Major Gifts Officer

About The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts

"I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." - President John F. Kennedy

The Trump Kennedy Center is the nation's cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra.

At the Trump Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Trump Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.

Mission Statement: As America's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across the United States and around the world, connecting the greatest living artists with audiences of every stripe, no matter their background. We welcome all Americans and creators and visitors from across the globe to discover, experience, learn about, be inspired by, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include:

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA

Pay Details

The Trump Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $81,000 - $90,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

Job Description

The Major Gifts Officer will work in close partnership with the Trump Kennedy Center Development team to achieve annual fundraising goals through the personal cultivation and management of a portfolio of approximately 75-100 donors and major gift prospects capable of giving $15,000 and above annually. The role is responsible for stewarding donors toward increased philanthropic investment in The Trump Kennedy Center, which includes The Washington National Opera, aligning individual giving strategies with institutional priorities. The incumbent will contribute to department-wide strategic planning, campaigns, events, and other forward-looking initiatives that advance the fundraising goals of the Center.

Responsibilities include identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects, ticket buyers, and existing donors capable of making or upgrading to $15,000+ annual gifts in support of both unrestricted and restricted priorities across The Trump Kennedy Center, which includes that WNO. This includes developing tailored solicitation letters, proposals, donor briefings, campaign strategies, and maintaining accurate data tracking. The position requires strong written and verbal communication skills and close collaboration with internal colleagues to expand and strengthen a shared pipeline of prospects, including Circles members and ticket buyers with the capacity to become major gift donors supporting The Trump Kennedy Center, which includes WNO and broader institutional initiatives.

The Major Gifts Officer must demonstrate sound judgment and discretion in prioritizing assignments and managing multiple time-sensitive projects involving concurrent deadlines and active donor engagement. A proactive communication style, collaborative approach, and solution-oriented mindset are essential. As a member of a highly collaborative fundraising team, the Major Gifts Officer will contribute not only to their individual portfolio goals but also to broader strategic planning and cross-functional support efforts that advance the overall development objectives of The Trump Kennedy Center.

Key Responsibilities

Front-line Fundraising

• Actively solicits and stewards an assigned portfolio through in-person meetings, telephone, email, and written communication, cultivating meaningful donor relationships that advance philanthropic support for The Trump Kennedy Center.
• Personalizes donor engagement using research, data insights, and donor-centered best practices to ensure consistent, strategic, and mission-aligned interactions across the donor lifecycle in support of The Trump Kennedy Center priorities.
• Tracks campaign data and donor interactions to inform future fundraising strategy; establishes individualized goals for each donor based on giving history, capacity, and philanthropic potential across The Trump Kennedy Center, which includes the WNO.
• Leads and supports donor cultivation experiences and events for assigned portfolio donors, as opportunities arise, in alignment with programming, campaigns, and fundraising strategies for The Trump Kennedy Center, which includes WNO.
• Prepares timely, accurate, and compelling written communications for an assigned portfolio of donors, including solicitations and acknowledgments; ensures accuracy across billing, financial records, and contribution documentation in coordination with Development Operations and institutional standards.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues across Prospect Development, Intelligence, and Analytics (PDIA) and the broader Development team to strategically grow the Major Gifts program, including:
• Presenting growth strategies for current donors with capacity to increase annual giving in support of The Trump Kennedy Center;
• Developing and advancing strategies to identify, qualify, and cultivate new major gift prospects aligned with institutional priorities;
• Assessing current and lapsed donors' interests, capacity, and inclination using departmental prospect management systems to inform targeted outreach, portfolio refinement, and long-term growth.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher level or applicable professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of development or related experience required.
• Significant experience in personal solicitation of five- and six-figure gifts in a sophisticated, complex environment preferred.
• Working knowledge of the performing arts is preferred.
• Superior organizational, written, and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of and experience with donor databases to manage solicitation of information and campaign progress. Ability to foresee fundraising opportunities and give attention to detail while at the same time focusing on the long-term perspective.
• Ability to initiate and cultivate ongoing relationships with current donors and new prospects through meetings, phone calls, and occasional entertaining.
• Availability to attend Trump Kennedy Center, Donor, WNO, NSO and other events outside of normal business hours.
• Ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally as necessary, spending 50% or more time cultivating and soliciting prospects and upgrading donors capable of giving at the Major Gifts level annually.
• Experience with Tessitura is ideal.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided.
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite.

Additional Information

• Large, vibrant, fast-paced office that values initiative, efficiency, diversity, and teamwork.
• Office culture encourages professional growth through internal promotion whenever possible.
• Working outside of normal business hours (nights and weekends) can be expected from time to time
• The noise level in the work environment is low, however attendance at major fundraising events and performances is required. In those conditions, the noise level is very loud.
• No travel is required.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

An affiliate of the Trump Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera is led by General Director Timothy O'Leary and internationally-acclaimed stage director and WNO Artistic Director, Francesca Zambello. WNO celebrates its 70^th anniversary in 2026. Each season, the $24 million company produces five innovative mainstage productions-from the classics to the rare to the contemporary-and an annual holiday opera for families. Since 2012, the company's much-lauded American Opera Initiative has commissioned and produced 36 twenty-minute operas, three each year, from emerging composers and librettists, and 7 hour-long operas, 6 of which have subsequently been seen at companies across the U.S. WNO's Cafritz Young Artists program is considered one of the finest resident training and career advancement programs in the world, offering singers on the verge of international careers intensive coaching, career guidance, and-importantly-supporting roles in WNO mainstage productions and leading roles in the American Opera Initiative world premieres. WNO and the Kennedy Center annually celebrate the Marian Anderson Award given to a young American singer who has achieved initial success in opera, oratorio, or recital repertory with an annual recital, and WNO, in concert with Kennedy Center Education, oversee the WNO Opera Institute, a summer training program for high school singers. WNO further extends its mission into the community with programs throughout the year in churches, community centers, at the Library of Congress and other major institutions, with the tech community, and with teens at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center.