Director of Individual Giving

As an integral part of the musical landscape in the country’s most vibrant cultural corridor, the New Jersey Symphony (“Symphony”) has for over one hundred years continued to enrich lives through a passion for musical excellence and a commitment to New Jersey and its communities.

With an annual operating budget of more than $16 million and a modest endowment, the Symphony currently serves as the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with additional performance series in four other outstanding venues throughout New Jersey.

The Director of Individual Giving oversees the individual giving program and is a pivotal partner to the Vice President for Development. This role is responsible for developing strategies that provide comprehensive and integrated paths for acquiring and upgrading supporters at every gift level. Working closely with the Vice President of Development, the Director oversees creating and executing an operational plan to meet individual giving fundraising goals.

In addition to personally managing a portfolio of approximately 50-75 major and prospective donors, the Director manages, mentors, and helps train the philanthropy officers who work to secure funding for the Symphony’s priorities.

Department:
Development

Status:

Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To:

Vice President of Development

Supervises: 1-2 philanthropy officers

Salary Range: $85,000 - $90,000

• Provide the strategic vision and leadership necessary to build on the strengths of the growing individual giving program to broaden the constituent pool and increase the breadth and scope of support from our current and prospective donors.
• In tandem with the VP of Development, responsible for program management including goal setting, budget oversight, and staffing.
• Direction of robust annual cultivation and steward ships programs that include the creation and implementation of an annual contact and engagement calendar and communication plan.
• Remain current on best practices in individual giving techniques and strategies through independent study, participation in group seminars and workshops, as well as through one-on-one training.

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 50-75 current and prospective donors giving $5,000 and up, with a concentration on building a pipeline of those giving $10,000+.
• Build strong personal relationships with your portfolio of donors through in-person meetings, strategic phone calls, personalized email communications, and attendance at concerts and events to cultivate and steward support.
• Organize and deploy Board-related solicitations with input from senior Development team members.
• Identify donors and prospects for VP of Development and President & CEO to engage via dinner at concerts.

• Oversight of the Symphony’s planned giving recognition program (Laureate Society) and the planned giving campaign.
• Provide primary oversight of estate gifts and work with the Symphony Finance team, Planned Giving Council, and other advisors to ensure gifts are properly documented and received.
• Promote Charitable Gift Annuity, Endowment, Stocks, Bequest, and other legacy-giving strategies by developing and executing strategic and creative planned giving and marketing pieces, including legacy society newsletter articles, advertisements, solicitations, and brochures, in collaboration with marketing staff.
• Research, identify, engage, and solicit donors to secure planned gifts.
• Serve as the staff supervisor of the Planned Giving Council including running Council meetings, setting agendas, finding new members, and managing events with department colleagues.

• Help the Individual Giving team execute a detailed strategy and solicitation timeline for the Amadeus Circle and Symphony Friends programs.
• Conduct annual goal setting and reviews for Individual Giving team members.
• Provide support and structure for the department’s assessment process to ensure ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement of programs and objectives.
• Lead bi-weekly operational Individual Giving team meetings and bi-weekly…