TITLE: Development Projects Manager

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

HOURS AND SALARY: This is an exempt position, based on an estimated 40 hours per week. The position is salaried ($45,000-$55,000) and eligible for benefits. This position will work largely independently, with a flexible schedule outside of occasional scheduled meetings. The nature of the position will require the Manager to work some evenings and weekends, including Sundays during the EYSO season.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: This position will work in a hybrid remote capacity, with some regular weekly hours onsite at EYSO’s administrative offices at Elgin Community College (ECC) as needed for rehearsals, concerts, and other events.

SUMMARY

The Development Projects Manager (DPM) is responsible for implementing fundraising strategies developed by and in collaboration with the Executive Director. The Manager will oversee a comprehensive development communications calendar including a minimum of three multi-channel appeals, a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, periodic events (with support from the Board’s Special Events Committee), and other fundraising collateral. They will also manage the annual grants calendar, and they will be responsible for all fundraising operations, including gift receipt and acknowledgment, CRM administration, reporting, etc.

This position requires someone who is self-directed and adept at learning new systems and skills. They should be comfortable collaborating with others and managing colleagues, board members, and volunteers to meet project priorities and objectives on target. They must possess strong written and verbal communication skills, and they should have experience working with or a willingness to learn Microsoft Office applications and CRM systems. An appreciation for or experience with classical music is a strong asset, as is an understanding of best practices in many-to-one fundraising.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Annual Giving

• Project manage a minimum of three multi-channel fundraising appeals each year, including direct mail, email, social media, and digital advertising
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications Manager and the Executive Director to develop content and design
• Prepare mailing lists including building donor segments, setting solicitation amounts, removing duplicate records, and cleaning addresses and salutations
• Establish practices to track appeal performance
• Administer the annual peer-to-peer NOTES campaign, including:
• Configuring and administering the software platform
• Creating coaching and stewardship material for participants and supporters
• Overseeing a comprehensive communications plan, in collaboration with the Marketing & Communications Manager
• Serve as the primary liaison for all EYSO supporters, and maintain lists of active, lapsed, and prospective donors
• Regularly review and revise print and digital information about ways to support EYSO

Corporate Giving

• Maintain records for existing and prospective corporate donors
• Conduct outreach to 25+ current and prospective sponsors, and serve as a first point-of-contact
• Administer all sponsor recognition benefits, and report to sponsors on their EYSO and community impact, as well as their marketing reach

Foundation and Government Grants

• Maintain an annual calendar of 60+ grant opportunities, including application and reporting deadlines, and manage application/report submission
• Collaborate with Executive Director, Artistic Director, and other staff to collect data, stories, and other information as needed for grant applications and reports
• Proofread all grant applications and reports prior to submission
• Serve as a front-line liaison to grant and foundation representatives

Special Events

• Serve as project manager for all fundraising related special events held by EYSO, including liaising with vendors, overseeing communications, organizing volunteers, and coordinating staff
• Attend meetings of the Board’s Special Events Committee as needed

Development Operations

• Receive mail, record donations, and manage donor stewardship
• Maintain the Neon CRM donor database including managing duplicate accounts, updating records, and pulling reports as needed by staff and board members
• Support the Director of Membership & Operations in monthly financial reconciliation and reporting
• Identify opportunities to bring efficiency and increased sophistication to the donor experience utilizing CRM tools

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience working in a data-driven, multi-faceted environment
• Skilled project manager with an ability to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities
• Strong written and verbal communications skills as well as comfort with telephone communication; customer service experience a plus
• Understanding of current best practices in direct mail and many-to-one fundraising
• Experience with (or willingness to learn) CRM software, email marketing systems, website content management systems, Google Analytics, and other performance tracking tools
• Knowledge of or experience in classical music or the performing arts a plus
• Knowledge of or experience in the Elgin/greater Chicago-area highly valued

ABOUT EYSO

Since its beginnings as a small string orchestra in 1976, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras has grown to a community of nine large ensembles and a thriving Chamber Music Institute (CMI). EYSO serves students from 70 Chicagoland communities and has a national reputation for providing students with an engaging musical experience and a comprehensive learning environment promoting curiosity, imagination, and critical thinking. Students explore a thematic curriculum each season—one which helps students develop artistically and technically, and prepares them for a future of complex ideas, creative risk-taking, and leadership as global citizens.

In addition to four large ensemble concerts and two chamber music recitals each year, EYSO’s events and programs include a Summer Chamber Music Camp, Fall Camp for enrolled students, community performances by Honors Chamber Ensembles, recruitment tours to area schools, special events, weekly rehearsals, and more. The Development Projects Manager supports all of these initiatives through their work, in partnership with Operations, Marketing, and Artistic staff.

EYSO is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to educating a diverse group of musicians and affirm our commitment to a community in which all students and staff are accepted as individuals, independent of ancestry, social background, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, physical characteristics, or personal beliefs.

To Apply: please submit a resumé and cover letter to Daniel Meyers, Executive Director at dmeyers@eyso.org