Senior Major Gifts Officer, Washington National Opera

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 America's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across the United States and around the world, connecting the greatest living artists with audiences of every stripe, no matter their background. We welcome all Americans and creators and visitors from across the globe to discover, experience, learn about, be inspired by, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include: 

• 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

Pay Details

The Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $120,000 - $135,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate’s skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

Job Description 

Washington National Opera (WNO) is adding two Senior Major Gifts Officer positions to its fundraising team, each of whom will be responsible for managing and advancing a sizable portfolio of pre-assigned high-end donors and prospects and major gifts prospects who the officers will be expected to help identify and develop. The officers will report to WNO’s Director of Major Gifts (DMG) and will work with the WNO DMG to establish annual goals for their portfolios, inclusive of aspirational growth.

Under the supervision of the DMG and in collaboration with the entire WNO Development team, the Senior Major Gifts Officers will be tasked with helping the Opera achieve its annual fundraising and special campaign goals through the cultivation and management of the individuals in their portfolios, and by participating in and supporting the department’s strategic planning, campaigns, new initiatives as they arise, WNO’s annual gala, and donor/prospect cultivation events throughout the year.

The WNO Development department is part of the larger Kennedy Center Development team, and in addition to achieving their WNO portfolio goals, WNO Senior Major Gifts Officers work collaboratively with their Center-wide colleagues, who assist each other in advancing their assigned goals while also helping to achieve results for the entire institution. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Washington National Opera (WNO) is adding two Senior Major Gifts Officer positions to its fundraising team, each of whom will be responsible for managing and advancing a sizable portfolio of pre-assigned high-end donors and prospects and major gifts prospects who the officers will be expected to help identify and develop. The officers will report to WNO’s Director of Major Gifts (DMG) and will work with the WNO DMG to establish annual goals for their portfolios, inclusive of aspirational growth.
• Under the supervision of the DMG and in collaboration with the entire WNO Development team, the Senior Major Gifts Officers will be tasked with helping the Opera achieve its annual fundraising and special campaign goals through the cultivation and management of the individuals in their portfolios, and by participating in and supporting the department’s strategic planning, campaigns, new initiatives as they arise, WNO’s annual gala, and donor/prospect cultivation events throughout the year.
• The WNO Development department is part of the larger Kennedy Center Development team, and in addition to achieving their WNO portfolio goals, WNO Senior Major Gifts Officers work collaboratively with their Center-wide colleagues, who assist each other in advancing their assigned goals while also helping to achieve results for the entire institution.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 5 years development experience, including the successful management of a major gifts’ portfolio. Experience working with Boards and in a team with shared goals. Experience developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies in a timely fashion and with flexibility as the needs of donors or organizational priorities shift.
• Knowledge of broad fundraising principles, standard accounting procedures, development trends, prospect research, and Boards is essential. An understanding of large cultural institutions is beneficial but not required.
• Self-motivated, creative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial. Ability to delegate, multi-task, and deftly interact with a variety of personalities, internally and externally. Ability and confidence to work without close supervision, to foresee development needs, and to proactively participate in strategy meetings.
• Ability and willingness to collaborate across a matrixed organization to make best use of the expertise of other departments to effect positive change and achieve shared goals.
• Superior organizational, written, and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate persuasively, in person and in writing.
• Experience with Tessitura and/or other CRM systems.
• Interest in and knowledge of music, opera, and the arts is helpful.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided. 
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite. 

Additional Information

• Working outside of normal business hours (evenings and weekends) is expected during the performance seasons, primarily during WNO performances and events, and to assist with Kennedy Center and National Symphony Orchestra events if needed. Other than when out of office at donor meetings or for other business, normal hours are in-office.
• The WNO/Kennedy Center environment is a large, vibrant, faced-paced setting that values creativity, initiative, efficiency, diversity, and teamwork.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Led by General Director Timothy O’Leary and internationally-acclaimed stage director and WNO Artistic Director, Francesca Zambello, Washington National Opera celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026. Each season, the $24 million company produces five innovative mainstage productions—from the classics to the rare to the contemporary—and an annual holiday opera for families. Since 2012, the company’s much-lauded American Opera Initiative has commissioned and produced 36 twenty-minute operas, three each year, from emerging composers and librettists, and 7 hour-long operas, 6 of which have subsequently been seen at companies across the U.S. WNO’s Cafritz Young Artists program is considered one of the finest resident training and career advancement programs in the world, offering singers on the verge of international careers intensive coaching, career guidance, and—importantly—supporting roles in WNO mainstage productions and leading roles in the American Opera Initiative world premieres. WNO and the Kennedy Center annually celebrate the Marian Anderson Award given to a young American singer who has achieved initial success in opera, oratorio, or recital repertory with an annual recital, and WNO, in concert with Kennedy Center Education, oversee the WNO Opera Institute, a summer training program for high school singers. WNO further extends its mission into the community with programs throughout the year in churches, community centers, at the Library of Congress and other major institutions, with the tech community, and with teens at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center.