SENIOR DONOR ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Position Description Reporting to the Director of Development and a key member of the Development Department, the Senior Donor Engagement Officer is an enthusiastic relationship builder dedicated to securing major gifts from individuals and families to support and advance The Dallas Opera’s wide array of programmatic, educational, and strategic initiatives. The Senior Donor Engagement Officer is responsible for managing a portfolio of qualified prospective and current donors with a strategic focus on both retention and securing new and increased support for established programs, as well as TDO’s newest initiatives such as thedallasopera.TV and other digital offerings.

Responsibilities • Develop major gift fundraising strategies in partnership with the Director of Development, Campaign Director, and other Development and TDO staff. • Manage relationships with approximately 50 current and prospective donors. Maintain an active schedule of personal visits to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward these important donors. • Retain and upgrade current donors. Increase the number of donors giving $15,000 and above. Seek to diversify TDO’s donor base. • Create an overall plan to grow TDO’s major gifts program. Establish a strategy for each donor/prospect that will serve as a foundational communication and marketing plan for each person in the portfolio. Faithfully and on a timely basis execute the plan so that new individuals or families join the TDO donor family, and current donors continue and grow their philanthropic investment. • Work collaboratively with key TDO staff (artistic, education, finance, marketing, and others as needed) to secure appropriate project information, including budgets, and create proposals and asks for portfolio prospects to secure gifts. • Create monthly reports that accurately reflect portfolio activity and performance. • Collaborate with other giving officers to establish and maintain a robust major donor stewardship program. • Maintain up to date and accurate solicitation records, research documents, and notes in appropriate Tessitura accounts.

• Collaborate with the Director of Development to set annual, quarterly, and monthly performance goals. • Attend TDO performances and work development events to cultivate prospects and steward donor relationships as needed. • Attend and actively participate in all team meetings and meetings with direct supervisor as required. • Other duties as requested

Candidate Qualities Traits and Characteristics • Leadership, strategic focus, creativity, and accountability • Aptitude for multitasking, prioritizing, attention to detail, and managing time in a fast-paced environment which often presents competing priorities • Ability to power through challenges • Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to work with donors, staff, board, and volunteers • Must be able to handle sensitive, confidential information with discretion and professionalism • A self-starter, goal driven to initiate donor visits and fundraising calls • Strong project management and organizational skills; accepts responsibility for quality, accuracy, and timeliness of assignments • Creative team player with customer service mindset, collaborative spirit, and proven ability to build productive working relationships internally and externally

Skills and Knowledge • Five to seven years of fundraising experience with demonstrated success in meeting fundraising goals by securing major gifts from individual donors and families. • Proven track record of matching the interests of donors with the needs of the organization while building trusting relationships that result in 5-6 figure gifts. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire through the written word. • Working knowledge of donor research resources. • Ability to exercise exceptional judgment when working with high-level donors, board members, and artists. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and collaborating in a Microsoft 365 environment. Experience with donor databases, particularly Tessitura, is a plus. • Knowledge of opera, music, and/or performing arts preferred.

Other Considerations Compensation Competitive salary Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance, vacation time, no- cost parking, 403(b) with employer match, and professional development opportunities to increase knowledge-base and employee retention Education Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree and/or certifications preferred Location Dallas, Texas Website dallasopera.org Travel Occasional

The Dallas Opera values diversity in the workplace and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive work environment where employees are treated with dignity and respect. The Dallas Opera is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. This position will remain open until a diverse and qualified pool of candidates has been identified. Applications from populations underrepresented in the arts are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply, please send a cover letter no longer than two pages and resume to [email protected], using the subject line “Senior Donor Engagement Officer.” Please send Word or PDF file only. No phone calls please.

About The Dallas Opera One of the leading opera companies in the country, The Dallas Opera has an extraordinary legacy of world-class productions and thrilling premieres featuring the greatest operatic artists of our time. Inaugurated in 1957 with a concert featuring the incomparable Maria Callas, The Dallas Opera is known for the notable U.S. debuts of a host of legendary artists including Dame Joan Sutherland, Plácido Domingo, Jon Vickers, Franco Zeffirelli, and Sir David McVicar. The company has long been an industry leader and innovator through groundbreaking initiatives including the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, TDO Network, free public simulcasts, acclaimed art song recitals, the national vocal competition, special concerts, and outstanding family and award-winning education programs. The Dallas Opera’s home is the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a jewel in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the largest performing arts employers in North Texas, The Dallas Opera is proudly committed to diversity, both onstage and off, and is a major contributor to the economic vitality and international cultural reputation of this region.