What are the responsibilities and job description for the Donor Relations Manager position at State Theatre New Jersey?
Donor Relations Manager
State Theatre New Jersey
Location: Hybrid, 3 days/week remote and 2 days/week on-site in New Brunswick, NJ; some evenings and weekend hours required
Reports to: Vice President of Development
Position Summary
State Theatre New Jersey is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Donor Relations Manager to manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors giving between $100 and $9,999 as a core member of the Development Team. The Development Team, reporting to the Vice President of Development, is responsible for generating approximately $2.5 million in contributed income, including membership, government, corporate, foundation, and major giving. This role focuses on strengthening donor relationships, increasing year-over-year giving, reengaging lapsed donors, and identifying new prospects. Additionally, this position will oversee the management of the Donor Lounge and collaborate with the Development Team on special events that engage and cultivate donors. The position requires strategic collaboration with external and internal teams to align fundraising efforts with organizational goals, with a focus on expanding the theater’s diverse donor base.
Key Responsibilities
Donor Portfolio Management (65%)
- Donor Stewardship & Acknowledgements: Develop strategies to engage, upgrade, and retain individual donors; ensure timely and personalized acknowledgements for all gifts, sending thank-you letters that reflect the donor's giving history and impact.
- Donor Retention & Reactivation: Identify and reengage lapsed donors (LYBUNTs) and create reengagement plans using personalized outreach, event invitations, and targeted communications.
- New Donor Prospecting: Identify and cultivate potential donors through events, outreach, and data analysis.
- Data Analysis & Reporting: Track donor activity and offer data-driven insights for future strategy development.
Special Events & Donor Lounge (25%)
- Donor Lounge Staffing & Operations: Coordinate with the Concessions Manager for bar staffing and stock and with the Director of Event Services for VIP Door staffing; manage and train volunteer ambassadors.
- Special Events: Collaborate on annual fundraisers and donor receptions, handling vendor management, communication, budgeting, registration and logistics, and day-of execution.
Cross-Department Collaboration (10%)
- Collaborative Planning for Fundraising Goals: Partner with internal teams to align donor engagement strategies with fundraising objectives and revenue goals.
- Expanding Diverse Donor Base: Identify and cultivate new, diverse donor audiences through outreach and engagement initiatives.
- Coordinated Messaging & Campaigns: Ensure consistent, coordinated messaging for donor engagement across departments and communication channels.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience in a similar role.
- 3 years in development, fundraising, or donor relations, with a demonstrated track record of managing donor relationships and achieving revenue goals.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with donors, prospects, and community members.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience crafting personalized communications and donor proposals.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and skilled in using donor databases (Tessitura preferred).
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends for donor engagement events as needed.
- - Passion for the arts and a commitment to supporting State Theatre New Jersey’s mission..
HOW TO APPLY:
Email your resume and cover letter to HR@stnj.org
