Institutional Giving Manager

Address

106 W Boston Ave

Essential Job Functions

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Institutional Giving
o Manage a portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government funders
o Research and identify new institutional funding opportunities
o Write and submit grant proposals and reports
o Manage grant calendars and track deadlines
o Collaborate with program, artistic, and finance staff to develop project narratives, budgets, and evaluation data
o Assist in developing funding strategies for education programs, artistic productions, and strategic initiatives

Corporate Sponsorship
o Cultivate and steward corporate partners year-round
o Develop sponsorship packages for the summer festival, OPERA Iowa, Apprentice Artist Program, the Opera Gala, and the Opera Showcase
o Ensure fulfillment of all benefits (ad proofs, marketing recognition, receptions, visibility, etc.)

Fundraising Event Support
o Serve as the primary staff lead for managing institutional partner engagement and sponsorship fulfillment at major fundraising and cultivation events, including the Wine, Food & Beer Showcase, the Opera Gala, and corporate cultivation events (opera preview performances, educational previews)
o Coordinate sponsor recognition, hospitality, and visibility to ensure all corporate and institutional commitments are fulfilled
o Collaborate with Advancement staff to support fundraising activities associated with these events, including sponsorship coordination, silent auction initiatives, and donor cultivation opportunities
o Manage event timelines, deliverables, and cross-department coordination to ensure a successful event execution

Stewardship & Reporting
o Develop customized stewardship plans for institutional donors
o Coordinate recognition, reports, updates, and partner communications
o Ensure compliance with grant requirements and reporting obligations

Systems & Administration
o Maintain grant records and deadlines in Patron Manager
o Assist with budgeting for grant-funded programs
o Conduct prospect research using foundation databases and public filings
o Participate in cross-department collaboration and advancement planning
o Undertake training to become a certified Patron Manager user

Organizational Participation
o Support the Advancement team with processing donations and tickets orders over the phone and at special events
o Work nights and weekends during the festival season and other DMMO events
o Participate in professional development and fundraising networks
o Promote an inclusive, respectful and compassionate working environment that prioritizes the company's values towards equity, diversity and inclusivity

Education

Bachelor's Degree required

Other Formal Training

Experience with Patron Manager CRM or similar donor databases/research tools preferred

Experience

1-3 years of experience in grant writing, institutional fundraising, or nonprofit development is preferred

Benefits

Competitive health, life, disability, and retirement plan, and generous PTO

About the Company

Des Moines Metro Opera has taken its place as a major American summer opera festival and is one of the Midwest’s largest performing arts organizations, annually producing over 100 performances across Iowa. The company’s summer festival season runs from May through July of each year during which three operas are performed in repertory. The summer festival season takes place in the intimate Pote Theatre at the Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola. All productions, regardless of language, are performed with English supertitles above the stage.

Unique among local arts organizations and national opera companies, the company’s programming encompasses a distinctive mix of styles from five centuries of composition, with a special emphasis on fascinating combinations of early and mid-20th century masterpieces infrequently heard in the United States. Recent seasons have seen The Love For Three Oranges paired with Bluebeard’s Castle, Wozzeck with Candide, Salome with Pelléas et Mélisande, and The Rake’s Progress with The Cunning Little Vixen. Seasons generally open with a standard from the operatic or American musical theatre canons, and nearly all productions of the festival are presented in new and original productions in one of the world’s most remarkable and intimate performing theatres. We demonstrate that opera is a vibrant, theatrical and creative art form.

DMMO enlarges experiences through a curated series of concerts, lectures, art shows, film screenings and unique performance collaborations. We cultivate the next generation of musicians and music lovers through programs like the Apprentice Artist Program and the OPERA Iowa tour. The company has earned a reputation for quality and loyalty that annually draws audience members from more than 40 states and five countries. DMMO believes that an entirely professional theatrical organization should be a cornerstone of our growing region, and we serve that need.

DMMO receives annual reviews from industry publications such as Opera with Opera News and Opera Today. The company has also been featured in the pages of The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, the Kansas City Star, The Chicago Tribune and The New York Times, which said in 2025, “In an opera landscape of caution and contraction, Des Moines has become one of the country's most ambitious and successful smaller companies.”

Travel Required

Resume Required

Yes

Contact Person

Scott Arens