Job Description
Department: Development
Reports To: Chief Development Officer
Location: New York, NY (Hybrid)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $122,000 - $146,000
About The Apollo For over 90 years, The Apollo has been far more than a stage. It has served as a global center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, New York City, and the world. As the “soul of American culture,” we have done more than discover artists like Ella Fitzgerald and James Brown; we have launched movements that define American identity.
Today we stand on the threshold of our most ambitious chapter yet. In 2025, we broke ground on a transformational renovation of our Historic Theater focused on preservation and modernization. When we celebrate our grand reopening in Fall 2026, The Apollo will operate as a complete cultural campus for the first time in its history. This expansion—encompassing six distinct venues, immersive performance spaces, and a modernized public lobby—redefines our scale and impact as we approach our centennial.
The Apollo is a vibrant nonprofit rooted in the Harlem community that engages audiences from New York, the nation, and the world. Since 1934, The Apollo has celebrated, created, and presented work that centers Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. Today, it is the largest performing arts institution committed to Black culture and creativity.
Our Core Values: Stewardship, Ownership, Interdependence, Creativity, and Excellence
The Opportunity Position Summary
The Major Gifts Senior Manager plays a critical role in advancing The Apollo’s philanthropic goals, with a primary focus on securing leadership support for the $100 million Apollo Rising 2.0 Campaign and annual operating priorities.
This frontline fundraiser manages a dynamic portfolio of prospects and donors capable of making gifts between $10,000 and $500,000+. The role is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding gifts while partnering closely with senior leadership, trustees, and colleagues across the Development team.
The successful candidate will be a strategic relationship builder who thrives in a metrics-driven fundraising environment and is energized by helping shape a once-in-a-generation chapter in The Apollo’s history.
Key Responsibilities Portfolio Management & Fundraising - Manage and grow an assigned portfolio of major gift prospects and donors with capacity to give $10,000 to $500,000+.
- Serve as lead fundraiser for the Legends Circle, a major gift patron’s group.
- Develop and execute customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each assigned prospect.
- Secure new, renewed, and increased major gifts in support of campaign and annual priorities.
- Prepare proposals, briefing materials, donor correspondence, and gift agreements.
- Maintain accurate and timely moves management activity in CRM systems.
Donor Engagement & Pipeline Development - Conduct in-person, virtual, and event-based donor meetings to deepen relationships and move prospects through the pipeline.
- Identify new prospects through research, referrals, events, and internal collaboration.
- Build a healthy pipeline across discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship stages.
- Ensure timely follow-up and next steps after every donor interaction.
Leadership & Collaboration - Partner with the Chief Development Officer, President & CEO, and board leadership on high-level donor strategies.
- Support fundraising efforts tied to executive and trustee relationships.
- Collaborate with membership, annual funds, campaign, finance, and operations colleagues to align donor strategies.
- Support signature fundraising events and campaign milestones as needed.
Stewardship - Ensure exceptional donor stewardship including impact reporting, naming recognition opportunities, acknowledgements, and personalized communications.
- Partner with finance and operations teams to ensure proper gift processing, pledge tracking, and reporting.
Performance Metrics The Major Gifts Senior Manager will be evaluated on a combination of activity, pipeline health, and revenue outcomes. Annual goals may include:
Donor Visits & Activity - Complete qualified donor visits or meaningful moves per month (150+ annually).
- Maintain consistent follow-up and documented next steps for all substantive interactions.
Pipeline Development - Add 20–30 new qualified prospects annually to the portfolio.
- Maintain an active portfolio of approximately 50–75 qualified prospects.
- Ensure balanced movement across all pipeline stages.
Gifts Closed - Achieve annual individual fundraising revenue goals established with leadership.
- Close a targeted number of 5- and 6-figure gifts annually.
- Increase renewals and upgrades from existing donors.
Data & Stewardship Excellence - 100% timely CRM entry for visits, proposals, and next steps.
- Timely stewardship for all assigned donors.
Qualifications & Experience - Bachelor’s degree required.
- 3 or more years of major gifts experience or 5 or more years of demonstrated fundraising solicitation success.
- Proven success in securing gifts from individuals and/or corporations.
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated commitment to The Apollo’s mission and fundraising priorities.
- Highly collaborative team player with strong initiative.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and donor CRM systems.
Preferred
- Experience in arts, culture, education, or mission-driven organizations.
- Experience working with campaign fundraising initiatives.
- Familiarity with donor recognition and naming opportunities.
- Willingness to work evenings and weekends for donor engagement and events.
Compensation & Benefits
- Performance-based incentives and professional development opportunities.
- Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and holidays.
Job Tags
Full time, Work at office, Weekend work, Afternoon shift