Manager, Major Gifts

New Jersey Performing Arts Center • Newark, NJ

77d

About The Position

The position involves managing a personal portfolio of individual donors contributing between $750.00 and $4,999, as well as a select few donors giving between $5,000 and $10,000, for NJPAC programs and operations. The role supports a best-in-class engagement and stewardship program aimed at building and deepening premium relationships, retaining and upgrading philanthropic support, and creating a seamless donor experience that highlights NJPAC's artistic excellence and institutional narrative focused on impact, outcomes, and access. The position reports to the Director of Major Gifts.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Interest in the arts.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees