Manager of Donor Communications

Position Summary

The Manager of Donor Communications is responsible for the efficient and effective solicitation, acknowledgement, and stewardship of donors. This position develops and creates written and in-house materials for the Development department. Success in this position looks like timely delivery of compelling, data‑driven, brand‑appropriate communications for the Development department.

• Design, develop, and execute an annual communication plan for OTSL’s interactions with donors, including strategy, schedule, and engagement goals for:
• Timely and compelling acknowledgment letter templates.
• Warm personalization of selected solicitation and acknowledgement letters.
• Solicitation and stewardship for the Patron and Friends of the Festival programs, in partnership with the Senior Manager for Donor Engagement.
• Solicitation and stewardship for the Intermezzo Society and National Patrons Council programs.
• Event collateral, working in partnership with the Deputy Director of Development, Institutional Giving and Events.
• Propose and guide Development social media strategies and other digital communications for special events, membership acquisition, & renewals throughout the year, working with the PR/Marketing team on execution and strategy.
• Serve as the liaison between the Development and PR/Marketing teams, scheduling, planning, and executing inter‑departmental meetings.
• Facilitate an ongoing focus on shared objectives and deadlines for those departments.
• Draft and route written materials for department, including:
  • Solicitation and acknowledgment letters for Chairman, General Director, Director of Development, and Deputy Director of Development, Individual Giving; and Ongoing stewardship communication for donors.
• Develop and implement communication strategies to support the growth of Opera Theatre’s planned giving programs.
• Draft remarks, in partnership with relevant parties, for donor‑facing events and gatherings.
• Develop compelling sponsorship materials for the corporate sponsorship committee, in partnership with the Deputy Director of Development, Institutional Giving and Events.
• Write and design Opera Theatre’s annual report and manage the routing and approval process from all departments.
• Serve as liaison with external graphic designers, choosing vendors, creating timelines, and developing project plans for development materials.
• Partner with internal graphic designer(s) and stakeholders to develop, edit, and review donor‑facing materials. Make use of existing templates and tools to manage design of simple materials.
• Proofreading, appointment setting, meeting preparation, invoice processing, and event staffing for the Development department as necessary.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• An ability to build relationships with donors and prospective donors.
• Project management proficiency, including extraordinary attention to detail and a commitment to meeting deadlines.
• Experience setting data‑driven fundraising communications strategies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe software.

• This is a full‑time, exempt position.
• Compensation: $57,000-$63,000 annual salary.
• Robust benefits package including health insurance, open PTO policy, 401k match, and more.
• Opera Theatre has a flexible work policy which allows for some hybrid remote work and asynchronous schedule arrangements, depending on position and other factors.

Applicants for the position are asked to submit a resume along with a cover letter that describes their interest in the position and outlines their relevant experience and qualifications.

To Apply,

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization known for innovative productions featuring outstanding young artists. The company offers a festival opera season each spring which attracts ticket buyers from zip codes throughout the metropolitan area, as well as visitors from nearly 50 states and multiple countries. As of 2025, OTSL has presented 45 world premieres, which may be the highest percentage of new work in the repertory of any…