Major Gifts Officer

PARK AVENUE ARMORY

Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory is dedicated to supporting unconventional works in the visual and performing arts that need non-traditional spaces for their full realization, enabling artists to create, students to explore and audiences to experience epic and adventurous presentations that cannot be mounted elsewhere in New York City.  Park Avenue Armory provides opportunities for employees to enrich and develop their love of the arts while contributing their specific skills, expertise, and talents.  www.armoryonpark.org

THE POSITION

The Major Gifts Officer is a front-line fundraiser responsible for cultivating and soliciting a portfolio of Major Gifts donors. This position manages all aspects of the Armory’s high-level giving programs, including prospect identification, cultivation, one-on-one solicitation, stewardship activities, and appeals to support annual operations and programs. This position reports to and works closely with the Director of Development and collaboratively with the Development Team. 

Due to the nature of this role and interaction with staff across the organization, this is a fully on-site role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Manage a portfolio of Major Gifts and high-level donors for solicitation and cultivation; develop strategies to support prospecting campaigns and donor engagement.
• Principal fundraiser for the Artistic Council, a special invitation-only major gifts group that provides essential support towards the Armory's programs and productions. This role is directly responsible for solicitations, renewals, and the development of bespoke events for this unique group, which includes event planning, concierge ticketing service, and acknowledgments of gifts.
• Act as a front-line fundraiser, soliciting high-level gifts from individuals. Regularly collaborate with the Director of Development and Chief Development Officer on “big picture” thinking regarding the Individual Giving portfolio, including identifying board prospects, new major donors, and other large-scale initiatives.
• Perform requisite maintenance of donor records and answering donor inquiries.
• Develop cultivation strategies and identify new leads to support artistic initiatives, education programs, legacy circle, and general operations.
• Be a leader and team member of the wider Development department, which requires ongoing activities like working events and other duties as needed. 
• Assist with Major Gifts administrative functions, such as tracking matching gifts against annual department goals.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS 

A successful candidate will meet many of these requirements and have the desire and capacity to learn the rest on the job.

• Knowledgeable advocate for the arts with exceptional planning and organizational skills. Results and detail-oriented with the ability to set and meet multiple deadlines. 
• Proven record of securing high-level gifts and stewardship of fundraising relationships. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills, ability to write and speak in clear and compelling ways, and to articulate the goals, mission, and values of the Armoy.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, proactively manage multiple projects and priorities with concurrent and changing deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to engage diplomatically with and engender the trust of donors, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Flexible and adaptable work style with the ability to manage competing demands and work independently. 
• Intellectual depth, maturity, and interpersonal skills to foster the trust and confidence of leadership and donors.
• This position requires on-site presence 5 days a week and a willingness to work weekends and evenings as necessary.
• Strong proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams/SharePoint, and PowerPoint, as well as in internet research; Tessitura experience is a plus. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years of demonstrated frontline fundraising experience with a focus on individual donors in the non-profit field, preferably in a cultural or performing arts organization. 
• Experience writing effective donor communications and knowledge of the New York City funding community. 
• Experience using research resources to identify prospects and funding opportunities. 
• A bachelor’s degree is desirable or the equivalent combination of experience sufficient to successfully perform essential functions of the job.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION 

Research shows that women and people from traditionally excluded groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job posting describes you, then please apply for this role.

Park Avenue Armory provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. 

COMPENSATION 

Compensation is $90,000 - $110,000 annually, commensurate with experience. This is an exempt position. 

APPLICATION PROCESS 

Please submit a resume through ADP Workforce Now and upload a cover letter as an additional document.