Senior Individual Giving Officer

PURPOSE:   

To develop Individual Giving strategies and provide professional management of individual donors, primarily focusing on patrons who give or have the potential to give between $5,000 and $100,000, focusing on donors giving $15,000 and above.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Manages a portfolio of individual donors giving primarily between $5,000 - $100,000 annually with the purpose of upgrading donors to higher levels, including creating strategies for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of annual and legacy gifts.
• Manages development efforts for special projects and/or other Opra functions, for example but not limited to: Adler Fellowship Program, Diversity, Equity and Community Department, and Orpheus.
• Works with all areas of Development to support a major-gifts campaign, which includes multi-year strategies for annual gifts, signature projects and endowment needs.
• Provides a high level of donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Partners with staff, volunteer leadership and appropriate resources as needed to meet department objectives.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of donor contacts and ongoing communications with current and potential donors.
• Actively participates in the moves management practice.
• Meets ambitious portfolio revenue goals.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Collaborates with research and direct marketing initiatives to identify new prospects for Medallion Society, designated giving and planned giving.
• Provides donor services to patrons, resolving complaints and problems via phone/correspondence.
• Hosts donors at various events and functions.
• Partners with Leadership Giving and Special Events staff to facilitate events and cultivation opportunities.
• Provides stewardship and benefits; ensures donors are recognized and acknowledged properly.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:  

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (preferred) or equivalent work experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum five (5) years experience in nonprofit development, sales or customer service. Two (2) years experience as a Major Gifts Officer preferred.

PREREQUISITE SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of fundraising and ticketing and patron services.
• Knowledge of performing arts and/or the operatic art form.
• Proven success in managing portfolios of 120+ patrons and demonstrated achievement in providing superior service and producing excellent financial results from patrons.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products and database navigation.
• Tessitura revenue management system experience highly preferred.
• Proven track record of identifying, cultivating and soliciting gifts from donors.
• Exemplary diplomacy, problem-solving and teamwork skills.
• Must be able to set priorities; coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, meet firm deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and convey complicated procedures clearly and succinctly.
• Establish working relationships and interact effectively with a wide range of people internally and externally.
• Ability to work effectively with volunteer leadership and senior staff, involving them, as appropriate, in the cultivation and solicitation process for individual donors.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Must maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Capacity to attend evening and weekend Opera events in the Bay area.
• Must perform the functions of the position in a safe manner.