Annual Gifts Officer

Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall•Hartford, CT

3d•$105,000 - $112,000

About The Position

The Bushnell seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven fundraising professional who is passionate about the performing arts and committed to building meaningful philanthropic partnerships. The Annual Gifts Officer identifies, researches, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individual donors and prospects in support of The Bushnell Annual Fund. The position contributes to annual fundraising growth by increasing donor participation, strengthening retention, upgrading giving levels, and building a pipeline of future major gift donors. The officer manages a portfolio of approximately 120 households, conducts prospect research, and engages donors through personalized cultivation and face-to-face solicitation. The role works with Development colleagues and senior staff and reports to the Major Gifts Officer. The position is salaried exempt and scheduled for 37.5 hours per week, including some evening and weekend hours. The Bushnell is a not-for-profit arts organization serving Connecticut. Its work includes performances, programming, education, and community engagement.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to personally solicit gifts of $2,500 and above.
Passion for and understanding of the performing arts and its impact on the community.
Excellent interpersonal skills for working with diverse donors, prospects, and volunteers, including tact, diplomacy, discretion, and confidentiality.
High motivation and confidence, with the ability to exercise independent judgment.
Initiative and self-starting qualities.
Ability to understand and communicate the objectives of annual giving and overall fundraising priorities.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Negotiating, organizational, analytical, and fundraising skills.
Ability to work effectively as a team member, handle multiple tasks, assess and order priorities, and track details in a fast-paced environment.
Computer proficiency.

Nice To Haves

College degree preferred.
Three to five years of experience in the fundraising field.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Development colleagues and senior staff to reach annual fundraising goals.
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects capable of making leadership annual gifts in the $1,500–$5,000+ range.
Manage an active portfolio of approximately 120 households.
Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to increase gift size, donor retention, gift amounts, and long-term engagement.
Conduct a minimum of 10–15 meaningful donor and prospect contacts per month, including in-person visits, virtual meetings, phone calls, and other strategic outreach.
Conduct ongoing prospect research and wealth screening to identify prospects with the capacity and inclination to support The Bushnell.
Conduct additional outreach to donors making first or increased gifts to qualify and cultivate relationships, using data from the Annual Fund team and wealth-screening tools.
Under the direction of the Major Gifts Officer, prepare annual goals, objectives, and strategies to identify donors and prospects.
Work with the Major Gifts Officer and Senior Director of Annual Fund to identify and invite donors and prospects to cultivation and stewardship events.
Prepare prospect profiles, donor briefs, and research materials.
Enter comprehensive contact reports within one week of donor interactions.
Participate in executing events and programs that support development activities, using events and personal interactions to deepen donor engagement and advance solicitations.
Assist with solicitations and donor engagement strategies related to special campaigns.
Perform additional duties as assigned.