Manager, Major Gifts

SUMMARY: Entrepreneurial and proactive fundraiser managing personal portfolio of individual donors giving $750.00-$4,999 (as well as a handful of donors giving $5,000 - $10,000) for NJPAC programs and operations.

Support best-in-class engagement and stewardship program that builds and deepens premium relationships, retains and upgrades philanthropic support, creates a seamless and value-driven donor experience that leverages NJPAC’s artistic excellence and advances an institutional narrative focused on impact, outcomes, and access. Position reports to Director, Major Gifts.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee individual giving portfolio valued at approximately $150,000+ (approx. 100 - 150 accounts) including solicitations, renewals, stewardship, upgrades and fulfillment.

• Develop personal relationships with donors that lead to personal solicitation; assign solicitations to CEO, senior management as necessary to close gifts

• Creatively steward and upgrade existing sponsors using personal visits (5-10 personal touches to donors/prospects monthly), organizing meetings with CEO/other stakeholders, using ticketing, invitations to program-related meetings and events, crediting and recognition and benefit fulfillment events

• Project manage Champion-level campaigns, solicitation mailings, and stewardship and cultivation pieces, including working with mail house to ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality collateral is prepared and delivered

• Serve as individual giving “Donor Concierge”: field and then work with Box Office to fulfill ticket requests, reserve parking, take reservations for donor events

• Manage correspondence, acknowledgements and proposals for donors.

• Work with research and membership to identify members with capacity for Vanguard level gifts and design engagement plans designed to steward donors and maximize upgrades and conversion.

• Develop membership benefits, engagement activities and special events tailored to young supporters.

• In collaboration with Major Gifts coordinator, plan and design annual Champions Appreciation Day - including concept, timeline, run of show, invitations, vendor coordination and post-event follow-up

• Work with prospect researcher to parse wealth screening data to isolate, qualify and activate strategies to engage and solicit high wealth individuals within the database

• Update and maintain donor records with contact information, biographical updates and coding

• Manage and/or attend evening and weekend events and perform other duties and assist in special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3-5 years development experience, effectively stewarding and fundraising from individual donors, in progressively more senior positions

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Highly motivated strategic thinker with exceptional written and verbal communication skills across a range of formats - including emails, letters, proposals, and progress reports

• Ability to build relationships and consensus across internal teams.

• Superior organizational and project management skills.

• Strong technology skills, including proficiency in Word and Excel. Experience with customer relation software preferred.

• Superior customer service skills and follow-up skills

• Ability to project manage and prioritize

• Excellent project management with an ability to implement systems and follow-up processes.

• Ability to manage up and down

• Self-starter, independent and proactive

• Interest in the arts a plus

• Analytical and comfort with data and databases

• Experience with Salesforce or other Fundraising and ticketing software preferred.

• Evening/weekend work required.