Major & Planned Gift Officer

ABOUT US

Founded in 1963 and recipient of the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, Seattle Rep remains one of the country’s leading not-for-profit regional theaters. Bold stories, brilliant artists, and passionate audiences come together to shape each season at Seattle Rep, which includes everything from new play workshops to world premieres, celebrated classics, and recent Broadway hits. Over the decades, we’ve launched landmark productions, provided training opportunities to generations of youth and emerging theater practitioners, and built programs that expand access to theater for audiences of all ages from across our diverse community.

We are powered by a year-round staff of professionals who are passionate about making theater that matters, and we believe that their best work happens when everyone feels seen and valued. This culture is fully reflected in our:

Mission

Seattle Rep collaborates with extraordinary artists to create productions and programs that reflect and elevate the diverse cultures, perspectives, and life experiences of our region

Vision

Theater at the heart of public life

Values

Artistic Vitality, Sustainability, Generous and Inclusive Practices

If you’re passionate about the arts, excited by collaboration and equity, and ready to make a meaningful impact in the Seattle arts community, we’d love to hear from you.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Major & Planned Gifts Officer is a key member of Seattle Rep’s Development team responsible for building meaningful, long-term relationships with donors and securing significant current and future gifts in support of Seattle Rep’s mission.

The Officer manages a portfolio of major and planned giving prospects and donors, guiding relationships through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The position also provides leadership for Seattle Rep’s planned giving program and Ovation Circle, working collaboratively with Development colleagues, organizational leadership, trustees, and volunteers to grow donor engagement, increase philanthropic support, and strengthen the long-term pipeline.

Typical Duties Include:

Major & Planned Gift Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of major and planned giving prospects and donors, developing individualized strategies that move relationships toward meaningful philanthropic commitments.

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors for major, planned, blended, and other significant gifts.

• Maintain an active pipeline and use moves management to establish clear next steps, solicitation strategies, and revenue opportunities.

• Partner with Development leadership, artistic and executive leadership, trustees, and volunteers to cultivate and solicit priority prospects.

• Partner with Devo leadership on strategy and ongoing growth of Seattle Rep’s planned giving program and Ovation Circle.

• Identify planned giving opportunities within existing donor portfolios and develop new planned giving prospects.

• Increase documented future gift intentions, realized gifts, and Ovation Circle participation.

Portfolio, Data & Strategy

• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, proposals, gift documentation, and next steps in Seattle Rep’s relationship-management system.

• Use donor data and research to prioritize prospects and measure portfolio performance.

• Provide regular pipeline, activity, forecasting, and fundraising progress reports.

• Work collaboratively across Development to identify opportunities that increase donors’ lifetime philanthropic engagement with Seattle Rep.

Donor Engagement & Collaboration

• Represent Seattle Rep at performances, donor events, meetings, and community activities.

• Create highly personalized cultivation and stewardship experiences that deepen donor relationships.

• Collaborate with colleagues across Seattle Rep to connect donors with the organization’s artistic vision, programs, and impact.

• Help foster a collaborative, donor-centered culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Commitment to cultivating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace via decisive action including consistently seeking out opportunities for self and community improvement in the areas of racial equity, accessibility, gender inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity.

• Demonstrated experience in nonprofit fundraising, including successful cultivation and solicitation of individual donors.

• Experience with major gifts, planned giving, or a combination of the two.

• Understanding of planned giving concepts and asset-based charitable giving.

• Strong relationship-building, communication, writing, and interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrated ability to manage a donor portfolio and move prospects toward solicitation.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Experience using donor relationship-management or database systems.

• Commitment to Seattle Rep’s mission, values, and collaborative organizational culture.

Desired Qualifications:

• Tessitura experience.

• Experience in arts and culture or another mission-driven nonprofit organization.

What Success Looks Like:

Success in this role means more donors developing deeper relationships with Seattle Rep, a healthy pipeline of major and planned gift prospects, increased significant and future gift commitments, stronger Ovation Circle participation, and disciplined portfolio management that produces sustainable philanthropic growth.

Seattle Rep is excited about and actively working towards becoming a more diverse, anti-racist organization. We are interested in attracting, developing, and advancing the most talented individuals regardless of their race, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, disability status or any other dimension of diversity. We strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and others from underrepresented groups to apply.

Every candidate brings something special to the table. If your experience and skills don't perfectly align with the job qualifications but you are excited about the role, feel your values align well with Seattle Rep, and are willing to strive for excellence in your work, please apply. We will train the right candidate.

TO BE CONSIDERED

1. Submit a resume detailing related experience and education.

1. Submit a cover letter that outlines how your related experience and education qualifies you for the position and illustrates why you want to work at Seattle Rep.

Applications will be reviewed once the application window has closed.

Workplace accessibility and accommodations can be discussed with HR once an offer of employment has been extended.