Principal Gift Officer

Company: Boston Lyric Opera

Company Location: Boston, MA

Job Location: Hybrid/Other

Job Type: Full Time

Date Posted: November 13, 2025

Network(s): Development

DESCRIPTION

The Philanthropy team, led by Chief Philanthropy Advisor Ishan Johnson, works with Stanford Calderwood General Director & Chief Executive Officer Bradley Vernatter to secure major, planned, and principal gifts, partnering closely with the board and BLO’s artistic leaders. The PGO will use creative and sophisticated identification, cultivation, and solicitation methods to deepen relationships with high-net-worth donors and their networks, with a focus on closing gifts of $1 million and above. Along with the Director of Campaign and Philanthropy Operations, the PGO will serve as co-liaison to the Campaign Committee, leading strategy and training support for prospect identification and peer solicitation activities. The PGO will be knowledgeable about the nuances of fundraising for the arts and the budget model for performing arts nonprofits.

Candidates should have at least seven years of directly applicable fundraising experience, proficiency in a resource-lean organization, and the ability to craft creative cultivation plans. Leading candidates will have broad experience in principal and planned gifts from which to draw when guiding complex gift conversations and strategies—ideally in a campaign setting. Attuned to delivering an exceptional donor giving journey, PLO candidates will exhibit strength in building nurturing, productive, collaborative relationships with leaders and staff across an organization and a coordinated and thoughtful approach to all activities meant to engage prospects and donors—from identification and solicitation to gift closure and stewardship.

The ideal candidate will be a self-assured, results-oriented individual who leads by example with a collegial and accessible style. 

Job Description

The Principal Gifts Officer is a frontline fundraiser and is responsible for the successful development and execution of the Company’s program for all philanthropic gifts of $1 million or more from individuals, including family foundations and estates, planned gifts, and commitments to the organization for both general operating and campaign initiatives. Central to the Principal Gifts Officer’s role is evaluating various gift opportunities and giving vehicles and recommending the most suitable in line with the prospect’s philanthropic goals, interests, and financial situation and in keeping with BLO’s priorities and 50th Anniversary Campaign attainment. While general operating support is essential for BLO’s art form, the organization understands the importance of investing in a variety of funding vehicles, including the creation of an organization-wide planned giving program.

The PGO rigorously manages a portfolio of principal donors and prospects, achieves annual fundraising goals, and helps to ensure the success of long-term capital and deferred goals. The PGO will partner with philanthropic counsel and BLO’s CFO to develop appropriate protocols and identify resources needed for contract creation and oversight of planned giving vehicles.

This role reports to the Chief Philanthropy Advisor, who manages, stewards, and coaches the Philanthropy department in meeting their revenue targets. The PGO will work directly with the CEO and Board leaders. Along with the Director of Campaign and Philanthropy Operations, the PGO will co-lead the Campaign Committee. 

Essential Duties

• Manage, grow, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 50 households that can give at the principal gift level. Identify, cultivate, and solicit BLO donors and prospects for gifts of $1 million or more. Cultivate and solicit donors for multi-year commitments, creating sustainability for the organization in future years. Meet assigned activity and revenue goals.

• Develop and maintain a multi-faceted principal gift solicitation program, including a strategic operating plan, identifying priorities and prospects, assigning prospect ratings, and recommending goals for future support.

• Identify and leverage Board and other network links to prospects and donors.

• Devise and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies. Initiate and maintain contact with current, past, and prospective donors, promoting positive donor relations efficiently. Identify disaffected or disinterested donors and devise strategies to encourage/redirect their interests as appropriate. Engage volunteers proactively as needed.

• Prepare funding proposals, talking points and strategies, assessments of potential support, briefings for the CEO, and stewardship reports for all assigned prospects; ensure that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects; document all substantive prospect contacts.

• Serve as a resource and role model to staff on matters of prospect strategy and offer new approaches and techniques; seek to provide creative solutions to complex solicitations; remain current with evolving trends in philanthropy as well as economic trends in the national and Boston business sectors.

Experience and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of seven years of fundraising experience in moves management systems, or equivalent combination of education and experience

  • Demonstrated ability to personally and consistently close six-figure or larger philanthropic gifts; experience at the seven-figure gift level strongly preferred

  • Experience utilizing industry-standard best practices and a donor-centric approach in managing a donor portfolio of approximately 50 individuals and determining donors’ philanthropic interests related to specific fundraising goals, ideally in a campaign environment

  • Proven ability to build and maintain long-term donor relationships. Ability to leverage relationships to strategically solicit donors, maximizing their full philanthropic capacity

  • A high level of comfort and effectiveness working with high-net-worth individuals and corporate business leaders, domestically and internationally

  • A sophisticated understanding of blended giving and complex assets that incorporate planned giving outreach, solicitation, and stewardship approaches and a solution-focused approach to philanthropy that subscribes to the idea that there are no dead ends, but multiple avenues to pursue

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills; behavioral and linguistic flexibility as well as strong intellectual and social curiosity

  • Demonstrated ability to synthesize and prioritize information from a wide array of sources while maintaining attention to detail and effectively managing overall workflow

  • Ability and willingness to travel

  • Experience using Tessitura (or similar) CRM software 

Location and Schedule

BLO’s offices are located in the Opera + Community Studios in Boston’s historic waterfront neighborhood of Fort Point, a creative area for working and living artists. The Studios were established through a partnership with Midway Artist Studios and comprise 16,000 square feet of space designed as a hub for artistic creation and cultural collaboration featuring multiple spaces, including BLO’s offices, gathering spaces, and rehearsal studios.

BLO provides a hybrid work schedule, offering employees the opportunity to work primarily remotely, when circumstances allow. The PGO should be available to attend BLO events and performances as needed.

Compensation

Compensation is highly competitive and budgeted to start at $150,000 annually. Flexibility linked to experience and performance will be entertained for outstanding candidates. Boston Lyric Opera offers a competitive benefits package, which adds significantly to the employee’s total compensation package.

Boston Lyric Opera values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran’s status or any other protected category. BLO is an equal opportunity employer. 

BENEFITS

Pay Range: $150,000 - $150,000 Annual