Gift Officer of Campaign & Legacy Giving

 In collaboration with the Senior Director of Campaign & Legacy Giving, the Gift Officer will help develop

and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve organizational fundraising goals through securing major,

planned, and annual fund gifts. The Gift Officer will steward a portfolio of donors and prospects and

produce internal contact and progress reports. The Gift Officer will work with department colleagues to

identify prospects with the potential to make major, one-time, and planned gifts. Additionally, the Gift

Officer will help administrate the DSO’s Legacy Program.

The Gift Officer will be expected to quickly understand and articulate the mission and values of the Dallas

Symphony and communicate the need for support and funding for specific projects, ongoing operations,

campaigns and contributing to the DSO’s endowment, illustrating comfort in managing gifts of $25,000

plus. The Gift Officer must be able to handle multiple priorities at one time and keep meticulous records

Duties: 

• Further increase contributed support (annual, major, and planned gifts) through outreach and relationship building, including in-person meetings, telephone communication, and written/electronic correspondence, and develop, prepare, and present fundraising proposals – both in written and verbal format – to donors and prospects, assisting with benefit fulfilment and monitoring compliance of any donor restrictions/reporting requirements. 
• In collaboration with colleagues and volunteers, develop and implement fundraising strategies annually that utilize appropriate industry techniques to qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors and prospects, adding prospects to the portfolio on an ongoing basis. Share information from donor visits with colleagues in and out of the department, as appropriate, and document all relevant donor communication and learnings in Tessitura in a timely manner. 
• Help administer the DSO’s Legacy Program, serving as a contact for Hans Kreissig Legacy Society Members and their estates, and assisting with the estate resolution process; interfacing with vendors and internal colleagues involved in carrying out program initiatives 
• Regularly attend special events and concerts, to be well-informed about the artistic product; actively pursuing the donor cultivation objectives of each event. Assist with general office functions including attending/staffing events, helping with mailings and other duties as assigned. 

• Bachelors degree required
• Minimum 3 experience in non-profit development and fundraising
• Proven track record of working effectively with donor prospects from research/qualification stage to closing gifts.
•  Donor-focused approach externally, collaborative and team-oriented internally 
• Knowledge of current issues and best practices in development. 
• High degree of organization and attention to detail. 
• Ability to listen carefully, as well as to speak articulately and with enthusiasm. 
• Ability to work with confidential information. 
• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and development software (Tessitura) preferred. 
• Demonstrated interest in the art form and willingness to learn. 
• Previous experience in a nonprofit organization is preferred. 
• Willingness to travel locally, nationally, and internationally for donor cultivation purposes when appropriate.