Development Coordinator, Individual Giving & Engagement
DESCRIPTION
Department: Development
Classification: Full-time, Non-exempt
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, some evening and weekend hours required
Salary Range: $48,000 – $50,000
Posting ends: 10/31/2025
How to Apply: Qualified applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to employment@detroitopera.org Please include how you learned of this position.
Position Summary:
Detroit Opera seeks a motivated, highly organized, and detail-oriented Development Coordinator to join our team. This hybrid role blends administrative and clerical support with program execution, writing, and cross-departmental coordination. Reporting directly to the Director of Individual Giving & Donor Engagement, the Development Coordinator will serve as the organizational backbone for individual giving initiatives, donor communications, event logistics, and department-wide support.
A strong writer, excellent communicator, and project manager, the ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach who can work independently while thriving in a collaborative environment. This position requires proactive time management, exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to maintain accuracy in a fast-paced setting.
This individual will serve as the Development Departments, lead on donor communication logistics, liaison to Marketing & Communications, and key player in donor engagement events, mailings, and stewardship execution.
Specific Responsibilities:
Maintain and manage the Development Communications Calendar to integrate direct mail, email appeals, stewardship touchpoints, and acknowledgments across the department.
Draft donor-facing communications (letters, emails, proposals, acknowledgments, invitations) on behalf of the Development team. Liaise with contractors including development copywriter.
Serve as key liaison to Marketing & Communications, coordinating assets, timelines, approvals, and copy for fundraising appeals, program ads, donor lists, and seasonal campaigns. Submit on behalf of the Development Department.
Working directly with the Manager of Individual Giving, support execution of direct mail and digital fundraising campaigns, including drafting content, pulling and segmenting lists, coordinating with vendors, and tracking performance metrics.
Oversee and support data entry and records management on behalf of gift officers related to donor interactions, gifts, and events in collaboration with the Data team.
Serve as a central resource for internal Development documentation, including event workflows, stewardship plans, and internal process manuals.
Plan and execute donor events throughout the season, including receptions, special dinners, behind-the-scenes opportunities, and donor cultivation events. Responsibilities include:
Coordinating logistics, invitations, budgets, contracts, staffing, and décor.
Preparing event briefings and communicating clear objectives and assignments to staff.
Schedule staff, confirm technical and hospitality needs, and ensure a high-quality donor experience during every eligible performance.
Assist in developing and executing tailored stewardship plans for donors across recognition levels.
Track and fulfill donor benefits, including premium ticketing, special access, and exclusive donor experiences.
Support internal department projects to improve donor experience and operational efficiency.
Required Qualifications:
2–4 years of professional experience in development, nonprofit communications, fundraising, or project management.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; strong editing and proofreading ability.
Highly organized with excellent time management, multitasking, and follow-through.
Ability to work independently while embracing a collaborative, team-based culture.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Familiarity with fundraising databases, email marketing platforms (e.g., Prospect2 or similar), and standard office software (Microsoft Suite).
Passion for the performing arts and alignment with Detroit Opera’s mission.
Ability to understand diverse perspectives and acknowledge the significance of differences and complexities in backgrounds, cultures, values and viewpoints as the foundation for an inclusive environment.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience managing or supporting events is preferred.
Physical Demands/Work Environment:
May require work during early mornings, nights, and/or weekends.
Physical requirements may vary depending on the day of the week, time of day, staffing levels, work location.
Ability to navigate buildings including stairwells.
Ability to move and/or transport materials that may weigh up to 10 pounds.
Application Deadline:
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
Additional Information:
Detroit Opera is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of the DO mission.
About Detroit Opera:
Detroit Opera, one of the nation's most vibrant nonprofit arts organizations, aspires to influence the future of opera and dance with a goal of invigorating audiences through new and re-imagined productions, relevant to current times. It is creating an ambitious standard for American opera and dance that emphasizes community, accessibility, artistic risk-taking, and collaboration. Founded in 1971 as Michigan Opera Theatre by the late Dr. David DiChiera, Detroit Opera is led by President and CEO Patty Isacson Sabee; Yuval Sharon, Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director; Music Director Roberto Kalb; Artistic Advisor for Dance Jon Teeuwissen; and Board Chairman Ethan Davidson. For more information, visit www.detroitopera.org. Follow the company on Facebook and Instagram (@DetroitOpera) and LinkedIn (Detroit Opera).
Desired Start Date: December 1, 2025
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $48,000 - $50,000 Annual
HOW TO APPLY
How to Apply: Qualified applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to employment@detroitopera.org Please include how you learned of this position.
Application Deadline: October 31, 2025