New York-headquartered BNY Mellon has appointed Jackie Franey as sales director for its Charitable Solutions Group.  

Franey, who joins the firm from Communities Foundation of Texas, will remain based in that state and work to widen BNY Mellon’s network of philanthropic clients, as well as to develop existing relations. She reports to Eileen Foley, managing director of BNY Mellon’s Family Office and Advisor Solutions Group.

In her previous role Franey worked with donors and advisors to establish “major and planned gifts,” BNY Mellon said, and during her time there orchestrated some $45 million in charitable gifts from HNW individuals.

Prior to that, she managed the national planned giving program for the American Heart Association, where she grew annual revenue to more than $100 million.

Wealth managers are devoting increasing resources to their philanthropy capabilities, as these are acknowledged as an important way of developing relationships with family members, and also as wealthy individuals have shown demand for philanthropic giving that has withstood, or even been heightened by, the tough economic times.

BNY Mellon’s Charitable Solutions Group focuses on the relationship between charitable organizations and their benefactors, offering clients advice on tax, legal and investment issues pertaining to philanthropic endeavours.