DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY Wisconsin's oldest fully professional performing arts organization, the Florentine Opera, has been bringing a little bit of the world to Milwaukee since 1933. We're on a journey of discovery, exploring the glory of the human voice. We're a powerhouse for all different voices and stories, which have endured through the centuries and resonate with our humanity and passion. We're a live, supersized experience, reated in-the-moment through theater, staging, lighting, lavish costumes, and beautiful song, bringing you the most immersive and all-encompassing artistic experience possible.
The Florentine Opera is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on all legally protected status. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.
ROLE DESCRIPTION The Director of Philanthropy is a key member of the leadership team and reports to the General Director and CEO, and board of directors. This position manages the Annual Giving Manager and works closely with the Database Manager and Company Manager, who oversees events.
The Director of Philanthropy formulates a broad-based funding strategy and executes a development plan with a primary focus on individuals, but also inclusive of corporations and foundations to support the Florentine Opera. This plan will deepen commitments of existing donors, increase the number of overall supporters, and create opportunities for all to engage and contribute to the Florentine Opera's mission in practical and meaningful ways. This includes:
Creating, revising, designing and implementing effective fundraising strategies for institutional giving, individual donors, corporate support, planned giving, and sponsorships aligned with the Florentine's strategic plan and organizational needs, including a future endowment campaign
Growing relationships within the greater Milwaukee philanthropic and business communities, and communicating in ways that inspire support for the Florentine Opera's mission
Preparing and sharing proposals that match donor giving preferences with our various programming channels.
Creating and executing a stewardship plan and building a donor pipeline. Creatively and generously thanking major donors, as the primary relationship manager on staff.
Inspiring, guiding, and supporting board giving, fundraising efforts of the Board of Directors and volunteers, as well as contributing to board governance.
Spearheading and managing our partnership with the United Performing Arts Fund, our largest single donor.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Inform and uphold the values and strategic direction of the company
Source, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward the company's major supporters. Serve as the primary relationship/portfolio manager for all contributed revenue relationships, and spearheading inter-team cooperation around donor management.
Develop and oversee annual development department strategic plan and budget, ensuring alignment with company goals and strategic plan
Oversee engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of major foundation and corporate donors, including securing, preparing for, and proactively following up with cultivation meetings, proposals, and reports, in cooperation with the Annual Giving Manager.
Develop company planned giving and endowment support efforts.
Oversee all development operations including gift processing, acknowledgments, campaign tracking, and integrity of the donor database in partnership with Annual Giving manager and Database Manager, to ensure that all donors receive appropriate and timely recognition.
Collaborate with the finance manager to reconcile donations with financial records, as well as coordinating the annual audit together
Work closely with the marketing team to maintain brand-aligned fundraising communications and promotion strategy, including cultivation of current and new relationships with donors and funding partners.
Coordinate relationship with UPAF, keeping other team members informed and enabling their fulfillment of UPAF assistance requests
Lead solicitation for tables and sponsors for events, as well as developing strategy and fundraising plan with General Director. Collaborate with Marketing and Events staff on recognition for sponsorships and planning of fundraising events to maximize the revenue generated at all events
Communicate on a regular basis with the General Director and Development Committee Chair to report progress and any obstacles that may arise. Prepare monthly and annual progress reports for the CEO, Development Committee and Board of Directors and attend board meetings when requested. Lead the Development Committee and serve on other committees as needed.
As the business evolves, so may this role. These duties may change as company leadership identifies a need at any time.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
Bachelor's Degree. Education in Fundraising, Business Administration, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Administration, or related field preferred.
5+ years of major gift experience in a nonprofit organization; demonstrated success in a development function (managing and forging relationships with multiple donor sources)
Leadership, supervisory, team building, collaborating and mentoring skills required.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, Board members, volunteers, community groups, and other related agencies.
Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse group of people, personalities, ages, and backgrounds
Persuasive communicator with strong verbal and written communication skills and excellent presentation skills.
Self-starter, able to work independently under limited supervision while serving as an integral part of the leadership team.
Ability to plan, schedule, prioritize, coordinate, delegate, and manage multiple work activities.
Track record of successfully planning and executing development strategies that secure support from individual donors, corporations and foundations. Demonstrated record of closing major gifts ($50,000+)
Foundation relationship management and grant writing experience
Working knowledge of fundraising event management
Familiarity with and commitment to active team relationship management through CRM
Proficient user of MS Office and/or Google Workspace
Flexibility regarding work assignments and work hours to include evening and/or weekend events as needed.
Passionate about opera and/or the performing arts
WORK CONDITIONS
The job sometimes requires a six-day work week, as well as evenings during rehearsal and performances.
Sitting and standing for extended periods of time.
Ability to operate a computer and to handle other office equipment.
Ability to transport and set up keyboards and other equipment (carry up to 30 pounds)
SALARY AND BENEFITS The Director of Philanthropy is a full?time exempt position (salary $95,000-$115,000 based on experience). The Florentine Opera offers generous benefits and an excellent working environment. We are hybrid, with 2 days a week work from home and flexible hours. Please forward three references, cover letter, résumé and salary expectations to: moplinger@florentineopera.org.
Benefits Offered:
Health Insurance - United Healthcare, employee pays $200 a month ($100 per pay check) for individual
Dental Insurance - Delta Dental, self-paid
Vision Insurance - Eyemed/Delta Vision, self-paid
Health Savings Account - $25 per paycheck employer paid contribution
Life Insurance, $50k flat paid by The Florentine Opera
Short-term and Long-term disability insurance - 100% employer paid contribution
403b retirement plan - Fidelity
Paid Time Off including Vacation and Sick Time • 15 PTO days per year, accrued • 5 Company shutdown days (July & Dec/Jan) • Flex and Comp time • Half Days in Summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day