Associate Director, Major Gifts & Legacy Giving

American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is one of the greatest dance companies in the world. Since its founding season in 1940, ABT’s mission has been to create, present, preserve, and extend the incredible repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT’s repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces.  In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT was designated “America’s National Ballet Company®.”
The Role:
Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, the Associate Director, Major Gifts & Legacy Giving will be a dedicated frontline fundraiser, taking ownership of a robust donor portfolio and refreshing annual and multi-year giving strategies. As 2025 marks the Company’s 85th, ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School’s 20th, and ABT Studio Company’s 20th anniversaries, we are seeking an individual enthused to develop and deepen relationships with individuals passionate about the future of classical ballet and the performing arts.This role is responsible for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts $10,000 and above from a sophisticated portfolio of current and prospective donors. The candidate will also take on additional fundraising-related responsibilities that include managing existing or new fundraising programs and initiatives.
The candidate will be expected to collaborate with ABT colleagues across artistic and administrative departments to understand funding priorities and engage them as needed to build strong donor relationships. Additionally, the candidate will steer The Lucia Chase Society, ABT’s legacy giving program. This entails incorporating legacy giving vehicles into conversations with donors, identifying prospects, and solidifying and strengthening annual cultivation and stewardship opportunities to attract new planned gifts.

Specific Responsibilites

• Oversee and grow a portfolio of Major Gift donors and prospects (roughly 100+) through all phases of the giving cycle, from discovery and engagement through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• In collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer, Senior Director, Advancement and Major Gifts colleagues, identify, cultivate, and solicit current and prospective donors to ABT’s Partners Program, Education & Training programs; Production and New Works initiative, the ABT Dancer Fund and other critical facets of operations.
• Direct and serve as point of contact for The Lucia Chase Society, acknowledging donors who have made or intend to make legacy gifts to American Ballet Theatre and fielding inquiries from prospective donors. Identify new planned giving prospects; speak articulately to planned giving vehicles in conversations with donors; and orchestrate benefits and ongoing recognition during the donor’s lifetime.
• Refresh ABT Partner’s Program – giving tier for donors who contribute at least $10,000 annually – to compel new interest and encourage heightened support from membership base.
• Be responsible for managing communications and follow-up, including actively tracking moves and interactions in ABT’s CRM software.
• In advance of performance seasons, utilize iWave and other research tools to segment, screen and rate prospects from robust ticket buyer lists.
• Prepare written communications, stewardship reports, correspondence, proposals, and presentations for major donors.
• Partner with ABT’s Special Events team to conceptualize and execute a regular schedule of events that maximize major donor and prospect cultivation opportunities.
• Actively attend performances and events during New York performance seasons, establishing meaningful touch points with donors and prospects, including meetings, dinners and back-stage tours. This will require attendance in the evenings and weekends as required.
• Perform other Advancement-related duties and undertake projects as needed.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, with a minimum of 5-7 years of front-line fundraising experience, preferably in the performing arts.
• Ability to use current desktop office technologies proficiently (Microsoft Office suite, Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Outlook, SalesForce) and to adapt to future technologies.
• Familiarity with research tools such as iWave preferred.
• Knowledge of commonly used planned giving vehicles and legacy giving programs.
• Demonstrated accomplishments in managing donor portfolios, making solicitations and achieving or exceeding personal and departmental fundraising goals required.
• Experien