Manager, Donor Engagement

Lyric Opera of Chicago•Chicago, IL

5d•$55,000 - $63,000

About The Position

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking, and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, company, and city. The Manager, Donor Engagement plays a critical role in strengthening Lyric’s contributed revenue pipeline by identifying, qualifying, and preparing donors for deeper philanthropic engagement. This position serves as the bridge between data analytics, donor engagement strategy, and frontline fundraising activity. The Manager, Donor Engagement oversees prospect identification and qualification processes, translates predictive modeling results into actionable outreach strategies, and manages the movement of donors into active fundraising portfolios.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Minimum of three (3) years of fundraising, donor relations, or advancement experience.
Demonstrated success building donor relationships and conducting discovery conversations.
Strong analytical and organizational skills.
Experience working with donor CRM systems (Tessitura preferred).
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with prospect research or portfolio management strategy.
Familiarity with predictive analytics tools and wealth screening platforms.
Knowledge of performing arts fundraising or membership-based philanthropy models.

Responsibilities

Partner with Development leadership to translate predictive modeling results into prioritized outreach and engagement lists.
Coordinate prospect identification efforts with Development Operations using wealth screening tools, internal data analysis, and behavioral indicators.
Maintain and manage Lyric’s pool of unassigned prospects, ensuring consistent engagement and movement through the fundraising pipeline.
Conduct discovery and pre-qualification outreach to assess donor capacity, philanthropic interests, and readiness for relationship-based fundraising.
Document prospect motivations, engagement preferences, and philanthropic indicators within Tessitura.
Prepare qualification summaries and transition materials for Philanthropy Officers.
Track and analyze pipeline velocity, conversion rates, and qualification outcomes.
Provide regular reporting to Development leadership regarding prospect movement and portfolio health.
Collaborate with Development Operations to refine predictive modeling applications and prospect tracking tools.
Develop donor and prospect briefings for the General Director and Lyric leadership
Partner with Donor Engagement staff to identify upgrade opportunities within annual and mid-level donor populations.
Collaborate with gift officers to ensure seamless donor handoffs and relationship continuity.
Maintain best practices documentation related to qualification workflows.
Attend and assist with department events and donor experiences. This requires working outside of normal business hours. Advance notice is provided when possible for planning purposes.
As the business evolves, so may this role. These duties may change as Lyric’s leadership identifies the need at any time.