Position Description: 

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) seeks an engaging and highly driven Senior Major Gift and Planned Giving Officer who will engage prospects, donors, and other members of the community in philanthropic support of COT. The position will actively manage a donor portfolio, qualify new donors, make discovery calls, and build a pool of new planned giving prospects and donors.

As the Senior Major Gift and Planned Giving Officer, you will initiate gift strategies and cultivate and solicit prospects through personal visits, direct mail, written and phone communication. You will work closely with the Director of Development to implement strategic approaches for the planned giving program and build a robust pipeline for major gift support. The successful candidate will have an understanding of the arts and opera landscape, excellent intrapersonal skills, and a proven track record of successfully securing philanthropic support. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage and grow a personal portfolio of approximately 40-60 donors.

• Articulate the value of supporting the goals and mission of the institution, as well as priority programs like campaign and planned giving. Work closely with leadership to execute stewardship efforts, engagement activities, and special fundraising initiatives as requested.

• Develop and implement strategies to solicit donors, subscribers, and community members through personal visits, email, direct mail and telephone contact.

• Through work with portfolio donors, support the vision and funding of annual fund, campaign, planned giving, and programmatic initiatives of the organization and work to secure 4- to 6-figure gifts and multi-year commitments.

• Together with the Director of Development, design and manage plans for soliciting capacity building, planned giving, and endowment campaign prospects.

• Develop proposals and materials to support solicitations.

• Keep informed of trends in individual and planned giving, and routinely incorporate legacy giving vehicles in conversations with donors and prospects.

• Lead planned giving society annual cultivation and stewardship activity, including events and mail and email communications.

• Maintain data integrity of portfolio, including entering and updating prospect and donor contact reports in the Spektrix database.

• Collaborate with Director of Development and General Director in setting annual fundraising goals.

• Attend performances and events in support of cultivation / fundraising activities.

• Act as support staff for all development events, including annual gala, cultivation and stewardship events, and donor room at performances.

• Other related duties as assigned

This position is a good fit for someone who has:

• A minimum of three years experience in non-profit fundraising 

• Knowledge and application of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies and techniques 

• Understanding of planned giving vehicles such as bequest intentions, life income plans, retirement plan gifts, donor-advised funds, gifts of real estate and other appreciated assets is a plus

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Demonstrated independent, mature judgment

• Ability to be discreet and maintain a high degree of confidentiality

• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to consistently maintain a professional image and demeanor

• Strong problem-solving skills combined with a collaborative approach

• Proficient with Microsoft Office and able to learn/use various database and planning softwares

• Must be able to travel between locations (Fine Arts Building and other Chicago area venues) and on occasion, nationally or internationally, and be able to travel to local or regional meetings

• Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings and weekends

• Knowledge of the Chicago social and philanthropic environment is a plus

• Knowledge of and passion for opera, theater and the performing arts is a plus

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, and anti-racist and anti-oppressive values

Chicago Opera Theater is willing to teach:

• How to use COT’s Database / CRM

• Industry specific fundraising skills and existing procedures related to donor cultivation and stewardship 

• Policies and procedures specific to COT

About Chicago Opera Theater

Chicago Opera Theater is a company laser-focused on living its values of: 

• expanding the tradition of opera as a living art form

• producing high-quality works new to Chicago audiences

• identifying and supporting top-tier casts and creative talent

• following through on commitments to equity and access – behind the scenes, on the stage, and in the audience

Since its founding in 1973, in a city where storefront theaters and global icons thrive side by side, COT has grown from a grassroots, community-based company to a national leader in an increasingly vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking art form. COT has staged over 165 operas, including 80 Chicago premieres and 49 operas by American composers. In addition to its mainstage season, COT is devoted to the development and production of new opera through its Vanguard Initiative, launched in 2018, which trains emerging opera composers, invests time and talent in new opera at various stages of the creative process, and opens up opportunities for Chicago audiences to become part of the development of new work in dialogue with the creators themselves.

At Chicago Opera Theater, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it.  COT is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and to provide employees with a work environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at COT are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the law. 

We encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, People of Color, women, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and all others who may contribute to the diversification of ideas at COT. 

Salary range is $75,000 - $85,000 annually plus health, dental, and vision insurance; paid vacation, holidays, sick and personal days; paid family leave; life insurance; flexible & hybrid work options; 403(b) plan; complimentary tickets; and other benefits. Relocation assistance available for out-of-town candidates. Salary is commensurate with experience. Position is full-time salaried, exempt.

Please let us know how you heard about this opportunity along with submitting a resume and cover letter to jobs@cot.org.