Principal Gifts Officer

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 BLOs 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 willserve 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 strategiesideally 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 donorsfrom identification and solicitation to gift closure and stewardship.

Theideal 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 Companys 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 Officers role is evaluating various gift opportunities and giving vehicles and recommending the most suitable in line with the prospects philanthropic goals interests and financial situation and in keeping with BLOs priorities and 50th Anniversary Campaign attainment. While general operating support is essential for BLOs 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 BLOs 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:

• • Bachelors 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
  • Abilityandwillingnesstotravel
  • Experienceusing Tessitura (or similar) CRM software

Location and Schedule

BLOs offices are located in the Opera Community Studios
in Bostons 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 16000 square feet of space designed as a hub for artistic creation and cultural collaboration featuring multiple spaces including BLOs 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 $150000 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 employees total compensation package.

Interested in Learning More

Boston Lyric Opera has partnered with Talent Citizen to assist in this recruitment. Please contact Founder
and President Tracy D. Welsh and Managing Director Rachel K. Partin to share your resume and cover letter via email at:

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 gendergender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin genetics disability age orveterans status or any other protected category. BLO is an equal opportunity employer.

Required Experience:

Staff IC