Manager of Leadership Giving

Kansas City Symphony•Kansas City, MO

16h•Onsite

About The Position

The Kansas City Symphony (KCS) is a highly recognized and dynamic major orchestra, now in its 42nd season. Under the leadership of Music Director Matthias Pintscher, the Symphony performs in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, serving over 2.2 million people and attracting tens of thousands of visitors. The orchestra comprises 80 full-time musicians and engages in diverse performances, also serving as the orchestra for the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. With a lean staff of over 30 full-time employees and an annual operating budget of $25M, KCS is known for its agility, strong ticket sales, healthy contributions, and a $135M endowment. The programming spans various genres, from classical to contemporary artists, rock, and film with live orchestra. The Symphony is set to make its European debut in 2024, performing in prestigious venues like Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, the Berlin Philharmoine, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, with plans for a return in 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Minimum three years’ experience
Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office
Knowledge of fundraising/CRM software (Tessitura preferred)
Strong written and oral communication skills essential
Keen attention to detail
Strong organizational skills
Ability to be self-reliant and composed in an environment with multiple tasks and deadlines
Ability to take initiative when needed
Must be a problem solver
Must be able to exercise independent judgment with matters of substantial importance

Nice To Haves

Kansas City community and performing arts very helpful
Ability to learn new software is useful
Affinity for classical music a plus

Responsibilities

Qualify and maintain a portfolio of 80-100 elevated donors, including qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and documentation of activities in the donor database.
Analyze data and patterns of giving via the CRM to increase efficiency, identifying areas of opportunity or planning needs.
Maintain knowledge of current trends in research and record keeping through dashboards and reports in the donor database.
Assist the Chief Development Officer and Director of Development with the Planned Giving program, including research, donor benefits, donor recognition, cultivation and stewardship.
Assist other members of the Development staff with events and donor engagement.
Attend selected concerts and special events on evenings and weekends for donor cultivation and stewardship, as assigned.
Participate as Suite Lead for the donor hospitality suite at Symphony concerts when scheduled, using sound judgment in managing volunteers, making decisions with Kauffman Center and catering staff, and handling donor needs in real time.
Oversee the development of donor communications, and the subsequent cultivation, stewardship, and tracking of activities for donors.
Assist the Director of Development with the design and implementation of a robust pipeline program, including systems and procedures for prospect identification, research, and donor pipeline analysis and reporting.
Support the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts of the Executive Leadership Team and Board members so that they are properly prepared for each donor interaction, including donor profiles, briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up.
Support the development of existing and new data management practices, including implementation of operating and reporting procedures to streamline fundraising performance.
Provide staff support with expert knowledge and use of CRM to track donors and prospects through the development pipeline.
Assist with implementation of KCS donor/prospect events when appropriate.
Attend development department donor, volunteer events, concerts and other concert activities such as pre- or post-concert receptions and dinners.
Prepare other written communications, such as donor solicitations or philanthropy content as needed.
Assist with copyediting and proofing philanthropy materials, as requested.
Other duties as assigned.