Employment
Director of Development & Donor Relations
JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING STRUCTURE
The Director of Development & Donor Relations reports to the Executive Director and serves as a key leadership team member and an active participant in making strategic development decisions affecting the KWS. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all of the KWS’s fundraising and development activities, including the major gifts program, annual fund, planned giving, special events and endowment campaigns.
KWS has enjoyed deep, major support from long time donors and patrons who are nurtured, stewarded and developed while maximizing giving from all KWS patrons, building a pipeline of new donors. Close liaison with the KWS Audience Engagement Department is thus essential. In addition, the Director of Development & Donor Relations will design and implement a comprehensive plan for developing key external alliances and partnerships by cultivating, soliciting and securing individual, corporate and foundation support.
In addition to the KWS Association’s fundraising, the Director of Development & Donor Relations plays a lead role in supporting the work of the (separately constituted) KWS Foundation and KWS Volunteer Committee.
The KWS is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. Accommodations will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under KWS’s Recruitment Policy. Applicants are asked to make their needs known in advance, at the time of application.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy to include individual support, corporate, foundation, government grants and planned giving.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward all gifts, including initiating and making personal visits, preparing and sending written solicitations, and closing contribution agreements.
- Develop identification and qualification strategies for major gift prospects to grow, retain and acquire major gifts.
- Oversee grant seeking including research, proposal writing, and reporting requirements.
- Build on the planned giving program.
- Meet prospective and current donors and supporters on a continual basis to establish effective communications and relationship building.
- Oversee the use of database management, as it pertains to donors for the purposes of moves management, donations management, donor recognition, and acknowledgement programs.
- Monitor, analyze and report on all fundraising progress to the Board of Directors, relevant Committees, and Senior Leadership team.
- Oversee creation of publications to support fundraising activities.
- Develop and maintain gift recognition and stewardship programs aimed at cultivating deeper ties with donors.
- Manage and mentor the Development team.
- Cultivate and solicit a portfolio of 175+ donor prospects.
- Influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term, sustainable relationships.
- Construct, articulate, and implement an annual strategic development plan.
- Prepare and manage a cost-effective budget and expenses related to the development department.
- Develop and ensure the maintenance of an effective stewardship, recognition and communications program for all supporters.
- Create and oversee the implementation of annual stewardship events.
- Attend performances, donor cultivation events, and related community activities.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Proven leadership skills demonstrated by experience and success leading and motivating a team in a highly competitive fundraising environment.
- Demonstrated success in securing major gifts of $25,000+ from individuals, corporations, government, and foundations.
- Exceptional communication skills (written and oral), presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated experience building effective relationships.
- Strong organizational, analytical and creative problem solving skills.
- Ability to strategically manage multiple projects and competing deadlines in a results-oriented environment.
- Experience with donor databases is an asset; particularly advantageous would be with Tessitura.
- Self-motivated, detailed oriented, and a strategic thinker.
- Strong consultative and analytical capabilities, be a data driven decision maker.
- Enthusiasm for the performing arts, especially classical music, would be an asset.
- Ability to work evening and occasional weekends, as per the KWS’s concert and activity schedule.
- CFRE qualification would be an asset.