Development Generalist

Job Title: Development Generalist 

Department: Development 

Supervisor: Associate Director of Development 

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt, $60,000, Benefits Eligible 

Since 1996 the International Festival of Arts & Ideas (“Arts & Ideas”) has inspired and delighted audiences with an annual program of over 200 performing arts and humanities events year-round, at least 85% of which are free. 

Focused events in June range from world and nationally-renowned speakers sharing the stage with critical local voices for discussions on democracy, to jazz concerts, theatrical performances, dance; takeout mixology classes; bike and walking tours; and live, individual performances by local on-call artists on front lawns and sidewalks throughout the area. 

Year-round programs include special town-hall events, a fellowship program for youth, planning and implementing mini-festivals in New Haven’s culturally-rich neighborhoods, participation in the NEA Big Read, and our annual Visionary Leadership Award program. 

Shared Institutional Values 

• Excellence in Performance and Leadership  
  · Collaboration  
  · Embracing Diversity    
  · Inclusiveness – bringing people together    
  · Openness to new ideas, new arts, new cultures, new individuals    
  · Stewardship    
  · Integrity 

Description 

The Development Generalist is an exciting and pivotal role at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, offering an opportunity to make a direct impact on fundraising success through impactful grant writing and database management. They have a passion for language that connects corporate, government, and philanthropic institutions to our work, with a desire to refine current skills and learn new ones. They ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of donor records, provide critical insights to support fundraising strategies, and excel at crafting compelling grant proposals. The Development Generalist is inspired by Arts & Ideas racial equity commitments and in uplifting the work of the development team toward a vision that authentically engages and celebrates diversity.  

Responsibilities 

Grant Writing & Research  

• Conduct prospect research to identify current trends and new grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities
• Draft and submit grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports for institutional funders including foundations, government agencies, and other entities, ensuring strict adherence to organizational deadlines
• Work collaboratively with Programming and Finance teams to gather data, budgets, and content needed for proposals and reports.
• Maintain an accurate and organized grants calendar, tracking submission and reporting timelines across the entire grant lifecycle
• Monitor awarded grants to ensure appropriate compliance with funder guidelines and communicate updates to the development team
• Provide additional writing support for the development team (e.g., written summaries of activities for the Annual Report)

Database Management  

• Process gifts and gift acknowledgements in a timely fashion
• Maintain CRM database and updates to patron records
• Provide data analysis with CRM to generate reports, queries and data exports to support furthering Development goals and strategies
• Oversee the planning, execution, and tracking of fundraising campaigns and donor engagement opportunities, ensuring all activities are accurately documented in CRM to inform future strategies
• Work in concert with Development, Marketing, and Audience Services teams to fulfill Festival Insider membership benefits including ticket purchases and presales
• Manage pledge reminder communications as needed throughout the year; send reminders; pull pledge reports monthly; manage follow up communications as needed

Development Administrative Support  

• Craft engaging donor-centered internal and external communications, including newsletters, social media posts, email campaigns, and appeals to support fundraising efforts
• Collaborate with Marketing team on promotional materials for events such as invitations, program booklets, and web content, ensuring consistent and engaging messaging
• Prepare mailing and donor lists for Development and Marketing communications
• Process payment requests with finance/NetSuite for Development department
• Support the Finance team by providing regular gift reports and donation information for the Festival’s annual audit
• Provide back-up administrative and data support for the needs of the Development department
• Other duties as assigned

Skills, Knowledge, Experience 

• Minimum 2-3 years experience in a nonprofit support role, administrative role, or equivalent work or volunteer experience
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to craft clear, impactful, and detailed grant proposals
• Experience writing grant proposals and reports for arts organizations and/or private/public foundations a plus
• Experience with prospect research and a keen eye for detail when handling institutional and donor data
• Proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM database management, Microsoft Office Suite, online fundraising programs (GiveGab/GiveLively/MailChimp/Eventbrite) and other computer skills as required
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with proven track record of successfully meeting deadlines
• High level of discretion and ethical approach to data management
• Passion for the arts and a commitment to supporting the mission and values of Arts & Ideas

Salary : $60,000