Advancement Officer - Donor Development and Engagement

Clay Today; Olney (MD); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid time off

Complimentary tickets to OTCProdu ctio

Job summary

Olney Theatre Center seeks an experienced Advancement Officer to grow philanthropic support and advance the arts mission. The role combines frontline donor engagement with research and writing to move prospects from discovery to solicitation and stewardship.

The successful candidate will manage a donor portfolio, cultivate major gifts, and collaborate with the Deputy and Director of Advancement within a five-person team. Evening hours and weekends are required as events occur.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in fundraising, donor relations, or related fields.
• Proven track record of donor relationship management, frontline cultivation, and direct solicitation.
• Excellent writing and communication skills; ability to interact with donors and VIPs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow the donor pipeline and annual contributed revenue.
• Manage dedicated donor portfolio and lifecycle stewardship.
• Conduct prospect research and write compelling solicitations and donor communications.
• Collaborate with Deputy Director and Director of Advancement within a five-person team.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Prospect research

Solicitation

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Tools

Tessitura CRM

Kindsight

Wealth screening

Job description

Olney Theatre Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit regional theatre, seeks an experienced Advancement Officer to help grow the philanthropic support that makes our work possible. We’re looking for a creative, strategic fundraiser who can identify new donor prospects, craft compelling appeals, build lasting relationships, and inspire generosity in support of our mission and the future of the arts.

Position Summary

The Advancement Officer – Donor Development and Engagement generates philanthropic growth for a premier performing arts organization through pipeline development, dedicated portfolio management, and strategic cultivation and stewardship designed to increase annual contributed revenue. Combining frontline relationship-building with essential back-end research and writing, this role manages full-lifecycle donor engagement from initial discovery and prospect research to customized solicitations and thoughtful stewardship. While focused on individual donors, this role will also support the research and the cultivation of select corporate and foundation donors. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Advancement and collaborating closely with the Director of Advancement, the Advancement Officer serves as a pivotal member of a strong, five-person Advancement department, bringing both exceptional interpersonal skills and strong written communication to advance institutional goals.

Desired Qualifications

3–5 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or related fields, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. Proven track record of successful donor relationship management, frontline cultivation, and direct solicitation. Strategic thinker with the ability to turn prospect research and data analysis into actionable fundraising plans. Superior interpersonal skills, including the confidence to interact with donors and other VIPs with ease. Excellent writing and communication skills, with particular strength in writing persuasively. Strong organizational skills, including the ability to conduct and coordinate multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Knowledge of Tessitura or other CRM software, as well as wealth screening tools (such as Kindsight), is preferred. Availability to work evening hours and weekends as needed to support a robust calendar of advancement department special events. Interest in theatre and the performing arts.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary for this position is $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience. This is a full-time, Exempt position in accordance with the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

Olney Theatre Center offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan; disability and life insurance options; generous paid time off; and complimentary tickets to OTC productions, with access to other DMV-area theatres.

Olney Theatre Center is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and encourages individuals from historically underrepresented communities to apply. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.