Garsington Opera is a prestigious festival with performances in June-July each year. In 2011 the festival relocated to the Getty family estate at Wormsley, near Stokenchurch, following 21 years at Garsington Manor. The Administration Office is located in Great Milton, Oxfordshire.
Post: Head of Individual Giving
Department: Membership Development
Line Manager: Director of Development & Communications
BACKGROUND
Garsington Opera is seeking a proactive, highly efficient and personable fundraiser to join a successful development team. Working with the Director of Development & Communications, the post holder will steward and develop a portfolio of current donors to our productions, young artist development programmes and Learning & Participation projects. Specific responsibilities will include cultivating new prospects for support as well as developing the existing Friends and GO≤35 membership and event programmes.
Reporting to the Director of Development & Communications, the role involves using Tessitura, a specialised ticketing and fundraising database, to record interaction with members, corporate supporters and prospects.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Private support
Develop relationships with individual supporters, to raise a target of £150,000 per annum
(within an annual project target of £1m for the Development Team).
Manage a part-time Appeal & Membership Assistant to ensure the efficient administration of all programmes of development, including the existing membership schemes, recording correspondence and approaches to both existing and prospective members.
Work closely with the Director of Development & Communications to support approaches to and relationships with major donors.
Deliver an engaging programme of membership and supporter events throughout the year to provide stewardship opportunities for existing donors and closer engagement with potential supporters.
Maintain and develop Garsington Opera’s GO≤35 programme for young members, managing all recruitment, communication and events for this group.
Trusts & Foundations
Make applications for small grants (under £25,000) and support the Director of Development & Communications in making applications for large grants, ensuring all deadlines are met.
Manage the research and efficient application process to relevant grant-giving organisations.
Produce annual funding reports for existing supporters of Learning & Participation or Young Artist Development.
Administrative support
Support the Development and Executive teams by preparing briefing notes and research profiles to inform fundraising strategy.
Work closely with the Box Office Manager and Marketing Manager to oversee all membership communications, including scheduling and writing content.
Maintain records on Tessitura, as well as keeping efficient paper files and audit trails where appropriate.
Support the team as required, taking phone calls, drafting correspondence, overseeing mailings, arranging meetings and representing Garsington Opera in a professional and personable manner.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
An outstanding fundraiser, with at least three years of experience and a track record of securing donations at £5,000 and above
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Experience of working in an office environment and interacting with a wide range of people.
Good time management skills with the ability to prioritise multiple requirements, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
Excellent IT skills, capable of comprehending a complex database, completing mail merges, updating web pages and using MS Office applications.
Good writing skills with an ability to summarise key information concisely.
Close attention to detail, preferably with experience of proof reading.
An adaptable team player who is comfortable working as part of a busy team, but also able to work independently.
Confident and well presented with a professional telephone manner.
Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when required.
Ability to handle sensitive material with confidentiality.
DESIRABLE
Knowledge of using Tessitura, Raiser’s Edge or similar database.
Interest in, or knowledge of, opera and classical music.
Full UK driving licence and own transport