Institutional Giving Manager

National Opera Center; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 66,500 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Life insurance

Hybrid schedule

Networking opportunities

Job summary

OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera, seeks a creative and persuasive writer to manage and grow the organization’s portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government support. Working with the Director of Development, the Institutional Giving Manager prepares proposals, budgets, and reports sustaining a $1.25 million annual portfolio and cultivates new funders.

The role also oversees the Opera Conference sponsorship and exhibitor program, coordinates with multiple

Qualifications

• Two+ years of experience in grant writing, institutional giving, corporate sponsorship, or related field.
• Strong language, drafting, and editing skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare proposals, budgets, and reports for ~ $1.25M in annual institutional support.
• Own the grant calendar and ensure timely submissions.
• Prepare and submit grant reports to funders and steward current funders.
• Maintain funder records with deadlines, restrictions, and reporting requirements.
• Develop letters of inquiry and concept papers to attract new funders.
• Manage corporate sponsorship program for Opera Conference end-to-end.
• Coordinate exhibit hall logistics and ensure sponsor benefits across channels.
• Post-conference stewardship and debrief with recommendations to grow revenue.

Skills

Grant writing

Institutional giving

Corporate sponsorship

Proposal drafting

Editing

Project management

Time management

Donor databases

Opera/performing arts interest

Job description

OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera, headquartered at the National Opera Center in midtown New York City, seeks a creative and persuasive writer to manage and grow the organization’s portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government support. Working with the Director of Development, the Institutional Giving Manager prepares the proposals, budgets, and reports that sustain an institutional portfolio of $1.25 million annually, identifies and cultivates new sources of funding, and manages the corporate sponsorship and exhibitor program for Opera Conference, OPERA America’s flagship annual convening.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Giving

• Work with the Director of Development to prepare proposals, budgets, and reports for approximately $1.25 million in annual institutional support.
• Own the grant calendar, ensuring timely submission of all proposals, reports, and interim deliverables.
• Prepare and submit ongoing grant reports for foundation, corporate, and government funders, coordinating stewardship of current funders through regular communication, program updates, site visits, and invitations to relevant OPERA America activities.
• Maintain accurate funders and grant records in the organization’s database, including deadlines, restrictions, payment schedules, and reporting requirements.

New Business Development and Prospecting

• Actively research, identify, and qualify new sources of funding, including foundations, corporations, government agencies, and public funding streams at the city, state, and federal levels, to expand and diversify the institutional portfolio.
• Build and maintain a documented prospect pipeline with clear cultivation strategies, timelines, and next steps for each prospect.
• Develop letters of inquiry, concept papers, and introductory materials that position OPERA America’s programs for new funders.
• Track sector funding trends, new grant opportunities, and shifts in funder priorities, and brief the Director of Development and President/CEO on emerging opportunities and risks.
• Collaborate with Programs, the Office of the President, Research & Development, Finance, and the National Opera Center to identify unmet needs suitable for new funding, and to engage current funders more deeply in the programs they support.
• Support prospecting for future capital campaigns, network activities, and special initiatives.

Opera Conference Sponsorship and Exhibitors

• Manage the corporate sponsorship program for the annual Opera Conference from end to end, working with the Programs team on recruitment, solicitation, and engagement of sponsors.
• Develop the annual sponsorship and exhibitor prospectus, including benefit tiers, pricing, and deadlines, in consultation with the Director of Development and conference leadership.
• Solicit and secure sponsors and exhibitors, including renewal outreach to prior-year participants and cultivation of new companies, and negotiate agreements in line with approved pricing.
• Serve as primary point of contact for sponsors and exhibitors throughout the process, managing contracts, invoicing in coordination with Finance, deadlines, logo and program-book materials, and on-site needs.
• Coordinate exhibit hall logistics with conference operations, including booth assignments, exhibitor communications, load-in and load-out schedules, and on-site support during the conference.
• Ensure full delivery of sponsor benefits across print, digital, and on-site channels, working with Marketing and Communications on recognition and visibility.
• Conduct post-conference stewardship, including thank-you communications, fulfillment reports, participant feedback, and a written debrief with recommendations to grow sponsorship and exhibitor revenue year over year.

General

• Contribute to department planning, revenue projections, and reporting on progress toward institutional and sponsorship goals.
• Assist other department staff with events, including occasional evening or weekend activity.
• Contribute to the quarterly Opera America Magazine and other organizational communications as needed.
• Advance OPERA America’s strategic and equity goals.
• Provide additional project support and management as assigned.

Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in grant writing, institutional giving, corporate sponsorship, or a closely related field.
• Compelling use of language, swift drafting, and solid editing skills.
• Ability to write for and communicate with varying audiences, from program officers to corporate marketing contacts.
• Openness to a collaborative writing and review process.
• Comfort with budgets, program design, and translating program activity into outcomes and metrics.
• Strong project management skills and impeccable time management across concurrent deadlines.
• A detail-oriented, efficient, and resourceful work ethic.
• Experience with donor databases and with conference, event, or exhibitor management is a plus.
• Interest in opera or the performing arts is welcome but not required.

Desired Start Date: August 30, 2026

BENEFITS

Pay Range: $66,500 - $75,000 Annual

Benefits include health and dental coverage, a retirement plan, paid time off, life insurance, access to rehearsal and performance venues at the National Opera Center, and opportunities to network with opera leaders nationwide. OPERA America staff work on a hybrid schedule from the organization’s New York City offices.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2026