Major Gifts Officer

Between 2021-2024, TDO executed a successful $25M+ campaign to raise new gifts and increase annual giving. When the campaign ended in June 2024, TDO’s annual fund reached $8M and is poised for growth. The Major Gifts Officer plays an instrumental role supporting further growth of TDO’s annual fund, including maximizing the FY26 $25M O’Donnell Foundation match. Reporting to the Associate Director of Development, the Major Gifts Officer supports the success of the $14M annual fund, raising gifts of $25,000 – $100,000+ from individuals, corporations, and private foundations.

Responsibilities:
The Major Gifts Officer is expected to fundraise from a portfolio of existing donors and new business leads generated by the Major Gifts Officer, staff, and volunteers. Specific duties include:
– Cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new and existing donors for annual fund gifts.
– Developing and leading major gifts strategy during TDO’s season, harnessing donor events and other sponsorship opportunities to drive revenue results. Examples include Friends, Inner Circle, Crescendo and Orpheus Legacy Society member events (salons, insights, backstage tours, dress rehearsals, cast parties, production sponsor and cast receptions, Inner Circle Lounge and Crescendo mixers, and special dinners and receptions); signature events (Opening Night and Onstage Dinner); artistic development events (Vocal Competition judges luncheon and post-concert reception; Hart Institute for Women Conductors panel discussion and luncheon; post-showcase concert reception; Titus Recital post-concert reception and dinner); production and event sponsorships; and other opportunistic events (a recent example includes planning an onstage experience and catered dinner for a major donor).
– Working with the Corporate Development Task Force to develop leads and pursue introductions to engage potential donors.
– Managing personal donor portfolio – moves management, goals, and closing gifts and new memberships as applicable
– Providing updates to database concerning financial forecast, donor interactions, and research notes.
– Seeking to diversify TDO’s donor base and intentionally working to ensure fundraising efforts progress The Dallas Opera’s commitment to equity and belonging.
– Other duties as requested

Characteristics and Qualities
– Minimum three years of frontline fundraising, including major gifts, capital, endowment campaigns, and planned giving, with a proven record of producing results.
– Superior interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively and professionally with a wide range of key stakeholders, both internal and external to TDO.
– Strong presentation, persuasion, and storytelling skills, both verbal and written.
– Strong project management and organizational skills; accepts responsibility for attention to detail, quality, accuracy, and timeliness of assignments despite competing priorities.
– Motivated by achieving fundraising success and advancing TDO as an organization
– Proficient in Microsoft Office suite; familiarity with Tessitura preferred (will train)
– Ability to work nights and weekends during the season
– Knowledge of the opera, music, and/or performing arts is preferred