Director of Major Gifts

Symphony Space has arrived at an exciting moment in our 47-year history, and the Director of Major Gifts will play a pivotal role in our next phase of organizational growth. As such, we are seeking an ambitious Director of Major Gifts who will advance our annual fundraising efforts by building a robust major donor program of individuals, foundations, and corporations giving at the $10,000+ level.

Partnership is vital to this position's success. Reporting to the Director of Development and working closely with the Executive Director and the Chief Advancement Officer as part of a talented Development team, the successful candidate will develop a major gifts program with a broad portfolio through thoughtful donor engagement, strategic prospect identification, direct solicitations for annual and multi-year gifts, and a commitment to long-term, sustainable growth.

In addition to our annual Development goals, Symphony Space is launching an ambitious capital campaign led by the Chief Advancement Officer. The Director of Major Gifts will work alongside the Chief Advancement Officer to harness the momentum of the capital campaign to expand ongoing donor engagement, align annual and multi-year giving approaches, and realize the vast fundraising potential that exists.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Director of Major Gifts include, but are not limited to, the following:

Major Gifts

• Crafting strategic annual and multi-year major gift fundraising plans with diverse revenue streams from individuals, foundations, corporations giving $10,000+.
• Ensuring consistent cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
• Lead and execute multi-channel outreach, donor segmentation, moves management, and year-over-year growth strategies.
• Develop and implement clear, timely, and compelling donor communications, including reports, appeals, updates, and acknowledgments.
• Proactively identify and cultivate new donors and leverage donor research and marketing data to help develop and produce new prospect lists and fundraising strategies.
• Develop clear and compelling funding proposals that make a strong a case for support of Symphony Space's diverse projects and programs, and develop and adapt narrative copy, program budgets, and other assets to articulate a personalized and persuasive case for support.
• Craft a robust donor stewardship program that encourages retention and increased giving, utilizing personalized touchpoints such as handwritten notes, exclusive event invitations, and impact updates.
• Collaborate on the planning and execution of the annual Gala and other major fundraising events, supporting donor participation and maximizing philanthropic outcomes.
• Organize donor visits and cultivation events in coordination with cross-departmental staff to deepen donor engagement, and attend key membership, public, and special events to actively build relationships with current and prospective donors.
• Stay informed on best practices and emerging trends in fundraising, donor relations, and nonprofit development strategy.
• Maintain current and accurate records in database, tracking documents, and files.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

A successful Director of Major Gifts will have:

• A minimum of five years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with demonstrated job advancement and experience managing team members
• A deep understanding of and connections to the arts and culture philanthropic community in New York City and nationally
• A proven track record of setting, achieving, and exceeding fundraising goals
• A strong background in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual, corporate, and foundation donors
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to relate to Board members, patrons, artists, and fellow Symphony Space staff members
• An ability to represent Symphony Space positively to patrons, external stakeholders, and the public at large
• An ability to think strategically, work collaboratively, and communicate plans and ideas clearly and effectively
• Deep knowledge of fundraising tools, including CRM, email marketing platforms, and mailing strategies
• A commitment to and passion for the arts and for fundraising