Senior Membership and Individual Support Manager

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

FSA

403(b) plan

Employer 2% match

PTO

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Relocation housing (summer)

Job summary

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Inc. is seeking a Senior Membership and Individual Support Manager to drive membership and individual giving strategies within the Philanthropy department.

This year-round, full-time role manages ~250 donors, refreshes campaigns, and coordinates with marketing and events to expand support for the festival. The position requires residing within a 3-hour drive of the Pillow, with in-person work summer months in the Berkshires; remote work is possible most of the year

Qualifications

• At least five years of fundraising experience and a track record of success in envisioning, managing, and sustaining Membership and individual support programs, cultivating donor relationships, and closing gifts.
• A passion for dance.
• Experience working in non-profit organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic experience.
• Proven experience in donor event planning and delivery.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Great interpersonal skills; genuine interest in people, authentic curiosity.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement effective strategies and tactics to meet or exceed annual fundraising targets set for the membership and individual support program through multi-channel fundraising efforts to acquire, renew, steward, and upgrade.
• Plan and supervise multiple membership appeals and renewal drives annually (in concert with the Marketing Department) as well as manage the end to end for acknowledgements, follow-ups, and benefit fulfillment.
• Research and track best practices and recommend new approaches and tactics for Membership and Individual Giving based on analysis.
• Develop and maintain strategies, tactics, and calendars for appeals, working closely with Marketing colleagues to facilitate a comprehensive plan that aligns with ticket sales, community engagement opportunities, The School and other components of the wide spectrum of Jacob’s Pillow’s programs.
• Focus on identifying successful audiences, techniques, and messages to maximize upgrading efforts, capitalize on the membership file capacity, and increase the overall productivity.
• Develop income and expense projections and manage the forecast carefully throughout the year; provide regular written reports and commentary to management.
• Manage a portfolio of circa 250 prospects and current donors, maintaining frequent personalized contact.
• Qualify, cultivate, and solicit donors for funding to meet the Pillow’s individual support priorities and fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with the Donor Relations and Special Events Manager to plan and deliver receptions and events for relevant donors.
• Oversee and regularly evaluate member services and refresh copy and design of membership collateral, including brochures, acknowledgments, response language for member FAQs, internal systems and policies related to the fulfillment of member benefits, and customer service for members.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Portfolio management

Communication skills

Nonprofit experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Tessitura

Job description

TITLE: Senior Membership and Individual Support Manager

STATUS: Full-Time, Year-Round

LOCATION: Hybrid; must live within a 3 hour driving distance of Jacobs Pillow. In-person work required June-August.

REPORTS TO: Individual Support Director

DEPARTMENT: Philanthropy

WORKS WITH: Senior Philanthropy Operations Manager, Marketing team

COMPENSATION: $70,000 - $80,000 per year (less applicable taxes) (Grade 4)

BENEFITS: Health, dental, and vision insurance, FSA, 403(B), 2% annual employer contribution, paid time off, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, Employee Assistance Program and short term/relocation housing options might be available.

HOURS : Schedule will fluctuate and require nights and weekends. As a guideline, nights and weekends might be 3-4 times during Sept-May and consistently during the summer. Light travel might be required and would include trips in the region including NYC and Boston 2-3 times in the period of Sept - May.

SUMMER ONLY: Three meals a day, free access to classes, performances, talks, and studio usage.

The position of Senior Membership and Individual Support Manager is a key role in Jacobs Pillows Philanthropy department, driving membership and individual giving strategy at all levels and securing critical support for the work and mission of Jacobs PIllow Dance Festival. It is an opportunity for an experienced membership and individual giving professional to implement a newly-refreshed Membership program and expand a growing and loyal core of support for Jacobs Pillow, with a particular focus on Members and donors in the range of $750 through $5,000 who form the basis of our loyal patron groups. The Senior Membership & Individual Support Manager reports to the Individual Support Director and is responsible for managing a portfolio of approximately 250 donors and prospects.

This year-round, full-time position will help guide fundraising strategies and tactics for increasing contributed income from all individuals and Members. A core responsibility for the position is to oversee planning and implementation of fundraising campaigns to convert, retain and upgrade members, as well as onsite membership initiatives, member events (in coordination with the Donor Relations and Special Events Manager), stewardship activities, recognition, and benefits fulfillment.

Preference in applications will be given to individuals who are based either in the Berkshires, the region that surrounds Jacobs Pillows home in Becket, Massachusetts, as well as Boston or in New York City. This role can include working remotely during a great deal of the year with monthly travel to Becket and/or other locations, as needed. During the summer Festival (June through late August) the position will be based in the Berkshires. Housing support can be provided for the summers, in cases where it is needed.

The Senior Membership & Individual Support Manager is responsible for cultivating their own portfolio of Members and supporters, directing relevant prospect research and wealth tracking, managing the stewardship of the Members and donors in their portfolio, overseeing events and appeals for these constituencies and working closely with senior staff at the Pillow. The annual income generated by Membership and Individual Support is growing steadily and is expected to be more than $2.5 million in 2026.

Qualifications

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and implement effective strategies and tactics to meet or exceed annual fundraising targets set for the membership and individual support program through multi-channel fundraising efforts to acquire, renew, steward, and upgrade.
• Plan and supervise multiple membership appeals and renewal drives annually (in concert with the Marketing Department) as well as manage the end to end for acknowledgements, follow-ups, and benefit fulfillment.
• Research and track best practices and recommend new approaches and tactics for Membership and Individual Giving based on analysis.
• Develop and maintain strategies, tactics, and calendars for appeals, working closely with Marketing colleagues to facilitate a comprehensive plan that aligns with ticket sales,
  community engagement opportunities, The School and other components of the wide spectrum of Jacob’s Pillow’s programs.
• Focus on identifying successful audiences, techniques, and messages to maximize upgrading efforts, capitalize on the membership file capacity, and increase the overall productivity.
• Develop income and expense projections and manage the forecast carefully throughout the year; provide regular written reports and commentary to management.
• Manage a portfolio of circa 250 prospects and current donors, maintaining frequent personalized contact.
• Qualify, cultivate, and solicit donors for funding to meet the Pillow’s individual support priorities and fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with the Donor Relations and Special Events Manager to plan and deliver receptions and events for relevant donors.
• Oversee and regularly evaluate member services and refresh copy and design of membership collateral, including brochures, acknowledgments, response language for member FAQs, internal systems and policies related to the fulfillment of member benefits, and customer service for members.
• Emb…**(replaced with actual sentence)**
• As needed, provide support to involve the Executive & Artistic Director of Jacob’s Pillow, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Individual Support Director, other key staff members, and volunteer leadership in developing prospect relationships.
• Produce briefing materials and post-visit follow-up communications.
• Meet budgetary and planning goals for visits, solicitations, events, and closing gifts.
• Promptly record meetings and essential information in the database and manage prospects and gifts.
• Report on activity metrics, levels, and income to measure progress with the partnership of the Philanthropy Operations Manager and the Membership and Individual Support Coordinator.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of fundraising experience and a track record of success in envisioning, managing, and sustaining Membership and individual support programs, cultivating donor relationships, and closing gifts.
• A passion for dance.
• Experience working in non-profit organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic experience.
• Proven experience in donor event planning and delivery.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Great interpersonal skills; genuine interest in people, authentic curiosity.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in Performing Arts organizations and/or dance-focused.
• Competency working in CRM systems; experience with Tessitura is a plus.

SKILLS & QUALITIES

• Must be self-motivated with a passion for meeting and exceeding goals.
• Strong strategic and tactical thinker and planner.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative problem-solving with prospects and colleagues; highly organized in portfolio and time management.
• Must be able to establish and maintain excellent rapport with donor constituents and colleagues.
• Able to operate both independently and as an active participant in team-based strategies.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, confidentiality, and to exhibit a mature, professional, and positive approach at all times.
• Versatile in standard office computer skills and a love for spreadsheets.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Pushing, pulling, or lifting objects 25-50 lbs alone or with assistance
• Working outside in inclement weather and wooded areas
• Extended periods of standing and sitting
• Working nights and weekends
• Working in shared office spaces at a stationary desk

PRIORITIES IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS

• Evaluate results of the first year launch of new Membership program and develop strategies for driving its success moving forward
• Develop strategies to reduce churn at entry Membership levels and to expand Membership to new audiences by leveraging Festival announcements in Q1 2027
• Evaluate monthly and yearly Membership communications and develop a solicitation and stewardship communications plan that optimizes philanthropic impact and donor engagement

*We believe that no one meets 100% of the listed qualifications. We are less concerned about whether you’ve done everything on a laundry list of specific things and more interested in cultivating a pool of candidates who want to join a connected, mission-driven, hard-working team driven by creativity, curiosity, inclusion, integrity, flexibility, and partnership.