Development Officer, Individual Giving

The Development Officer for Individual Giving is a full-time employee of the Chamber Music Society reporting to the Director of Development. The position supports the Director of Development and the Executive Director on major gift donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. With principal responsibility for donors giving between $2,500 and $10,000 as well as the Young Patrons, the position also assists in managing the Global Council and the Artistic Directors Circle (special giving circles at higher levels). Gifts from non-Board individuals account for more than one third of all contributed income and are projected to reach $1.8 million in fiscal year 2025.

CMS is now in the second year of a five-year strategic plan that will set priorities for the institution’s growth. This ambitious plan will require significant annual increases in contributed revenue to support new programs and initiatives. This position will play an important role in developing engagement strategies to deepen and expand giving from individual donors.

The position works with the Development and Marketing teams to produce Annual Fund materials, both print and electronic; collaborates with the Special Events Manager on the planning and execution of cultivation events; assists with research as needed; and attends cultivation events. The position attends many of the mainstage concerts during the season, which are the principal touchpoint with a large percentage of the most dedicated supporters of CMS.

Areas of Responsibility

Annual Fund Campaign

• Work with Executive and Development Directors to develop moves management strategies for Patrons and prospects
• Principal responsibility for tracking activities and touchpoints in Tessitura Plans
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Development and other team members to develop a seasonal timeline and strategies for annual fund solicitations to individuals, both current donors and prospects at all levels
• Work with Individual Giving Manager to analyze success of appeals and adjust strategies as needed; prepare regular reports
• Work with Director of Development to draft solicitation, acknowledgement, condolence templates and letters, and other written communications as needed
• Participate in appeal mailings and e-solicitations to donors and prospects at each giving level with the Individual Giving Manager
• Create and track the timely mailing of acknowledgements for Patrons, Global Council, and Artistic Directors Circle members
• Determine donor benefits, refreshing each season, and work with Marketing staff to coordinate design and printing of individual giving brochures
• Track and fulfill promised benefits for Friends and Patrons, with the support of the Individual Giving Manager

Young Patrons Program

• Principal responsibility for recruiting, soliciting, and stewarding the Young Patrons (donors aged 45 and under giving between $600 and $5,000)
• Review the concert tracking reports for CMS 40&Under members, and selectively invite them to intermission receptions as prospects for Young Patron level giving
• Organize at least one event annually solely for Young Patrons, and invite them to other donor events, as appropriate
• Collaborate with Marketing on recruitment strategies and combined events for 40&Under members and Young Patrons
• Working with the Director of Development, staff the Young Patrons Task Force led by a representative of the CMS Board of Directors

Cultivation Events

• Collaborate with the Special Events Manager on the planning and production details for donor cultivation events, including Home Concerts, Patron Dinners, Post-Concert Receptions, and other events as directed, including the coordination of invitation mailings and other event-related materials, event set-up, etc.
• Staff and attend most of the Patron events in coordination with the Development Director and other Development team members
• Manage invitations to intermission and post-concert receptions and staff the events on rotation with the rest of the Development team
• Help to staff special events, including Opening Night, Brandenburg Holiday Celebration, New Season Announcement Dinner, Spring Gala, and other events as directed
• Work with Development Officer, Operations, to set up events in Tessitura and maintain event attendance records (except for the Spring Gala and Opening Night)
• Responsible for tracking donors and prospects in attendance at each concert; running the concert tracking report and reviewing weekly with the Executive and Development Directors, as well as the Associate Director of Development

Departmental Administration

• Work closely with Director of Development to prepare annual Development budget for individual giving programs and support with analysis as needed
• Oversee accuracy of record-keeping for donor data, gift tracking, and event records with the support of the Development Officer, Operations
• Assist the Director of Development with major donor and Planned Giving tasks as needed
• Provide complete and accurate donor lists for website and Playbill listings

Qualifications

• Five to seven years’ experience working in the development office of a similar or larger organization than CMS
• Excellent writing, research, and organizational skills
• Exceptional communication skills
• Strong computer skills; knowledge of Tessitura a strong plus

Compensation & Benefits

• This is a full-time position, with a salary range of $70,000 to $85,000.
• CMS offers competitive compensation that includes an excellent health insurance plan, dental and vision benefits, retirement plan, vacation, paid time off.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume in a single pdf to: jobs@chambermusicsociety.org

NO CALLS PLEASE.

This is an onsite position, with an option for one weekly remote day.

The Chamber Music Society is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce.