Deputy Director of Development, Individual Giving

This position requires visionary leadership in annual giving strategy, donor stewardship, and revenue forecasting. The Deputy Director will collaborate closely with senior colleagues to ensure a cohesive approach to donor engagement, consistent messaging, and a robust strategy for long-term donor retention and growth. Reporting to the Director of Development & Campaign Strategy, the Deputy Director of Development, Individual Giving is a pivotal member of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Development team, charged with strategically guiding and significantly expanding individual philanthropy. In this senior role, the Deputy Director will manage and cultivate an essential portfolio of Patron-level donors, thoughtfully developing personalized strategies to deepen donor engagement and enhance financial support. This role is crucial in executing a dynamic annual giving campaign that fuels the company’s innovative artistic programming and ambitious growth objectives. With oversight responsibilities for the Friends of the Festival and Patron giving programs, the Deputy Director ensures seamless coordination with internal teams to produce timely, compelling direct mail and digital fundraising efforts. Further, this position leads strategic planning and implementation for the National Patrons Program and plays a central role in developing targeted donor communications and in integrating volunteer activities to reinforce donor loyalty and community involvement.

• Develop and manage a strategic portfolio of 75-100 Patron-level individual donors and prospects, creating personalized strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and engaging company leadership as appropriate.
• Oversee the annual operating support campaign, specifically the Friends of the Festival and Patron giving programs and collaborate with the Senior Manager of Donor Engagement to execute effective direct mail and digital campaigns.
• Partner with the Manager of Donor Communications to create impactful development collateral, such as solicitation and acknowledgment letters, print materials, and digital media content.
• Work with the Manager of Volunteer Engagement to integrate meaningful volunteer service into Opera Theatre’s mission, fostering appreciation for the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Guild.
• Manage the National Patrons Program and establish annual objectives focused on retention, increased financial contributions, and sustained member engagement.
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership to craft year-round and long-term fundraising strategies, generate monthly revenue projections, and manage a comprehensive donor messaging and stewardship calendar aligned with organizational programming and solicitation goals.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in English, communications, journalism, marketing or related degree preferred;
• Highly skilled writer with meticulous proofreading abilities;
• Deeply organized and systematic person with extreme attention to detail;
• Experience in successfully crafting editorial narratives;
• Familiarity with task management softwares (such as Asana) preferred;
• Experience managing budgets preferred;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Compensation: $95,000 – $100,000 annual salary

Robust benefits package including health insurance, open PTO policy, 401k match, and more.

Opera Theatre has a flexible work policy which allows for some hybrid work and asynchronous schedule arrangements, based on position and other factors.

Please

POLICY ON PLACEMENT AND RECRUITING

The Batten Group and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis are equal opportunity employers committed to the principles of non-discrimination in the workplace. Candidates will not be discriminated against based on age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, or any other basis that is prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization known for innovative productions featuring outstanding young artists. The company offers a festival opera season each spring which attracts ticket buyers from zip codes throughout the metropolitan area, as well as visitors from nearly 50 states and multiple countries. As of 2024, OTSL has presented 41 world premieres, which may be the highest percentage of new work in the repertory of any American company. In addition to the spring Festival Season, OTSL operates year-round education and community programs serving nearly 17,000 local children and adults.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has a year-round artistic and administrative staff of approximately 45, which grows to more than 500 during the Festival Season. Several hundred volunteer members of the Opera Theatre Guild provide support for all aspects of Opera Theatre’s work and advocate for the company throughout the greater St. Louis community. The company’s annual budget size is approximately $12 million; contributed revenue represents more than 50% of budget.

At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, we value equity, diversity, and mutual respect. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ individuals, women, people with disabilities, and others who have been historically excluded to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our community. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

OTSL will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion or belief; national, social, or ethnic origin; age; sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression; physical, mental, or sensory disability; family or parental status; genetic information or characteristics; protected veteran status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. OTSL will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

If you need assistance or accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact (314) 963-4233 or tbennett@opera-stl.org.