Individual Giving Officer

Organization Profile

As the largest Latine and Hispanic cultural organization in the U.S. and designated an American Cultural Treasure by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico (BH) is a celebrated American dance institution delivering bold, inclusive, and authentic art experiences to tens of thousands in New York City, across the country, and around the world every year.

Led by Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico’s three main programs—the performing Company, the School, and Community Arts Partnerships— elevate the art of dance, challenge conventions, and bring communities together to celebrate the multifaceted Latine diasporas. BH's New York City headquarters houses the School, administrative offices, and several studios, providing the nation’s physical home and cultural heart for Latine dance.

BH has a current annual operating budget of approximately $9.5M. Sources include performance income, tuition, studio rental income, and charitable support from the government, foundations, corporations, board members, and individual donors. As it looks to the future, Ballet Hispánico is committed to continue nurturing artists, teachers, students, arts leaders, families, and communities through artistic excellence and the power of dance.

The Position

Ballet Hispánico is searching for a revenue-focused, donor-centric Individual Giving Officer (IGO) to join our Development department. A key member of the frontline fundraising team, the IGO identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors to support the mission and programs of Ballet Hispánico. The IGO’s focus is growing and managing our Members and Patrons program of donors giving three- to five-figure gifts annually, as well as identifying major gift prospects. The IGO builds and cultivates relationship with Ballet Hispánico donors, ticket buyers, and prospects to deepen engagement and increase philanthropy, and serves as an ambassador for the organization and our programs while interacting with donors and prospects. Reporting to the Director of Development, the position collaborates with Development staff to ensure the overall revenue success of the department and to provide support for the annual gala and organizing in-house cultivation events.

In their first year, the IGO will be expected to significantly improve the processes and data management structures around the Members & Patrons program, including through improved use of Salesforce for moves management and revenue tracking (both expected and received). They will also need to create and execute calendar- and fiscal-year-end appeals, and play a key role in coordinating and managing donor events at BH headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow the Members and Patrons program of individual donors giving three- to five-figure gifts through prospect research and the development and execution of a systematic annual cadence of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans, including monthly renewals
• Make well-timed asks to donors and prospects to renew and increase giving, including through creation and oversight of calendar- and fiscal-year-end campaigns, and direct solicitations
• Identify, cultivate, and manage prospects for higher level giving, and coordinate face-to-face meetings for senior team members with these prospects; develop portfolios of individual donors and prospects
• Serve as key member of team planning and executing the annual Gala, which includes fundraising tracking and solicitations
• Attend, support, and help manage all Development team special events related to Ballet Hispánico performances and events; attendance at Ballet Hispánico events and performances is mandatory
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of Ballet Hispánico’s programming and funding priorities
• Work closely with the Director of Development and Associate Director of Individual Giving to align individual giving strategies with overall fundraising goals
• Provide regular updates and reports on activities and progress
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of donor interactions and contributions in Salesforce (CRM)
• Stay informed regarding trends and best practices in individual giving fundraising

Qualifications

• Several years of experience in individual fundraising, preferably with a performing arts organization, including managing membership renewals and generating new business.
• Strong understanding of the moves management process and strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward members and patrons, effectively moving supporters up the “ladder” of engagement.
• Exceptional interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage donors and to tailor engagement strategies effectively.
• Outstanding writing and editing skills, with the ability to draft compelling annual appeals, renewal solicitations, and donor communications quickly and accurately.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and maintain excellent attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain a creative, solution-oriented mindset with a willingness to ask questions.
• High proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Salesforce (or comparable CRM).
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for donor events as needed.
• Enthusiasm for the performing arts, with a deep appreciation for Ballet Hispánico’s mission. Experience in the visual or performing arts preferred.

Work Environment

This position is based at BH’s historic headquarters on the Upper West Side of New York which houses the school, 10 studios, and administrative offices. This position requires on-site work Monday-Thursday, and the possibility to work from home on Fridays. Some on- and off-site events will require evening or weekend hours.

Compensation

This is a full-time position for immediate hire. Salary and benefits are competitive with nonprofit organizations of comparable scope and scale. The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $90,000. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 403(b) retirement savings plan, and flexible paid time off.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to resume@ballethispanico.org. Thank you for your interest!