Development Manager
DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Development Manager
Reports to: Individual Giving Associate Director/Gift Officer
Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Work Location: Hybrid (three days on-campus with option to work remotely two days)
Salary: $50,000-$60,000 including a generous benefits package: paid vacation, sick days, health, dental, vision, flex spending, life/disability insurance, 403B
ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND: Minnesota Opera advances the art of opera for today and future generations by expanding the circle of musical storytelling. Our vision is to sing every story. We aim to inspire hope, empower all voices, and strengthen bonds between people of all backgrounds and identities. To this end, Minnesota Opera commits itself to working continuously to become an anti-racist and anti-oppressive organization through the following actions: intentionally acknowledging and examining racism, anti-Blackness, and other discriminatory practices; promoting anti-racist and anti-oppressive ideas, values and policies that counter the oppression of any people during the education, production, promotion, and experience of opera; working towards eliminating all forms of oppression; and developing effective tools for social justice.
Summary: The Development Manager plays an important part of the day-to-day operations and success of the fundraising program at MN Opera. In addition to being responsible for managing a lower, mid-level giving portfolio, this position leads all aspects of prospect management, assists with Leadership Annual Giving and serves as project management for the Sing Every Story Campaign. The Manager directly supports the Individual Giving revenue goals through direct asks and strategic support for our current Annual Fundraising goals, Campaign Fundraising goals, and future fundraising needs. The Development Manager works collaboratively to support an anti-racist and anti-oppressive culture of philanthropy at Minnesota Opera.
RESPONSIBILTIES
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
Annual Individual Giving Management (30%):
· Manage a portfolio of lower mid-level donors to increase year-over-year giving and provide a pipeline for Leadership and Campaign prospects
· Engaging Legacy donors annual giving
· In partnership with the Development Director and Associate Individual Giving Director, support gift officers’ annual leadership renewal processes through providing pre-drafted collateral, pre-recommended asks, strategic insights, and recording en-masse communications within the CRM, Tessitura, creating and sending leadership gift pledge reminders and invoices
· Serve as Annual Fund database support for Leadership staff: Track and record portfolio activity and moves management for Vice President of Advancement, President and General Director, and occasionally Development Director and Gift Officers when needed
· Generate event and pre-show seat visit lists for gift officers
· Help manage donors’ ticketing requests as needed
· Support ancillary Annual Fund campaigns in collaboration with Advancement Communications Coordinator and Marketing including Give to the Max Day, Calendar Year End, Subscription Season, Fiscal Year End, Staff Solicitation Asks, etc. as needed
Prospect Program Management (30%):
· Monitor various pipelines and conduct quarterly screening to identify new prospects for Leadership Giving, Campaign and Planned Giving, and Board recruitment
· Research and record pertinent information on donor prospects in Tessitura’s prospect plans, including relevant biographical records, wealth/asset data, interests and philanthropic activities, and any other relevant information
· Manage monthly Prospecting Meetings to:
o assign new viable prospects to appropriate gift officers
o add proactive steps to assigned prospects with complete-by dates
o review previously assigned prospects ensuring that previous proactive steps are being completed in a timely manner
o set strategy meetings for top tier prospects and lead discussion opportunities for cultivating prospects
· Track and ensure that prospects are being actively pursued and that steps are being completed
Campaign Management (30%):
· Support gift officers’ Campaign moves management by providing tactical and strategic assistance and ensuring steps and goals are completed and recorded in a timely manner
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Provide suggestions to gift officers about potential engagement opportunities and collaborate with Stewardship and Engagement Director on cultivation and stewardship opportunities
· Coordinate meeting logistics including making reservations, coordinating tours, and sending any necessary information to donors and solicitors prior to meetings
· Create, customize, and prepare materials for gift officer’s donor meetings
· Track and record Campaign giving activity and moves management for Vice President, Advancement, Strategic Growth Officer, and the President and General Director
· Prepare materials, and keep minutes for all Campaign Committee Meetings
· Work with Development Associate to track all campaign gift correspondence, including but not limited to acknowledgments, pledge reminders, planned giving documentation, and ancillary reporting documents
· Provide updates and maintenance to Campaign Plans and Dashboards in Tessitura to track revenue, project forecasting, and track gift officers’ completion and tracking of actionable steps
Team Support (10%)
· Able to work some evening/weekend events as needed (donor dinners, opening night performances, etc.)
· Help ensure accuracy via review of acknowledgement letters and pledge reminders
· Manage time effectively by completing work within scheduled time and assisting others as available
· Serve as gift entry, list pulling, acknowledgement letter backup, and other support as needed
This position is a good fit for someone who has:
· A Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or equivalent experience (required).
· Three more years working in Development (preferred).
· A natural curiosity, friendly demeanor, positive outlook and flexible mindset.
· Familiarity with donor management systems/relational databases, understanding of information management and ability to store, manipulate, and retrieve data. Prior research and Tessitura knowledge a plus.
· Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office software (project management software skills a plus).
· Proven ability to manage several different projects simultaneously and with grace under pressure.
· Track record of attentiveness to detail, deadlines, documentation, and timeliness.
· Work independently and very proactively with minimal direction/supervision.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills that allow successful interaction with all areas of the organization and with external clients.
· Solid interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive relationships at all levels of the organization.
· Ability to be proactive and communicate effectively with a variety of staff, volunteers, board members, donors and donor prospects.
· High degree of integrity, ethical decision making and sound business judgment; able to honor a high degree of confidentiality.
· Passion for Opera and/or classical music/arts preferred.
· Must have valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation for out-of-office travel, as required by the position.
Minnesota Opera is willing to teach:
· Advanced fundraising skills
· Tessitura procedures
· Field-wide best practices
· Policies and procedures specific to MN Opera
· Opera knowledge
Please Note:
The applicant will be expected to either reside within commuting distance of the Opera Center or be willing to relocate prior to beginning work to participate in a hybrid work environment (three days a week onsite).
Application Deadline:
August 8, 2025
SALARY RANGE: 50000 - 60000
SALARY RANGE: 50000 - 60000
SALARY RANGE: 50000 - 60000
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $50,000 - $60,000 Annual
paid vacation, sick days, health, dental, vision, flex spending, life/disability insurance, 403B
HOW TO APPLY
Please go to https://mnopera.org/about/jobs/ and click the red box labeled "Learn More" under the job summary. From there you will be asked to fill out a confidential Self ID Survey and upload your resume and cover letter. Individual Self ID information will go directly to and be seen only by Jen Thill, HR Director; application materials will be sent to Emily Skoblik-Diallo, Development Director.
Application Deadline: August 28, 2025
Application Email/Link: mnopera.org/about/jobs/