What are the responsibilities and job description for the Coordinator, Annual Giving position at Lyric Opera of Chicago?
REPORTS TO: Manager, Annual Giving
JOB STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking, and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, company, and city.
The Annual Giving team executes direct-response appeals and communications to support the Fund for Lyric, specifically focusing on two key donor societies, the Friends of Lyric ($50-$4,999) and the Patrons of Lyric ($5,000-$24,999). The Coordinator is responsible for helping retain, grow, acquire, and reactivate contributed support by creating regular cultivation, retention, and stewardship communications, serving donors as a general inquiry contact point for donor engagement questions, and providing project management and administrative support for the Annual Giving team.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Campaign Execution & Appeals
Donor Stewardship & Engagement
Event & Experience Coordination
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
WORK CONDITIONS:
COMPENSATION:
Job Classification: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Salary is: $40,000-$45,000
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 (5:00pm CT)
Lyric Opera offers benefits including health, dental, vision, 403B (no company match), 401(k) with company match, PTO (including sick, vacation, and personal days, and holidays), life/AD&D coverage, opportunities for professional development, and complimentary tickets.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
JOB STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking, and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, company, and city.
The Annual Giving team executes direct-response appeals and communications to support the Fund for Lyric, specifically focusing on two key donor societies, the Friends of Lyric ($50-$4,999) and the Patrons of Lyric ($5,000-$24,999). The Coordinator is responsible for helping retain, grow, acquire, and reactivate contributed support by creating regular cultivation, retention, and stewardship communications, serving donors as a general inquiry contact point for donor engagement questions, and providing project management and administrative support for the Annual Giving team.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Campaign Execution & Appeals
- Execute Fund for Lyric email campaigns using Prospect2, Airtable, and Ziflow, ensuring alignment with Lyric’s comprehensive communications calendar and brand standards.
- Manage Lyric’s monthly renewal notice appeals in partnership with the mail house vendor, including data preparation and production oversight.
- Support quarterly direct mail appeals as part of the Annual Giving team, including data pulls, segmentation, letter drafting, routing creative for approval, and coordination with the mail house vendor.
- Design and schedule complementary quarterly social media appeals to reinforce direct mail and email campaigns.
- Oversee Lyric’s gift-matching communications program (Double the Donation).
Donor Stewardship & Engagement
- Serve as the primary phone and email contact for the Friends of Lyric donor society, responding to donor inquiries and coordinating timely gift processing with the Donor Records team.
- Execute routine stewardship efforts, including gratitude letters, greeting cards, donor impact reports, and daily acknowledgment calls.
- Support telefundraising initiatives aimed at acquiring, retaining, and upgrading annual donors.
- Steward Lyric’s Name a Seat program, maintaining accurate inventory in the database and coordinating plaque production and installation with vendors and internal partners.
Event & Experience Coordination
- Oversee Development’s dress rehearsal and working rehearsal programs, managing invitations, communications, response tracking, staffing logistics, and day-of coordination.
- Attend and assist with department events and donor experiences, including work outside of normal business hours with advance notice when possible.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Bachelor’s Degree in arts management, marketing, or related field.
- More than one year or one completed internship with a nonprofit organization.
- Customer service experience interfacing with donors or customers, building relationships, handling inquiries, and problem-solving.
- Interest in authentic interactions with donors and teammates.
- Self-starter with strong project management and organizational competencies with a demonstrated aptitude for multitasking, attention to detail, and meeting overlapping deadlines.
- Ability to work independently and as a team member in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.
- Experience with Tessitura (preferred) or an equivalent CMS platform.
- Interest in building relationships and partnerships with external vendors.
- Personal passion for opera, musical theater, or classical music that can be shared in communicating with donors.
- A positive, “can do” approach to work
WORK CONDITIONS:
- Sitting and standing for extended periods..
- Ability to operate a computer and handle other office equipment.
- Ability to occasionally participate in evening and/or weekend duties outside regular business hours.
COMPENSATION:
Job Classification: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Salary is: $40,000-$45,000
Application Deadline: June 18, 2026 (5:00pm CT)
Lyric Opera offers benefits including health, dental, vision, 403B (no company match), 401(k) with company match, PTO (including sick, vacation, and personal days, and holidays), life/AD&D coverage, opportunities for professional development, and complimentary tickets.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
Salary : $40,000 - $45,000