Temporary Senior Philanthropy Officer – Campaign

Senior Philanthropy Officer

The Guthrie Theater seeks an accomplished Senior Philanthropy Officer to provide additional fundraising capacity during the final phase of a successful capital campaign. This is an ideal opportunity for a seasoned fundraising professional who thrives on donor engagement, enjoys closing major gifts, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and can begin producing results with strategic onboarding.

The successful candidate is a confident relationship builder with a proven record of securing five-figure and larger philanthropic investments. They can assess a donor portfolio quickly, identify opportunities, and move prospects toward a gift efficiently and with precision. They are comfortable making a high volume of donor outreach calls, moving prospects through the solicitation process, and meeting face-to-face with donors when needed to close gifts.

This is a hands-on, results-oriented role focused on helping the organization reach its campaign goal and is perfect for someone who enjoys jumping into organizations at critical moments. The ideal candidate is energized by direct donor conversations, disciplined about outreach activity, and motivated by helping an organization cross the finish line of a major campaign.

All employees are expected to center, model and champion the Guthrie's core values of Artistic Excellence;
Community;
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility; and Fiscal Responsibility.

This position is temporary, full-time, exempt, benefits eligible and will be anticipated to work a duration of 12-15 months from the date of hire. The typical schedule for this role will vary based on the dynamic schedule of a theater and will require occasional evening and weekend availability.

The Guthrie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building an equitable environment that finds strength in diversity of identity, experience and perspective. We are dedicated to hiring and developing talented teams that are inclusive and welcoming to individuals with different backgrounds, thoughts, and abilities. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and actively solicit a portfolio of identified major gift prospects.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies that combine qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to move donors toward campaign commitments. Identify donor interests, philanthropic capacity, and readiness while building authentic relationships that lead to campaign investments.
• Conduct a high volume of meaningful donor interactions through in-person visits, virtual meetings, phone calls, and personalized outreach.
• Close a significant number of five-figure campaign gifts, with an emphasis on moving existing prospects to commitment.
• Collaborate with campaign leadership and development staff to prioritize prospects and identify opportunities to accelerate gift closures. Schedule and participate in donor meetings, either independently or alongside senior leadership, to cultivate and solicit gifts.
• Meet ambitious activity and fundraising goals through the close of the campaign. Monitor progress against established performance metrics and adjust strategies to maximize results.
• Represent the organization professionally and passionately while communicating the vision and impact of the capital campaign.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and pipeline activity within Tessitura (CRM).

Requirements

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience. Minimum of 7 years of frontline major gifts fundraising experience, preferably within higher education, arts and culture, healthcare, or other large nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts of $10,000 and above, including closing complex solicitations.
• Experience working on capital campaigns or comprehensive fundraising campaigns strongly preferred.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and confidence conducting a high volume of donor phone outreach.
• Skilled in donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation,…