OUR VISION:
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is a home for extraordinary musical experiences that enrich and inspire our community.
OUR MISSION:
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra engages and captivates diverse audiences through acclaimed musical performances and inclusive education and community experiences of exceptional quality.
ABOUT THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is among the finest orchestras in the nation. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee. The MSO’s full-time professional musicians perform more than 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. A pioneer among American orchestras, the MSO has performed world and American premieres of works by John Adams, Roberto Sierra, Phillip Glass, Geoffrey Gordon, Marc Neikrug, and Matthias Pintscher, as well as garnered national recognition as the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes. Beginning in 1971, the orchestra’s nationally syndicated radio broadcast series, the longest consecutive-running series of any U.S. orchestra, is heard annually by more than two million listeners on 147 subscriber stations in 38 of the top 100 markets. The MSO's standard of excellence extends beyond the concert hall and into the community, reaching more than 30,000 children and their families through its Arts in Community Education (ACE) program, Youth and Teen concerts, Family Series, Adult Lecture Series, and Meet the Music pre-concert talks. Celebrating its 30th year, the nationally-recognized ACE program integrates arts education across all subjects and disciplines, providing opportunities for students when budget cuts may eliminate arts programming. The program provides lesson plans and supporting materials, classroom visits from MSO musician ensembles and artists from local organizations, and an MSO concert tailored to each grade level. In the 2019-20 season, more than 5,700 students and 400 teachers and faculty at 16 Southeastern Wisconsin schools will participate in ACE.
JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING STRUCTURE:
Under the direction of the Director of Individual Giving, the Individual Giving Manager oversees the identification, cultivation and highly personalized solicitation of individual donors and prospects targeted for gifts of $1,000 to $3,000 in helping to meet annual fundraising goals. These donors and prospects may elect to make gifts through charitable funds, family foundations, or privately held corporations. The Individual Giving Manager is expected to meet in-person with donors and prospects and be externally focused and therefore enhancing the donors’ relationships with the MSO. Knowledge of music and/or the arts is preferable.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 individual donors and prospects who have the capacity to gift $1,000-$3,500 to the MSO’s annual operating campaign, with the goal of maximizing support from each donor.
- Goals for these donors include: At least one focused visit with each donor per year, and 3-6 meaningful contacts, including stewardship, event attendance, phone calls, cards, etc. Creation of an individualized Moves Management plan for each donor. Understand the MSO donors’ individual motivations and aspirations to help drive increased giving. Utilize research, data analysis, personal contacts, volunteers, and staff to create lasting relationships with MSO donors.
- Goals for prospects and new donors include: Development, implementation and tracking specific programs that will identify, solicit, involve, and retain new donors at giving levels of $1,000-$3,500. A percentage of this portfolio will be new donors each year. As part of the Advancement team, work to leverage relationships with these prospects to explore all avenues for increased giving as well as planned giving opportunities.
- Prepare and write proposals, solicitation letters and reports as needed.
- Assist with various development events and functions to raise awareness and contributions.
- Manage Maestro’s Club donor benefit and serve as Advancement representative at MSO concerts and events as needed. Serve as Concert Duty Manager at MSO concerts as needed. Assist with other campaigns or projects as directed or needed.
- Additional duties may be assigned for professional growth and as the needs of the office change.
CONTACTS WITH OTHERS:
This position is highly visible and has contact with MSO donors, MSO ticket buyers and concert attendees, MSO Board members, Forte, Crescendo, campaign volunteers, MSO staff and orchestra members.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree with three to five years of development experience in a non-profit environment or a combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
A proven record of accomplishment of success in relationship fundraising management is required. The ideal candidate must be able to meet the donor where they are, and tailor strategies to their interests. They must be adept at soliciting gifts from prospective and current donors and at developing relationships with prospects new to the organization. A solid understanding of fundraising principles is required. They will also have a keen appreciation for the organization’s history, mission and contributions to the arts. The successful candidate will welcome the opportunity to attend evening and weekend concerts on a regular basis, to participate in special events, and to become a visible and active member of the Milwaukee community.