Manager, Society Program

ABOUT THE BSO

The Boston Symphony Orchestra engages millions of people each year in the remarkable diversity and wonder of orchestral music and maintains homes at its iconic venues, Boston’s Symphony Hall and Tanglewood in Western Massachusetts. From the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Charles River Esplanade to free community concerts throughout Greater Boston, an annual BSO Youth and Family series at Symphony Hall, humanities programs at the Tanglewood Learning Institute, and tour performances in concert halls around the world, the BSO remains committed to innovation, creativity, artistry, cultural relevance, education, civic engagement, and making orchestral music accessible to audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of familiarity. At home, abroad, and through recordings, television, and radio broadcasts, a deep and inclusive commissioning legacy, and a history of cultivating emerging artists, the BSO reinforces its status as one of the world’s most accomplished and versatile ensembles, attracting world-renowned guest artists, composers, and conductors.

On the eve of its 150th anniversary, the BSO is ready for change, and to open the next chapter in its history. The development department will be essential to fueling and supporting this transformation. The Manager, Society Program will join an organization that has an extraordinarily loyal, committed, and generous donor base. It will also play a key role in supporting the ambitions of this next chapter, with an imperative to engage a new, broader generation of prospects and donors.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Manager, Society Program, serves as a critically important bridge between the Friends of the BSO and the major gifts program. The successful candidate will be a critical thinker who will contribute to the Annual Funds program’s fundraising strategies using a data-driven approach. The Manager is a team player who must become well-versed in BSO’s patron and donor program system. This position must possess impeccable attention to detail, a keen interest in data, and excellent relationship building skills. We welcome candidates who are excited in participating in creating a foothold for the BSO’s next century, and to build an industry-leading, contemporary culture of philanthropy across the BSO.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Society Program Administration (45%):

• Support the Associate Director of Individual Giving, Annual Funds, in implementing direct mail appeals for all levels, with a special attention for uniqueness of Society donors appeals
• Manage email marketing efforts for Society donors for both appeals and benefit fulfillment
• In collaboration with the gift officers, manage broad-based stewardship efforts for Society donors including welcome packets, event invitations, thank you notes, and other benefit distributions.
• Run and monitor reports to inform data-driven Annual Funds strategies, with particular emphasis on donor retention.
• Respond to initial inquiries about special gifts and direct them to the appropriate team member as needed.

Donor Engagement and Administration (45%):

• Manage a portfolio of 30-40 mid-level Society donors identified for qualification, increased support and renewals. Identify, engage and solicit individuals who demonstrate potential for growth.
• Serve as individual point of contact and steward for 400-500 Society donors who require occasional solicitation and/or stewardship but primarily engage with the Boston Symphony through attendance at performances and use of donor benefits. Closely monitor annual fund results for that group. Identify opportunities for data segmentation and strategies to reach fundraising goals set for these individuals.

Other duties in support of the Annual Fund Program (10%)

• While primarily focused on the Society program, this role may be called to assist for the Friends program, through customer service, gift processing and reports as needed.
• Occasional travel to Tanglewood, the BSO’s summer home in Lenox, MA for a few days during the summer season (late June-early September) as a representative of the Annual Funds Program to help operate the Friends of Tanglewood office.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS or equivalent
• 3 years’ work experience including 2 years’ experience in development.
• Experience with direct donor contact.
• Skilled in MS Word and Excel, demonstrated facility in working with fundraising databases. Experience with Tessitura a plus.
• Strong data analytics skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proven customer service or relationship-building skills demonstrating discretion and independent judgment.
• Detail-oriented to ensure accuracy and high integrity.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, plan and meet competing deadlines in a timely manner.
• Must be flexible, team oriented, and collaborative.
• Interest in and/or background in the performing arts preferred

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of concerts and engagement and stewardship events as needed.
• Must be able and willing to make occasional trips to Tanglewood (Western Massachusetts).

BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

Over the past three years, the Boston Symphony Orchestra has been actively engaged in deepening its equity, diversity, and inclusion focus and the culmination of this engagement will be articulated in an external-facing statement in tandem with the incorporation of these principals into the BSO's strategic planning process. The BSO’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is evolving from an organic process of creating spaces for diverse artistic expression, to a deliberate approach that seeks to dismantle the barriers to accessing world-class music, and to normalizing artistic expressions within broad historical, economic, social, and cultural contexts.

The BSO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.