Director of the Annual Fund

Position Summary:
The Director of the Annual Fund reports to the Chief Advancement Officer and is a key leader and frontline fundraiser on Atlanta Ballet’s Advancement team, responsible for planning and execution of annual giving strategies. The Director is responsible for broad-base communications through direct response, email, and digital and social media to acquire, engage, cultivate, steward, and upgrade Dancer’s Circle donors (giving up to $10,000). A special focus of the Director’s responsibilities is to grow the Annual Fund, which requires high-touch stewardship through a significant acquisition campaign of personalized cultivation touch points. The Director will have one direct report – the Membership Coordinator.
Primary Responsibilities:
• Prepare a calendar of communications and events with a special focus on solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship plans;
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive solicitation strategy for the portfolio, focusing on upgrading annual gifts, while also cultivating a pipeline of new donors;
• Implement multi-channel broad-base fundraising campaigns that include renewals and donor acquisition;
• Oversee Membership Coordinator in ensuring accuracy of donor listings in Encore Playbill, website, and other recognition;
• Monitor ticketing needs of higher-level Annual Fund donors;
• Draft and review Annual Fund communications, including solicitations and proposals, acknowledgement letters, and invitations;
• Utilize research resources for donor and prospect research;
• Achieve approved annual revenue goals for Annual Fund;
• Manage and control related expenses;
• Develop and manage segmentation strategies for acquisition, renewal, upgrades, additional gifts, and lapsed campaigns;
• Regularly produce and share reports identifying key indicators, including but not limited to total giving, total giving by category, total number of gifts, total number of gifts by category, and average gift amount;
• Develop and manage special campaigns such as Text2Give, DipJar, #GivingTuesday, and others;
POSITION DESCRIPTION
• Engage and develop relationships with funder and advancement professionals by attending industry events and professional development events such as seminars, webinars, and conferences;
• Collaborate with Special Events to plan and manage events specific to Annual Fund donors, including but not limited to dress rehearsals, In-Studio Preview, Coffee & Class, and backstage tours;
• Host donor visits and attend functions;
• Regularly attend Ballet performances to welcome donors and advance donor relationships;
• Update and maintain bio data, contact information, call reports and moves management, and other interactions in Tessitura;
• Create new strategies to use performances, events, community programs, and donor benefits to encourage greater frequency of participation and new or increased support;
• Attend and present at Board and Committee meetings as needed;
• Other duties as assigned.
Skills and Knowledge:
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to write clear and compelling letters, narratives, and calls-to-action;
• Superior verbal communication, negotiation, and analytical skills;
• High level of personal and professional integrity in dealing with colleagues, Trustees, and donors;
• Ability to work independently and take initiative on designing and implementing new projects;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated in relating to Trustees, donors, volunteers, senior leadership, and colleagues;
• Ability to work effectively with competing priorities and sensitive deadlines;
• Ability to interpret financial information and manage data;
• Ability to work with confidential information;
• High degree of organization, attention to detail, and ability to multitask;
• Proficiency with CRMs like Raiser’s Edge or Tessitura;
• Must be available to host donors in the evenings and attend evening cultivation events and performances; weekend work is required during the season (September to May).
Education/Experience
• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience, with a minimum of five years of successful frontline fundraising experience, preferably with comparable or larger-sized organizations ($10 million or more annual budget);
• Demonstrated accomplishments in managing donor portfolios, making personal solicitations, and achieving or exceeding fundraising goals is required;
• Prior experience with other areas of fundraising (planned giving, major gifts, institutional giving, etc.) and knowledge of and experience with the Atlanta-area philanthropic community and its leadership is a plus;
• Knowledge of or strong interest in ballet and the performing arts is also a plus.