Gift Officer

Position Overview:

The Gift Officer will support the fundraising efforts of the Seattle Symphony Founders Circle and Symphony Club program levels by developing and implementing strategies to solicit current and prospective donors through personal visits, email, direct mail, and telephone contact.

The successful candidate will provide excellent service and a tailored approach for annual individual donors up to the $10,000 level, as well as subscribers and ticket buyers who are identified prospective donors. This position carries a robust portfolio of approximately 70-80 current donors, along duties to actively prospect and research potential donors, manage departmental movement through pipeline processes and procedures, and qualify and manage donors for the best ongoing philanthropic support of the Symphony, moving donors to the major giving team as appropriate. The position requires developing and executing a robust discovery program with processes and procedures, including managing Prospect2 automated campaigns and direct patron outreach. 

The position demands strong organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and a knowledge of best practices for frontline fundraising. The successful candidate will be someone who thrives on challenges, works well under pressure, is a self-motivated team player, and has a great enthusiasm for building relationships that result in philanthropic investment. An interest in classical music is highly desirable.

This position is eligible for a hybrid in-person/remote work arrangement. Regular team meetings require in-office work at least 3 days per week in addition to attending in-person evening and weekend concerts and/or events. Each employee will establish any schedule for remote work in accordance with company policy and supervisor approval. The Seattle Symphony will provide a laptop, but the employee is required to have their own access to a high-speed internet connection for any remote work.

Essential Job Functions:

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 70-80 donors in the Founders Circle giving level ($5,000 - $10,000) to secure annual support and grow pipeline for major gifts.
• Develop and implement strategies to identify and solicit prospective donors, subscribers, and community through personal visits, email, direct mail and telephone contact, including prospect and research of individual donors under the $5,000 level, as well as subscribers and ticket buyers who are not donors
• Develop and execute a robust discovery program with processes and procedures, including management of Prospect2 automated campaigns and associated direct patron outreach.
• Create departmental movement through pipeline processes and procedures. 
• Qualify and manage donors for the best ongoing and increased philanthropic support of the Symphony, moving donors to the major giving team when appropriate
• Ensure donors who have declined face-to-face meetings and/or are not assigned to a major gift officer are included with enhanced solicitations via email or telephone contact
• Work closely with Major Gift Officers and Donor Operations to ensure management of donors who have potential to make major gifts, as well as collaboration around the identification of major gift prospects
• Maintain data integrity, including entering and updating prospect and donor contact reports, plans and proposals in the Tessitura database according to established protocols
• Promptly respond to inquiries and donor communications
• Staff and support development activities at select Seattle Symphony performances and donor events

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a development team of a non-profit organization
• 2 years of experience in direct solicitation of individual donors is preferred 
• Proven ability to develop relationships with individuals that results in philanthropic investment
• Able to creatively manage and execute escalating series of moves to advance donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship 
• Excellent interpersonal skills; comfortable meeting with and calling donors to discuss their giving
• Exemplify ethical standards of professional fundraising
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent listening skills
• Extremely well-organized, detail oriented, and able to meet deadlines
• Knowledge of/enthusiasm to learn about fundraising best practices 
• Ability to be a team player in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Availability for work outside of typical office hours, including regular evenings and weekends
• Experience using Tessitura or other fundraising CRM
• Desirable: knowledge of the Seattle business and social community; an interest in classical music

Benefits

Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (PPO, low deductible)

Employer paid Long-Term Disability, AD&D and Life Insurance

Employer paid ORCA pass for Metro, Sound Transit, the WA State ferries, or other public transport system

403b retirement savings plan with employer matching after 1 year

10 days of vacation time; 10 days of sick time

2 personal days

11 paid holidays per year

Your birthday off!

Employee Assistance Program

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• The functions of this position are performed primarily in an office environment.
• Regular activities include frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and bending.
• This position may require occasional pulling, lifting and climbing stairs.
• Ability to speak, hear and communicate clearly while handling staff inquiries, telephone calls and customer requests.
• Specific vision abilities require close visual acuity for viewing a computer screen and reading, preparing, entering and/or analyzing data.
• This position requires repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers for typing at a standard keyboard and regular pinching, picking up and holding desk tools.
• Must have the ability to lift 30 pounds as needed.

Other Requirements: 

Applicant must submit a Cover Letter to be considered.

The Seattle Symphony values diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Individuals who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives are encouraged to apply. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EOE) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Seattle Symphony will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.