Wintergreen Music

Director of donor relations JOB POSTING

Wintergreen Music (“WM”) seeks an energetic, organized, and passionate Director of Donor Relations to support Wintergreen Music’s month-long summer Festival, education, and year-round programming.

• Job Title: Director of Donor Relations (“DofDR”) – REMOTE/ONSITE

• Job Type: Year-Round, “Full-Time Flex”. Remote employee position. Required onsite residency at Wintergreen Resort (main site of the Festival) between June 26 & July 29, 2025 and off-season events and local cultivation meetings, as scheduled.

Duties & Responsibilities:

This position leads cultivation efforts to develop and deepen relationships and connections within the Wintergreen Music community. During the off season, the DofDR works with the WM team to develop new and existing donor bases through relationship building, cultivation events, and giving campaigns.

The WM team works flexibly and remotely throughout the year with onsite residency during the live Festival and off-season events as scheduled.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with Executive Director to create strategic giving campaigns related to annual fund, special, and legacy giving.

• Serve as primary donor relations contact, cultivating community relationships as a champion of Wintergreen Music’s core values.

• With administrative support and in collaboration with board committees, prepare campaign materials, print and digital, ensuring cohesive communication and messaging with Festival marketing efforts. 

• Prepare and manage acknowledgement of gifts and recognition of major gifts and campaign gifts.

• Work with administrative support to ensure accurate and efficient processing of donor records and transactions across software platforms.

• Track and analyze donor data and trends to inform continual stewardship of a patron/donor stakeholder spectrum. 

• Research, recommend, and implement strategies to deepen donor connections to Wintergreen Music community, collaborating with key partners as needed. 

• Working with leadership, manage and arrange Festival concert sponsorships. 

• Ensure healthy development of donor base across giving levels, including new donors, mid-level, and circle-level donors.

• Oversee planning and organization of donor cultivation and appreciation events, In-Home Concert Specials, and the major fundraiser (Annual Benefit).

• Provide leadership and advocacy support to board of directors, summer staff and education fellows. Work with board committees and leadership to inform strategic organizational growth and stewardship related to donor relations.

• Develop messaging and talking points, serving as spokesperson as needed throughout the Festival.

Requirements/Qualifications:

WM is seeking an experienced relationship manager with a passion for music and experience working within the performing arts industry. The Director of Donor Relations must have positive energy and communication skills, be collaborative, accountable, and support the core values of Wintergreen Music. The DofDR plays a critical role in shaping the welcoming environment of the Wintergreen Music community for patrons and donors. Excellent professional written and verbal communication skills and ability to organize multiple priorities simultaneously. Fluency in technology and computer skills including Google Drive, Office, Donor CRMs, Zoom, Dropbox, Squarespace, and social media preferred. Sense of humor and confidence to share input and suggestions in a positive and constructive manner are essential. Must have initiative and interest in serving as a team player in an innovative and ever-improving environment. 

The Wintergreen Music Festival is located at Wintergreen Resort in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, about 40 miles southwest of Charlottesville, Virginia. The DofDR will work remotely during the year, traveling to off-season events as needed, and must be on site for the Festival from June 26 – July 29, 2025. DofDR must have a car, valid driver’s license, and personal technology (smartphone with texting plan and laptop). Cultivation visits and meetings may also be scheduled throughout the year.

Compensation & Benefits:

Employee full-time flex position – salary commensurate with experience. Housing, free unlimited use of the Resort Aquatics and Fitness Center, and free admission to Festival events are provided during the Festival. Compensation for travel expenses related to cultivation meetings, visits, and events may also be provided within a 2-3 hour radius of the Wintergreen area.

Organization Description:

Located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Wintergreen Music (legally known as Wintergreen Performing Arts, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization that produces a high-quality summer music Festival featuring symphonic and chamber concerts, as well as other performing arts programs throughout the year. Education is a major part of its mission, reflected both in the Wintergreen Music LEAD Cooperative and in community engagement programs for those living in the surrounding area. By attracting first-rate musicians to participate as performers and educators, Wintergreen Music strives to enrich the lives of all–residents and visitors alike–who share the unique Wintergreen experience.

The WMF presents a core of fully professional musicians and guest artists who perform orchestra, chamber, and solo music. Many of the musicians are teaching artists who teach in the LEAD Cooperative, a program for advanced student instrumentalists, vocalists, conductors, composers, and budding arts administrators. With seven programs, the LEAD Cooperative (a new educational initiative and extension of the former Academy) serves a niche group of around 30 students. In addition to the core of classical music, WMF presents jazz, bluegrass, and popular concerts as well as interactive, audience participation opportunities and daily seminars. Public events are presented every day during the Festival, resulting in a full and exciting experience for musicians, staff, students, and patrons alike. Since its inception, WM has relied proudly and heavily on an ever-growing corps of volunteers to accomplish the feat of running a Festival. In addition, the local and semi-local community generously supports WM financially. The annual budget is approximately $900,000, in addition to substantial contributions of housing for the musicians and students during the Festival.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

• Application deadline: November 7. Applications reviewed upon receipt. Position open until filled.

• Apply to: Julianne Akins Smith, Executive Director

• Apply to e-mail: info@wintergreenmusic.org

• Phone: 434.361.0541

• Organization Web Address: WintergreenMusic.org

• Application Procedure: Electronic submissions only sent to info@wintergreenmusic.org with the subject line: “Director of Donor Relations position”. All applications will be considered confidential. Please send .pdfs only of the following documents:

  • Cover letter

  • Resume

  • Three references with email and phone numbers