Philanthropy Officer

SUMMARY

As a Philanthropy Officer at Opera Philadelphia (OP), you will join an energetic Philanthropy team passionate about securing opera’s future through our donors’ generosity.  This position will be specifically focused identifying new likely donors, in-person qualifying their likelihood and ability to contribute, building relationships with them, and soliciting their support.  

A focused effort will concentrate on prospects who have attended OP performances as a part of the enormously successful Pick Your Price, groundbreaking initiative that gives new audiences an on-ramp to opera and reaffirming Opera Philadelphia's commitment to making art a civic right. Our team strongly emphasizes increasing the number of donors who will contribute $1,000 - $5,000 or more annually.

Additionally, the Philanthropy Officer manages all team prospect identification efforts, including oversight of a prospect screening process, delegating thank you calls, evaluating donor database prospect portfolios, and managing prospects identified by the philanthropy team, current donors, and other Opera Philadelphia departments.  The Philanthropy Officer will support OP’s 5-year Opera, But Different campaign.

Candidates must be comfortable soliciting gifts, skilled in building personal relationships, and highly engaged.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Obtain face-to-face visits with OP subscribers and ticket purchasers to document their relationship with the company along with other biographical details in the hopes of identifying those with greater interest and capacity for deeper involvement, building and executing a cultivation plan, and soliciting their financial support.

Manage a portfolio of 150-200 prospects toward Patron level giving to OP. Fully qualify, cultivate, and solicit these households to bring them into the OP donor family.

Work with current OP donors to identify and leverage their relationships in the identification of new potential donors to OP.

Serve as the staff liaison to Vivace, OP’s Community for Young Friends ages 21-45.

Assign and make daily thank-you calls to new-to-file donors to determine their impetus for giving and to screen their potential for greater levels of support.

Provide oversight of OP’s weekly prospect screening process to identify new donor.

Maintain detailed and up-to-date records of all donor activity in Tessitura, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), using Plans and Donor Information Reports.

Evaluate all prospects and renewal portfolios in Tessitura annually to acquire new Donor prospects.

Staff special events, performances, and committee meetings as required.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage the annual fund program for all donors up to $2,500, including monthly renewal process, direct mail, list development, segmentation, messaging, and analysis

Maintain a portfolio of mid-level donors

Participate and drive stewardship initiatives including phone calls, letters, post cards, newsletters, and more

Oversee direct mail initiatives

Donor benefit fulfillment

Donor research and prospecting

PREFERRED EXPEREINCE

3+ years working on a nonprofit fundraising team (performing arts preferred) project management capability

Excellent Project Management skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Experience with Tessitura and Wordfly a plus

Strong interpersonal skills including active listening and an empathic approach to the specific interests of varied audiences

Knowledge of fundraising techniques, strategies, research, stewardship, and related best practices

Ability to work evening and weekend hours