Individual Giving Manager
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
Type: Full-time (40 hours); permanent
Reports to: Producing Executive Director; Director of Operations and Finance
Work Location: Downtown Baltimore; up to two days/week of remote work
Schedule: Business hours, with occasional evenings and weekends
Start Date: Immediate
Job Description
The Individual Giving Manager originates, plans, and manages all development activity directed at individual donors. Donor outreach and solicitation includes seasonal and program-oriented fundraising campaigns, special events, general donor communication, relationship management, and a large-scale annual donor appeal. Identifying, targeting, and cultivating new major donors while stewarding established ones through active networking and the building of personal relationships is particularly important. The Individual Giving Manager reports to the Producing Executive Director and the Director of Operations and Finance and is a key member of the development team.
About Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
The leading classical theatre company in Maryland, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company has now entered our third decade of artistic production as well as our tenth year in our historic, award-winning theatre in Downtown Baltimore. With an operating budget of $2.7 million, CSC serves over 33,000 patrons and students annually through indoor and outdoor mainstage performances, an extensive education program, mobile performances and residencies at outdoor sites across the region, and other community outreach.
Primary Responsibilities
• Develop annual and long-term individual fundraising goals, including revenue projections, with a focus on expanding the pool of major donors
• Identify and research prospective new major donors; create and execute personalized strategies and timelines for new donor cultivation
• Manage a portfolio of established donors, creating and executing active stewardship plans
• Analyze, improve, oversee and substantially expand Friends (major donor) program, including invitations to special events, token thank-you gifts, and other benefits
• Arrange individual and group meetings for the Producing Executive Director to cultivate and steward relationships with major donors
• Plan and execute individual fundraising appeals: create overarching themes and stories; write compelling content; supervise design and production of graphic content and physical mailing materials; organize in-house assembly and mailing of appeal packets as needed
• Plan and organize fundraising events (approximately quarterly); support public opening night events (about five per year); co-lead planning and organization of (non-annual) fundraising galas
• In collaboration with Development staff, implement/improve processes for tracking interactions with donors using existing systems (PatronManager/Salesforce, Microsoft 365)
• Analyze contributed income from individual giving and report on trends, tracking and evaluating progress towards annual goals on a continuing basis
• In collaboration with Development staff, create a quarterly e-newsletter for donors
• Occasionally review and provide feedback for grant application materials prepared by the Institutional Giving Manager
• Report quarterly to and support the Board of Trustees with fundraising activities (especially major donor cultivation); track and follow up on pledged annual contributions from trustees
• Collaborate with fundraising consultants when engaged
• Supervise duties performed by half-time Development Associate, including routine tracking and processing of gifts, issuing of acknowledgment/thank-you letters, and other tasks
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• At least three years of development or related non-profit experience
• Proven track record of fundraising success; experience increasing individual giving preferred
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with diplomatic demeanor; ability to serve as an organizational ambassador. Polished, polite, friendly manner. Must enjoy interacting with the public
• Strategic thinker with strong leadership and supervisory skills
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills; superb attention to detail
• Self-starter: able to work independently to originate high-quality work, troubleshoot problems, and devise creative solutions with limited direction
• Ability to work well in a collaborative team environment; sense of humor
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office business applications; experience with cloud-based software platforms and/or donor management systems a plus (particularly PatronManager/Salesforce)
Where qualifications are described in terms of formal education or training, prior experience in a related field, as determined by CSC, may alternatively be considered. Will consider talented applicants who are interested in changing fields to fundraising.
Compensation and Benefits
• Annual salary $45,000 or higher, depending on experience
• Employer-paid parking convenient to CSC in Downtown Baltimore
• Employer-paid individual health insurance for employee
• Optional dental insurance and family health coverage available at employee’s expense
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Optional retirement plan with employer match up to 3% of salary
• Generous paid time off, including paid holidays, two weeks of flexible paid leave, and paid leave Christmas through New Year’s Day
• Employer-paid professional development opportunities and complimentary theatre tickets
• The opportunity to work in a lively, laid-back environment with passionate and friendly colleagues who are committed to making Shakespeare fun and Baltimore better
Application Instructions
Submit a resume and cover letter discussing background, qualifications, and interest in the position to [email protected]. Applications not submitted by direct email will not be considered. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about CSC, please visit our website at https://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com. No phone calls, please.
