Position: Development Manager

Reports to: Executive Director 

Summary
The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and skilled individual to join our team as Development Manager. The role of Development Manager requires a highly organized and self-motivated professional with experience in non-profit fundraising and a passion for music, arts, and culture. The ideal candidate will possess excellent writing and public speaking skills, and fluency with Microsoft Office and Google Drive software applications.

The Development Manager manages and coordinates the day-to-day fundraising activities for all SoNA development endeavors, working closely with the Executive Director to design and implement corporate gifts and sponsorships, major gifts, annual gifts, and foundational giving development plans. Additionally, the Development Manager works with the Executive Director to design and execute special events, including the annual gala and other donor cultivation events.

JOB DUTIES

Responsibilities include:

• Solicit renewals of annual gifts from individual donors; administer the Annual and End of Year campaigns with mail and e-mail communications to concert patrons and lapsed donors.

• Maintain the stewardship of donors under $2,500.

• Maintain the donor database and other tracking documents for individual contributions and major gifts; execute prompt acknowledgement of donations within one week of receipt; maintain office file cabinets with copies of checks and receipt letters chronologically in individual donor files.  

• Research and identify qualified prospective high-net-worth donors and sponsors; maintain and update prospect lists to support new donor and sponsor cultivation strategies.

• Plan and execute the annual Gala and assist with the planning and execution of other fundraising events and donor gatherings; ensure necessary follow-up after fundraising events.

• Secure sponsors for fundraising events, as well as mainstage concerts and soloists.

• Attend meetings of the Board of Directors and report on development activities as requested, schedule and chair meetings with the Development Committee.

• Assist with foundational fundraising efforts, including grant research and writing; maintain a grants calendar; compile reports as needed for grant tracking and reporting; prepare organizational documents for grant reports as directed by the Executive Director.

• Work with the Executive Director on a corporate giving and major gifts plan.

• Compile donor lists for mainstage concert programs and ensure that lists are accurate and up to date; maintain Friends Lounge list for mainstage SoNA concerts at Walton Arts Center and coordinate with WAC Development team.

• Maintain a list of sponsored chairs of the orchestra and coordinate with the Personnel Manager on how these sponsorships should be acknowledged on the roster page of concert program booklets.

• Attend SoNA performances and other important regional events as a representative of the organization.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to Executive Director Ben Harris via email at ben@sonamusic.org.

About SoNA:

The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA), formerly North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (NASO), is a 501(c)(3) located in Fayetteville, AR. Founded in 1954, SoNA has grown to become a cultural touchstone in Northwest Arkansas with an annual season of five mainstage programs at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, as well as special performances at other regional venues like the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in Rogers and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.

SoNA’s community outreach efforts are centered around the SoNA Beyond concert series. Through SoNA Beyond, the symphony goes beyond the mainstage with creative and inclusive concert experiences that reach the entire region.  For these performances, SoNA takes chamber ensembles into the shared spaces of Northwest Arkansas for performances designed to be accessible and welcoming for all members of the community.

SoNA is also committed to fostering future generations of musicians and listeners through education outreach programs. These programs include the in-school SoNA Mentors program, family and youth-focused performances, and free concert tickets for kids under 18 years of age.