THE POSITION

The Development Coordinator is an integral part of a small development team to advance the mission of the Des Moines Symphony & Academy. They also serve as the office manager and provide administrative assistance to the Executive Director and Music Director.

The Coordinator uses the PatronManager fundraising management system to process and record gifts, maintain donor records, produce reports, perform analysis and research, and track interactions with donors. Responsibilities also include drafting acknowledgements and other correspondence, planning logistics of meetings, assisting with writing development publications and proposals, and supporting the planning of special events. They provide other staff with information needed to make decisions and solve problems. The Coordinator has substantial contact with staff, volunteers, and donors.

This position requires excellent diplomacy and people skills, superior oral and written communication, thorough knowledge of office software suites, outstanding organizational and planning skills, and a natural inclination toward detail and accuracy.

The salary range is $28,000 – $32,000.  Medical, dental, life insurance, and 401(k) benefits are provided.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Development (80%)

  • Coordinate and conduct all donor data operations in a timely and accurate manner including gift and data entry, running reports and dashboards, imports and exports, mailing lists, and donor recognition
  • Support the Director of Development and Development Manager to ensure timely renewals, solicitations and proposals as well as implementation of donor cultivation/stewardship plans
  • Ensure the reliability of the database by identifying, implementing, and documenting ongoing data integrity processes
  • Receive and stay current with training to ensure the department is full utilizing and understanding the capabilities of PatronManager
  • Support donor communications efforts, including newsletters, emails, impact reports, proposals, new donor welcome packets and other development publications
  • Assist with special events by overseeing registration, event contractors and vendors, and attendee communications
  • Working with the Director of Finance, assist in the reconciliation between Patron Manager and Quick Books and support the annual audit and fiscal year end closing processes

General Administration (20%)

  • Responsible for light receptionist duties including the direction of incoming calls, visitors and general inquiries
  • Coordinates general administrative duties including office supply orders, phone and copier vendors and meeting coordination
  • Provides administrative support, as needed, to the Executive Director and Music Director
  • Manages meeting logistics for the Association Board of Trustees including recording and preparing meeting minutes
  • Other duties as assigned

Some evening and weekend concert and event staffing is required.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Detail-orientated, organized self-starter. Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Proactive in finding and implementing solutions
  • Experience working with databases, or a huge desire to learn
  • Experience in business writing, editing and proofreading
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to communicate with a wide range of people electronically, telephonically, and face to face
  • High proficiency in Microsoft Office with an emphasis on Excel, Word and Outlook

THE ORGANIZATION

The Des Moines Symphony is a not-for-profit, professional orchestra formed in 1937 to enrich, educate and provide the Central Iowa community with innovative programming and inspiring performances of great orchestral music. The Des Moines Symphony Academy, housed in the beautifully restored Temple for Performing Arts in downtown Des Moines, was launched in 2003 to provide quality music education opportunities for Central Iowans of all ages. The Symphony Association, governed by a 24-member volunteer Board of Trustees and operating on an annual budget of $4.2 million, supports both the Symphony Academy and its numerous education programs including four youth orchestras, a Youth Wind Ensemble, chamber music, music theory and private lessons to over 600 students each week; and supports the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director & Conductor Joseph Giunta, who this season celebrates his 31st anniversary with the Orchestra.

Each season, the Orchestra performs seven pairs of Masterworks concerts, a Pops series including the traditional New Year’s Eve Pops, education, outreach, family and other special concerts in its home at the acoustically acclaimed Des Moines Civic Center. In summer 2019 the Orchestra launched its new summer series of concerts at the newly-opened Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park. In addition, the Des Moines Symphony produces and performs the annual Yankee Doodle Pops concert in July on the grounds of the Iowa State Capitol which attracts an audience of more than 100,000, the largest single-day attendance of any concert event in the State.

Learn more about the Des Moines Symphony & Academy.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit a cover letter and résumé to Andrea Solomon. All applications must be received no later than Monday, August 17th.

Please note, due to COVID-19 all employees will be working remotely until at least September 28th.