Senior Manager of Individual Giving

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Art Students League of New York is seeking a Senior Manager of Individual Giving to serve as a frontline fundraiser and lead steward for the League's mid-level individual donor portfolio. This is a genuine relationship fundraising role with a closing expectation: the right candidate will cultivate, steward, and solicit a portfolio of 150+ Friends of the League (FOL) donors and prospects at the $250–$9,999 level, with particular focus on upgrading donors into the $5K–$10K range.

The Senior Manager of Individual Giving works in close partnership with the Director of Development, who manages major gifts ($10K+), Executive Council relationships, and capital campaign solicitations. The Senior Manager is responsible for building a healthy mid-level pipeline that feeds the DoD's major gifts and campaign portfolio, with clearly defined escalation triggers.

Central to this role is management of the Friends of the League (FOL) patron group program. The Senior Manager partners with the Director of Development to plan and execute FOL cultivation and donor events, produces a quarterly newsletter highlighting key initiatives, events, and the impact of donor support, and manages annual FOL solicitation campaigns. The Senior Manager also maintains the donor pipeline, supports moves management strategies for cultivation and solicitation, and conducts prospect research to prepare briefing materials and donor profiles.

This position also serves as the secondary lead for the League's annual Gala (held each November), supporting all development-related logistics in collaboration with the Director of Development, and coordinates other donor cultivation events as necessary throughout the year.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Friends of the League (FOL) Portfolio Management

• Independently manage the Friends of the League program: a dues-paying mid-level donor group with an annual revenue goal in the six figures.
• Maintain an active portfolio of 150+ FOL members and prospects, developing individualized cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Drive FOL membership growth through proactive recruitment, renewal, and upgrade strategies.
• Manage annual FOL solicitation campaigns, including renewal appeals, upgrade asks, and special project solicitations.
• Conceptualize, plan, and execute an annual calendar of 10+ FOL cultivation events within and outside the League.
• Produce and distribute quarterly FOL newsletters and other membership communications.
• Track and manage the annual FOL expense budget; process invoices in a timely manner.

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Donor Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship

• Cultivate and steward a pipeline of mid-level donors ($5K–$10K), with an explicit expectation to close gifts at this level independently.
• Escalate donors to the Director of Development when: a gift reaches $10K+; a FOL member has given at $5K+ for two consecutive years; or a prospect has completed three or more cultivation touchpoints and is identified as capital campaign-ready.
• Conduct prospect research and prepare donor briefing materials, profiles, and call reports.
• Document all donor interactions, correspondence, and cultivation notes in Blackbaud NXT with accuracy and timeliness.
• Represent the League at cultivation events, art world gatherings, and donor-facing occasions as appropriate.

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Gala and Event Support

• Collaborate with the Director of Development on all development-related aspects of the League's annual Gala (held each November), including donor outreach, table sales, and event logistics.
• Coordinate and support other fundraising and cultivation events throughout the year, including FOL gatherings and Capital Campaign cultivation events.
• Partner with the Manager of Annual Fund & Development Operations on event follow-up and new donor onboarding.

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Portfolio and Data Management

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records for the individual giving portfolio in Blackbaud NXT.
• Support moves management strategies across the individual giving pipeline.
• Participate in regular portfolio review meetings with the Director of Development.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Annual Fund & Development Operations on donor research, acknowledgment processes, and data accuracy.
• Attend all Development department meetings and other internal staff meetings as needed.

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QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in development, fundraising, or a related field.
• Demonstrated frontline fundraising experience with a track record of independently cultivating and closing gifts at the $5K–$10K level or above.
• Experience managing a membership or donor giving program preferred.
• Familiarity with the New York City philanthropic and cultural sector strongly preferred.
• Prior experience with capital campaign fundraising a plus.

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Skills and Competencies

• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills; ability to engage donors, board members, artists, and community leaders with warmth and confidence.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling donor correspondence and solicitation materials.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Blackbaud NXT or a comparable CRM; comfort with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, AI tools for donor research and personalized communications.
• Comfort working with budgets, financial data, and fundraising metrics.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to tactfully and diplomatically handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the arts and a commitment to the mission of the Art Students League of New York.
• Availability to work evenings and occasional weekends for events as required.

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Education

• B.A. required; a degree in arts administration, communications, or a related field is a plus.

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ABOUT THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE

The Art Students League of New York was founded in 1875 and remains an institution run by artists in support of artists. The League fulfills its mission by offering accessible, affordable, high-quality education and instruction in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, metal work and mixed media in the context of an Atelier system. There are no entrance requirements, degrees or set curriculum. Students come for a hands-on studio education accessible to anyone who truly aspires to develop as an artist, whether they seek to pursue a profession in the fine arts or are just beginning their artistic journey. Each month, students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels study on-site at the League or through the League’s online class program. Many famous artists who have shaped the vocabulary of art worldwide have been instructors, lecturers, and students at the League. They include Georgia O'Keeffe, Romare Bearden, Jackson Pollock, Carmen Herrera, Robert Rauschenberg, Adrian Piper, Louise Bourgeois, AlexanderCalder, James Rosenquist, and Ai-Weiwei, among many others.

Website: artstudentsleague.org

Facebook: facebook.com/aslnyc/

Instagram: instagram.com/aslnyc/

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The salary for this position is $71,000 - $76,000. In addition, this position is eligible for the League's full range of benefits, including health insurance and 401(k) plans, as well as other fringe benefits offered through the Art Students League of New York.

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