Position Summary: The Major Gifts Officer focuses on cultivating major gifts, primarily of $50,000 or more. These gifts align with the priorities outlined in the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s newly established strategic plan for 2020-2025. The Master Chorale defines a major gift as a gift of $50,000 or more payable over up to five years that supports established philanthropic priorities that are both current use and endowment building.

The successful candidate will have the ability to work productively in a fast-paced environment, planning and managing projects independently. The Major Gifts Officer will interact effectively with donors, anticipate needs and challenges, solve problems, and be an integral member of the Advancement Department’s administrative team. The Major Gifts Officer will also work collaboratively with colleagues on team projects.

Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Functions:

• Meet or exceed an annual contributed revenue goal negotiated as part of the organization’s budgeting process, working collaboratively with the Chief Advancement Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
• Develop a comprehensive inventory of gift opportunities that will allow prospective donors to have a tangible, concrete impact in advancing the Chorale’s mission, vision, and priorities.
• Complete Core Competency Checklist for major gifts, including a range of activities comprising the full cycle of a gift:
  • Qualify and Plan
  • Cultivate
  • Ask
  • Negotiate
  • Ongoing Stewardship
• Participate in regular prospect review and pipeline management meetings.
• Attend Master Chorale concerts and events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Performance Metrics:

The Major Gifts Officer will focus on growth and pipeline building at the major gifts level according to clear expectations and specific measurements.

• 80% of the Major Gifts Officer’s time will be spent on activities relating to assigned prospects, including visits, proposals, moves toward solicitation, strategy sessions, volunteer briefings, et cetera.
• The Major Gifts Officer will conduct 15 face-to-face/virtual visits per month with assigned prospects.
• The Major Gifts Officer will complete 40 moves/contacts toward solicitation per month with assigned prospects, including the 15 visits noted above. Every move/contact will advance the prospect closer to a successful solicitation.
• The Major Gifts Officer will submit 14 to 18 major gift proposals per year, or an average of 1.5 per month.
• The Major Gifts Officer will be accountable for timely completion of contact reports, volunteer and donor/prospect follow-up, and expense and other documentation related to work with prospects.
• The Major Gifts Officer should successfully close up to 85% of solicitations with a gift commitment.
• The Major Gifts officer will ensure that gifts raised align with institutional priorities.

Education, Experience, Knowledge and Key Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in English, Arts Administration or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years directly related fundraising experience in arts and culture, social services, medical, or higher education.
• Proven ability to work with volunteer leaders, donors, and patrons.
• Superior interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, and proven major donor relations experience.
• Excellent organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to set goals and organizes workload throughout the day to meet project timelines and deadlines.
• Willingness to be hands-on in a role that requires a high degree of energy and professionalism.
• High attention to detail.
• Maintain organization’s confidentiality requirements with regard to patron information, including exercising discretion, managing information distribution controls, secure filing and disposal, and records retention and storage.
• Maintain current knowledge of organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• Experience with Tessitura preferred.

Compensation: A competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience and excellent benefits will be provided.

Application Process: Please submit a cover letter specifying how your experience relates to this position with the L.A. Master Chorale and a current résumé. Please attach documents in .pdf or .doc format.

Submit application materials at https://www.lamasterchorale.org/jobs-internships

The Los Angeles Master Chorale provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the Los Angeles Master Chorale complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.