Associate Director, Major Gifts
New York, NY /
Development – Admin /
Full-Time
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is one of the greatest dance companies in the world. Since its founding season in 1940, ABT’s mission has been to create, present, preserve, and extend the incredible repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT’s repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces. In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT was designated “America’s National Ballet Company®.”
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Associate Director, Major Gifts is responsible for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts $10,000 and above. He/She/They will actively work with a defined donor portfolio to create meaningful and strategic interactions including gift solicitation and stewardship. The Associate Director, Major Gifts will also take on additional fundraising-related responsibilities that include managing existing or new fundraising programs and initiatives.
Working within the highly collaborative environment of ABT’s development team, the Associate Director, Major Gifts will play an integral role in achieving annual fundraising objectives. He/She/They will collaborate with ABT colleagues across artistic and administrative departments to understand funding priorities and engage them as needed to build strong donor relationships. This role will engage experienced and creative fundraising professionals with an interest in prospecting and cultivating new funding relationships and encouraging higher levels of commitment from existing contributors.
Specific Responsibilities
- Manage, maintain, grow a portfolio of donor/prospects (currently 125+) through all phases of the giving cycle, from discovery and engagement through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Manage one or more of ABT’s donor giving circles (including Legacy giving). Build relationships with volunteer leadership, strategize and plan giving circle meetings and events.
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit current and prospective donors to ABT’s annual fund, endowment, and other initiatives as part of a comprehensive philanthropic campaign.
- Be responsible for managing communications and follow-up, including maintaining detailed contact reports and phase changes, on all prospect and donor records. Actively track moves and interactions in ABT’s CRM software.
- Along with the other Associate Director, Major Gifts, co-manage the ABT major donor prospecting pipeline and bring expertise to ABT’s prospecting and fundraising strategic plan through research and identification of new prospective donors.
- Prepare written communications, stewardship reports, correspondence, proposals, and presentations for major donors.
- Collaborate with and support ABT’s executive leadership with respect to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts. This work includes authoring donor briefings and correspondence, event scripts, talking points, etc.
- Produce and partner with ABT’s Special Events team to plan events that maximize major donor and prospect cultivation opportunities.
- Plan and attend ABT donor events and other ABT-wide events and programs, attend performances and events, as needed, to offer back-stage tours, pre-performance, and other bespoke donor experiences.
- Perform other Development-related duties and undertake projects as needed.
Essential Skills/Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree preferred, with a minimum of 5 years of front-line fundraising experience.
- Ability to use current desktop office technologies proficiently (Microsoft Office suite, Raiser’s Edge) and to adapt to and use future technologies.
- Demonstrated accomplishments in managing donor portfolios, strategic planning, making solicitations and achieving or exceeding personal and departmental fundraising goals required.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully work independently and with volunteers and other staff as part of a team.
- Ability to work successfully in a complex, fast-paced organization handling multiple tasks while meeting deadlines and serving multiple stakeholders.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well within a team environment.
- Inclination for being highly organized, self-driven and persistent in donor prospecting approach.
- Eager to pursue new potential high net worth supporters with significant capacity.
- Ability to interact with staff, volunteers, donors, and public representing a variety of perspectives, and ability to operate effectively in a large institutional environment.
- Ability to be a persuasive advocate for ABT’s priorities and present information in a clear and compelling manner, both in writing and in person.
- Sound judgment, tactful and ability to handle highly confidential information.
- Strong initiative and attention to detail.
- Enthusiastic, creative, and enterprising, with passion for and interest in ABT’s mission and vision.
American Ballet Theatre is a fully-vaccinated company. The selected applicant should be prepared to show proof of full vaccination and a booster shot at the time of position offered and accepted.
American Ballet Theatre is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status.
