Associate Director, Major Gifts

Title: Associate Director, Major Gifts

Status: Full time/ Exempt

Reports to: Managing Director, Individual Giving 

SUMMARY:  Experienced frontline major gifts fundraiser, individual giving strategist, and relationship builder with a track record of success in developing and securing high five, six- and seven-figure gifts. Lead and execute donor and prospecting strategies that compel major donors to invest in NJPAC’s activities and mission.  Responsible for growing the major gifts pipeline, a donor group known as the Vanguard at NJPAC, developing and implementing strategies to solicit and/or upgrade major donor prospects and stewarding approximately $2.3 million in annual renewals. Work closely with the Managing Director, Individual Giving and collaborate with senior leaders and partners across the organization. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and execute a dynamic, sophisticated multi-year individual giving fundraising, engagement and prospecting strategy that nurtures, solicits, and secures major gift contributions and partnerships that advance NJPAC’s annual fund, programming, campaign, and community development priorities.

• Establish, implement, and oversee a best-in-class engagement and stewardship program that builds and deepens premium relationships, retains and upgrades philanthropic support, creates a seamless and value-driven donor experience that leverages NJPAC’s artistic excellence and advances an institutional narrative focused on impact, outcomes, and access.

• Responsible for progressively increasing year over year revenue from new and existing major donors.

• Thoughtfully engage leading philanthropists and thought leaders around the major pillars of NJPAC’s strategic plan and create energy and demand in the marketplace for major leadership philanthropic investments in NJPAC. Leverage and align NJPAC’s leadership, talent, assets, and values with world class philanthropic partnership opportunities.

• Steward portfolio of approx. 70-90 major individual donors as well as a portfolio of philanthropic advisors / liaisons that support family foundations, donors advised funds, and community foundations.  Responsible for personally making solicitations and staffing leadership to make major asks. 

• Proactively leverage NJPAC Board, Women @ NJPAC board and leadership committees to support and advance prospecting, solicitation and stewardship

• Support trusteeship and the identification of individual prospects for consideration for the NJPAC Board of Directors

• Oversee and implement relationship management systems to advance fundraising and stewardship. Ensure that NJPAC is at the leading edge of industry around data and analytics, wealth screening, reporting and recognition, gift acceptance, and communications.

• Serve as NJPAC ambassador and spokesperson at philanthropic and community events and meetings.

• Work cross-departmentally to craft and implement strategies and fundable projects for individual donors and prospects

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5-7 years of major individual gifts experience, in progressively more senior positions, including ability to solicit and manage gifts.

• Bachelor’s degree required.  

• Strong ability to motivate and develop a team, including fostering a working environment that encourages collaboration, achievement and optimizes team performance.

• Proven ability to create new opportunities, manage change, lead entrepreneurial growth and execute innovative, sustainable initiatives.

• Highly motivated strategic thinker with exceptional written and verbal communication skills;

• Ability to build relationships and consensus across internal teams.

• Strong financial business acumen

• Superior organizational and project management skills.

• Strong technology skills, including proficiency in Word and Excel.  Experience with customer relation software preferred.

• Familiarity with New Jersey business sector

• Superior customer service skills

• Excellent project management with an ability to implement systems and follow-up processes.

• Self starter, independent and proactive

• Interest in the arts a plus

• Analytical and comfort with data and databases

• Experience with Salesforce or other Fundraising and ticketing software preferred.

• Evening/weekend work required.