Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer in San Francisco, California at AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE FOUNDATION
Explore Related Opportunities
Job Description
REPORTS TO: Director of Individual Giving
SUPERVISES: None
STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt
SALARY RANGE: $95,000–$105,000
LOCATION: 30 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
ABOUT A.C.T.
American Conservatory Theater is an essential gathering place that brings artists and communities together to inspire and provoke. A.C.T.’s mission is to engage the spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area, activate stories that resonate, promote a diversity of voices and points of view, and empower theater makers and audiences to celebrate liveness. A.C.T. values inclusion, transformational learning, participation, and rigorous fun. A.C.T. is a Tony Award–winning nonprofit theater serving almost 200,000 people in the San Francisco Bay Area annually through theater, training, and education and community programs.
POSITION PURPOSE:
The Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer (MG&PO) plays a critical dual role in advancing A.C.T.’s contributed revenue strategy by leading efforts to cultivate, solicit, steward, and solicit individual and planned giving prospects in support of A.C.T.’s mission.
Reporting to the Director of Individual Giving, the MG&PGO will focus heavily on new donor acquisition by managing a portfolio of prospects, developing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies, and helping grow both annual and long-term philanthropic support. They will play a critical role in expanding A.C.T.’s pipeline of leadership donors by identifying, qualifying, and engaging new major gift prospects from among single ticket buyers, subscribers, annual donors, volunteers’ networks, and the broader community.
The MG&PGO will serve as a key member of the Development team, partnering closely with leadership, staff across departments, and volunteers to deepen donor engagement, secure major and planned gifts, and advance A.C.T.’s fundraising goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, but rather a representation of job duties.
Major Gifts Fundraising (60%)
- Working closely with the Prospect Research Manager, identify, qualify, and cultivate new major gift prospects through ticket purchaser and subscriber data, donor analytics, event participation, volunteer referrals, and community networks.
- Develop and implement strategies to convert single-ticket purchasers and loyal audience members into leadership-level supporters.
- Manage an active portfolio of approximately 100–125 prospects and donors.
- Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
- Conduct qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings with prospects and donors.
- Prepare written proposals, gift agreements, briefing materials, and stewardship reports.
- Partner with the Director of Individual Giving, Director of Development, Executive Director, Artistic Director, and trustees on major gift strategies.
- Identify and advance annual, leadership, and special campaign gift opportunities.
- Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and moves management plans in Tessitura.
- Participate in prospect strategy meetings and pipeline reviews.
Planned Giving Program (40%)
- Manage and grow A.C.T.’s planned giving program, the Prospero Society, including marketing, donor education, and stewardship.
- Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects from existing donors, subscribers, and long-time patrons.
- Conduct discovery conversations with donors regarding bequests, beneficiary designations, and other planned gift vehicles.
- Collaborate with donors and their professional advisors as appropriate.
- Develop marketing and stewardship strategies to increase planned gift commitments.
- Ensure compliance with legal and financial best practices.
- Maintain planned giving documentation and donor records.
QUALIFICATIONS & QUALITIES:
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
- 3-4 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, preferably in theater, performing arts or cultural institutions.
- Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors.
- Knowledge of planned giving principles and gift planning vehicles.
- Experience managing donor portfolios and meeting fundraising goals.
- Demonstrated commitment to protecting the confidentiality of donor and organizational information.
- Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment in alignment with A.C.T.’s mission, values and commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across departments and interact professionally with trustees, donors, and external partners.
- Demonstrated proficiency with Tessitura CRM or a comparable platform.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Ability and willingness to work evening and weekend donor events (15+ events per season), including annual gala.
Personal Characteristics:
- Demonstrated skill in understanding of cultural differences.
- Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with A.C.T. colleagues and stakeholders.
- Strong work ethic
- Team player with a “can-do” spirit
- Interest in theater and/or the performing arts
- Sense of humor and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset.
The successful candidate is strategic, curious, collaborative, and mission-driven, with a passion for supporting the philanthropic community that sustains A.C.T.’s artistic work.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & BENEFITS:
A.C.T. offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid vacation and sick leave; and access to live theater performances and professional development opportunities.
Diversity makes us stronger. A.C.T. is committed to diversity in its programming and creating an inclusive work culture and environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you’d like to learn more about A.C.T.’s values, mission, and EDI initiatives, please visit act-sf.org.