Development Officer

Reports to: Senior Associate Director, Individual Giving

Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Work Location: Hybrid (three days on-campus with option to work remotely two days)

Salary: $55,000-$62,000, including a generous benefits package: paid vacation, sick days, health, dental, vision, flex spending, life/disability insurance, 403B, pet insurance

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND: Minnesota Opera advances the art of opera for today and future generations by expanding the circle of musical storytelling. Our vision is to sing every story. We aim to inspire hope, empower all voices, and strengthen bonds between people of all backgrounds and identities. To this end, Minnesota Opera commits itself to working continuously to become an anti-racist and anti-oppressive organization through the following actions: intentionally acknowledging and examining racism, anti-Blackness, and other discriminatory practices;

promoting anti-racist and anti-oppressive ideas, values and policies that counter the oppression of any people during the education, production, promotion, and experience of opera; working towards eliminating all forms of oppression; and developing effective tools for social justice.

Summary: The Development Officer plays an important part of the day-to-day operations and success of the fundraising program at MN Opera. They are responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of mid-level and emerging major-gift donors while supporting Minnesota Opera's broader Individual Giving and Prospect development efforts. This position builds meaningful donor relationships through prospecting, personalized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement, while maintaining accurate and timely information in Tessitura.

The Development Officer works closely with the Senior Associate Director of Individual Giving and Development Director to identify opportunities for donor retention and growth, research and qualify new prospects, and move donors through the pipeline toward increased Annual, Leadership, Campaign, and Planned Giving support. The Development Officer works collaboratively to support an anti-racist and anti-oppressive culture of philanthropy at Minnesota Opera.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Manage an assigned portfolio of mid-level and emerging major gift donors with a responsibility to increase donor retention, year-over-year giving, and provide a pipeline for Leadership, Campaign, and Planned Giving prospects
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies based on donor interest, giving history, capacity, and relationship with MN Opera, and create and customize materials for donor meetings
• Track moves management of donor cycle with extreme accuracy and record activity in a timely manner through proper maintenance of Plans in Tessitura and distribution of Call Reports
• Communicate directly with donors regarding gift clarification, pledge timing, designation, payment and other gift-related questions, and assist with ticketing requests and other services as needed
• Maintain regular communication with assigned donors through meetings, phone calls, emails, mailings, and develop relationships through interaction at fundraising and other Opera events
• Meet goals for revenue, meetings, discovery visits, contacts, solicitations, retention, and portfolio growth
• In partnership with the Development Director and Senior Associate Director of Individual Giving, support annual leadership and board renewal processes through providing pre-drafted collateral, recommended asks, strategic insights, CRM documentation, pledge reminders, and invoices
• Work with CRM Specialist and Advancement Operations Manager to ensure accuracy in tracking all gift correspondence and solicitation records, including but not limited to acknowledgments, annual tax statements, pledge reminders, Planned Giving documentation, and ancillary reporting documents
• Generate event and pre-show seat visit lists and provide back up for list requests

• Monitor various pipelines and conduct quarterly screening to identify new prospects for Leadership, Campaign, and Planned Giving, and Board recruitment prospects
• Research and record pertinent information on donor prospects in Tessitura, including relevant biographical records, wealth/asset data, interests and philanthropic activities, and any other relevant information
• Provide suggestions about…