Stewardship Assistant

About The Kennedy Center

“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” – President John F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra. 

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. 

Mission Statement: As the nation's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts. 

Why Join Us

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to all full-time employees including: 

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• Flexible work arrangements
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2022 staff video!

Job Description

Situated within the Corporate Relations team, this hybrid position will work with the Assistant Managers, Officers(s) and Stewardship Manager of Corporate Relations to steward corporate supporters of the Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera (WNO), VSA, and National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). In service of the Annual Giving and Direct Response team, the incumbent will also work closely with the Assistant Manager of Annual Giving and Direct Response and the Manager of Annual Giving and Donor Insights to coordinate and execute the production of all direct response campaigns for the Kennedy Center, NSO, and WNO Membership campaigns (annual donors of less than $1,800) and the Kennedy Center’s National Patron program.

Alongside other Assistants, the Stewardship Assistant will assist both teams in drafting correspondence and sponsorship materials; maintaining donor records in Tessitura, and preparing for onsite events. The Assistant will also provide direct stewardship for all donors falling under their portfolio, including ensuring the fulfillment of donor benefits, facilitating ticketing, and corresponding about major fundraisers and events.

The Assistant must be able to exercise discretion in order to prioritize assignments and work under significant pressure, as many projects are time sensitive, involving concurrent deadlines and donor interaction. Strong organizational skills and an eagerness to communicate and problem solve with a positive attitude are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation and implementation of all Kennedy Center direct response campaigns including: extracting and reviewing weekly reports, tracking production details/schedules, proof-reading/copy-editing, reviewing copy/design, overseeing print orders, interacting with production vendors, tracking inventories, processing invoices, communicating delivery instructions, participating in vendor trainings, and analyzing overall campaign results.
• Provide proactive customer service to current donors within the Corporate and Annual Giving portfolios. This includes: (a) soliciting and renewing contributions via email and phone; (b) explaining, fulfilling, and tracking donor benefits; (c) liaising with other departments and teams to manage donor needs; (d) overseeing multiple public facing email boxes and phone line(s)
• Process gifts from KC, WNO, and NSO donors and provide timely and accurate acknowledgements and tax receipting. For Kennedy Center, NSO, and WNO Membership and National Patrons: coordinate data extraction/management of renewal and acknowledgement campaigns, review of weekly data for fulfillment firm, track production, follow up on firm needs, and draft accurate and effective copy as necessary.
• Assist with the planning and execution of benefit events, including tracking rsvps, assisting with donor communications, and staffing onsite events.
• Track solicitations, donor information, deadlines, records, and benefits usage in Tessitura and shared files. Utilize other KC systems to support team wide project management, such as Asana and Microsoft Teams.
• Utilize department research and communications tools to create research briefings for Kennedy Center leadership. Aid in creating corporate proposals. Ensure consistent, accurate, and appropriate branding and logo usage for Corporate Relations and Annual Giving collateral.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or applicable professional experience.
• Minimum one year of development experience preferred.
• Proven record of high quality customer service and fundraising experience preferred.
• Superior organizational, written, and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Careful attention to detail.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks/projects.
• A professional and cordial demeanor, tact, and diplomacy are imperative.
• Creativity and excellent communication skills are critical.
• Experience with Tessitura, Asana and Microsoft Office Suite are ideal.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area.