Hennepin Arts drives cultural and economic vitality in Minnesota through leadership of the dynamic Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis and educational programming that reaches every area of the state. Our historic venues — the Orpheum, State, Pantages and Dudley Riggs theatres, as well as our event center, The Hennepin — light up Hennepin Avenue with top-tier entertainment, including the best of Broadway and a wide variety of arts programming. 

Hennepin Arts is a forward-looking organization that is currently in a state of dynamic growth and opportunity. By redeeming the city-issued bonds for Orpheum, State and Pantages theatres last year and welcoming new executive leadership, Hennepin Arts is poised to accelerate our work as a major performing arts center in driving the vitality of the Hennepin District.

Hennepin Arts celebrates diversity in all its aspects, ensuring equity and establishing a safe and inclusive environment for all. We continue to examine ourselves and our structures to ensure we are free of bias and inequitable practices. We work to create welcoming spaces that invite people to be their authentic selves.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Development Specialist plays a pivotal role in the organization’s mission by fostering and nurturing meaningful relationships with donors. This position is integral to the management and enhancement of donor benefits, ensuring each supporter feels valued and appreciated. Additionally, the Development Specialist is a key contributor to the success of the organization’s annual fund campaign, providing critical support that drives fundraising efforts.

As the initial point of contact for many donors, the Development Specialist must exemplify the highest standards of customer service, embodying the organization's commitment to excellence and community engagement. This role demands problem-solving capabilities, superior communication skills, and a genuine passion for the arts and philanthropy. By building strong connections and delivering outstanding service, the Development Specialist ensures a positive and enriching experience for all donors, thereby advancing the organization's development goals and artistic vision.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Donor Benefits Fulfillment (40%)

• Serve as the first point of contact for current and prospective donors via the Donor inbox, donor line, and referred inquiries from the general information inbox and Box Office
• Cultivate relationships with donors while providing the ticket concierge benefit service using the Ticketmaster and Archtics systems with the intent to renew and increase annual giving
• Oversee and execute the weekly single-show concierge ticketing process
• Participate in a large-scale yearly ticketing project and process ad hoc requests, additional purchases, exchanges, and refunds
• Lead the weekly process of printing, sorting, and mailing out donor concierge tickets

Donor Cultivation, Retention, and Stewardship (35%)

• Manage and implement all gift acknowledgments and annual appeals for the general and mid-level donor population
• Manage monthly recurring donors, including solicitation, reporting, updating payment information, and lapsed donor outreach
• Implement one-to-one relational fundraising strategies for a portfolio of individual donors
• Participate in special donor events and opening night performances in the lounges 
• Document information in donor profiles regarding donors’ interests and other helpful information for prospecting and share this information with other development team members as appropriate
• Resolve donor and broader patron complaints, escalating to appropriate development team member as needed

Annual Fund Administration (25%)

• Provide campaign support to the SVP of Individual & Institutional Giving
• Process all ticket donations from the public for all arts education programs
• Process and document incoming gifts, enter checks, and maintain the check log
• Manage all processes around gift entry, including data integrity, ACH payments, research, and reporting

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with a minimum of two (2) years of related experience
• Demonstrated experience with annual funds and major gifts along with a successful track record managing and focusing on donor cultivation
• Excellent communication skills both written, verbal, and interpersonal and customer service
• Experience in CRM platforms like Salesforce
• Demonstrated strong organizational, project management, and time management skills
• Experience using ticketing platforms such as Ticketmaster and Archtics
• Familiarity with mass email platforms
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite programs

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Due to the nature of our work, employees may be required to work some non-traditional business hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the assigned and essential functions