand how to encourage them to a greater understanding of the spiritual dimension of estate stewardship.
• One who views the development of donor relationships as a vital spiritual ministry.
• Willing and able to travel extensively to meet with donors in their homes or other preferred locations.
• A genuine "people person" who enjoys building relationships, listening to others, and understanding what is meaningful to them. Exhibits warmth, professionalism, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds. 
• One who knows and understands the workings, the culture, and the ministry at Breath of Life in all its departments and is conversant with the strengths of its people.
• Be an ethical and professional leader who is certified and accredited in gift planning and trust services. 
• Possesses a working knowledge of the North American Division Certification and Accreditation Standards and complies with all Level A Accreditation requirements in the development and administration of gift planning and trust services.
• One who obtains formal training in planned giving concepts and instruments with a commitment to continuing education in the field as required or beyond that which is required by the employer.
• Goal-oriented and task-oriented - one who can meet deadlines and goals. Maintains a high level of self-discipline, is a self-starter in making donor visit appointments and going to see them, and is an excellent time manager in the use of time on the road and in the office. 
• Represents Breath of Life as a field representative at ministry functions and with individual donors. 
• Constantly search for opportunities to communicate with people about the vision and mission of Breath of Life Ministry and its Planned Giving & Trust Services Department, which is designed to facilitate donors’ goals of helping to fund the mission of Christ to seek and to save lost people.
• Represent the ministry and/or speak at seminars, major donor events, conferences, convocations, and Partnerships as assigned.
• Travel as needed to meet donors face-to-face. Plan travel to maximize travel budget by seeing as many donors as possible in a geographic territory on the same trip.
• Intentionally pursue planned gifts, including but not limited to cash, non-cash gifts, gift annuities, life insurance gifts, wills, charitable trusts, and revocable trust plans.
• Continuously be in contact with donors in a healthy balance of phone and written communications and face-to-face visits.
• Cultivate and maintain long-term, meaningful relationships with donors, providing ongoing spiritual encouragement and personalized stewardship guidance that inspires current and future charitable giving in support of the ministry's mission.
• Develop grant proposals and opportunities to secure additional sources of funding for Breath of Life Ministry.
• Interview donors at every opportunity to learn their spiritual & financial situation and their giving goals.
• Explain and assist donors with the Adventist Legacy Planning program and process.
• Explain Planned Giving to donors and prospective donors, share educational materials on Adventist Legacy Planning with them,
• Assist donors in organizing their estate design data, including personal, family, and financial information, so the donor may present it to their choice of independent donor legal counsel.
• Obtain asset information from donors as needed; this may include copies of titles, deeds, account statements, insurance coverage, tax statements, cost basis, and market values.
• Prepare and present customized gift plan illustrations and comprehensive charitable gift and estate planning proposals that align with each donor's values, priorities, financial objectives, and philanthropic goals. Guide donors through the planning and decision-making process, providing appropriate counsel and support to facilitate the successful completion of new gift arrangements.
• Obtain information to complete the Environmental Questionnaire and Site Inspection Checklist for each parcel of real property to be part of the estate plan.
• Create an “Attorney Packet” by combining the estate design data and asset information described above along with a cover letter to the donor that explains their need for appropriate legal representation and the program of partial or full reimbursement of the legal fees.
• Forward information & documents to the PGTS as needed for files and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Work with office staff to follow through on the administrative recording and filing of the gift and/or estate plan. Provide instructions to the office staff as needed to make sure all details are properly handled.

• Administrative expectations:
• ▪ Initiate phone, email, hard-copy correspondence, and other contacts with donors on a consistent and regular basis to achieve:
• ▪ 15 face-to-face donor visits per month on average, including time away from the job for vacation days and holidays. (175 per year).  One visit may be at a Partnership event if a meaningful conversation occurs.  These visits may include customer care service visits for existing gift plan donors, in the role of Trust Officer.
• Participate in setting realistic territory goals, develop a territory marketing/communication plan, develop a plan to immerse donors in the ministry of Breath of Life, and set up a schedule designed to fulfill the required level of donor visits.
• Complete reports that are required by the PGTS department or Breath of Life.
• Maintain updated donor records and files. Make sure all donor data is properly entered in the database so that planned giving donors are properly treated in direct mail as major donors and Partners.
• Submit contact reports weekly
• Submit travel expense reports at least one time per month.
  • Participate in regularly scheduled phone/video meetings and share the progress and activities of the previous week along with plans for the upcoming week/s.
  • Fulfill other responsibilities and duties as assigned by the ministry management.

Qualifications, Scope, and Complexity of Duties:

• • Education: Minimum of a college degree or equivalent experience. NAD Trust Services Certification is required (if not already certified, must obtain certification within two years of employment in the position).
  • Experience: Planned Giving and Trust Service experience is preferred.

  A minimum of seven (7) years of professional work experience is required.

  • Member: Embrace the mission and values of Breath of Life and be a member in good standing of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
  • Skills, scope, and complexity of duties:
  • Necessary organizational skills to handle the job assignment
  • Ability to exercise direction, independent judgment, make decisions, and assume responsibility.
  • Good personal relationship skills
  • Understand or be willing to receive training continually.
  • Flexibility to adapt to urgent projects or unusual situations.

Interpersonal Relationships:

• Within Ministry:
  • Speaker/Director
  • Manager/Treasurer
  • Other Department Directors and Planned Giving Staff
  • Office staff
  • AMM Support Staff
• Outside Ministry:
  • Trust Officers of other SDA entities
  • Donors and personnel at events, as well as all attendees

Working Conditions:

• General Working conditions of an office
• Travel flexibility and travel hazards
• Physical requirements: requires driving, standing, walking, time at a desk, reaching, climbing, and lifting (maximum of 50 lbs.)

Specific requirements:

• •  Will require variable or weekend work on occasion
  • No special clothing or safety gear required