Stewardship Manager

About The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts

"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 Trump 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 Trump 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 Trump 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
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA

Pay Details

The Trump Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $71,000 - $82,000, 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

The Manager of Stewardship plays a critical role in ensuring donors are informed and confident in the impact of their philanthropic support. This position leads the design and execution of a comprehensive, integrated individual donor stewardship and recognition program that supports The Trump Kennedy Center, which includes The Washington National Opera and, engaging donors through meaningful, personalized, and mission-aligned experiences. The stewardship program is designed to strengthen donor retention, engagement, and loyalty by clearly communicating gratitude and impact while enhancing the overall donor experience across institutions.

This role is responsible for managing the day-to-day execution of a robust stewardship program that equips the Development team with the systems, processes, metrics, workflows, and content necessary to effectively steward individual donors at all levels. Through close collaboration with development colleagues, the Manager of Stewardship ensures consistency, accuracy, and excellence in donor recognition and impact reporting, supporting institutional fundraising goals for The Trump Kennedy Center.

Key Responsibilities

Stewardship Program Creation and Management

• Maintain a comprehensive, integrated donor stewardship and recognition program within the broader membership and development framework of The Trump Kennedy Center, ensuring that patrons receive a distinctive experience reflective of the culture, artistry, and traditions of an opera organization.
• Work closely with existing stewardship and benefit structures to clearly articulate and reinforce the value of donor engagement with The Trump Kennedy Center, which includes the Washington National Opera.
• Collaborate across the Development team to help develop and manage an annual individual donor stewardship plan that includes strategic touchpoints, stewardship events, and donor meetings throughout the year.
• Manage a coordinated calendar of donor communications across giving levels, identifying opportunities to leverage and adapt content across audiences; oversee the project management and execution of the annual impact report in partnership.
• Partner closely with gift officers to schedule, manage, and track donor touchpoints within a moves management framework and in Tessitura (CRM), ensuring accurate documentation and timely follow-up.
• Build, refine, and maintain systems, processes, metrics, and policies to ensure the donor stewardship program operates effectively, efficiently, and in alignment with institutional standards.
• Work with individual donor teams to implement, evaluate, and refresh acknowledgment strategies for varied donor audiences and giving levels.
• Inventory and review solicitation, acknowledgment, stewardship, and donor recognition materials to ensure quality, consistency, and alignment with brand and messaging standards; identify gaps and lead the development of new materials in partnership with The Trump Kennedy Center Donor Communications and Stewardship team.
• Develop and support a strategic annual stewardship event plan in collaboration with Development colleagues.
• Work closely with The Trump Kennedy Center Special Events team to execute stewardship events throughout the season, including Opening Nights, Young Artist events, the Annual Dinner, and other donor-focused engagements.
• Contribute to strategy development and manage the deployment of major donor communications and stewardship vehicles, including the Impact Report, Young Artist updates, holiday and birthday acknowledgments, and other targeted donor communications.
• Provide ongoing education and training for Development staff and colleagues on best practices in donor relations and stewardship.
• Manage database-related stewardship activities, including reporting, list generation, and routine data maintenance, to support accurate tracking and analysis.

Management

• Effectively manage Assistant Manager of Stewardship, by supervising day-to-day work and investing in their continued professional growth,
• Hold weekly check-in meetings and lead annual review process
• Collaborate on projects often, providing the Assistant Manager a consistent opportunity to grow professionally.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or applicable professional experience.
• Minimum 3-5 years development or related experience required.
• Working knowledge of the performing arts is preferred.
• Superior organizational, written, and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of and experience with donor databases to manage stewardship touchpoints, solicitation information and campaign progress. Ability to foresee fundraising opportunities and give attention to detail while at the same time focusing on the long-term perspective.
• Careful attention to detail and awareness of department procedures.
• Ability and confidence to work without close supervision, to foresee development needs, and to proactively generate work for this position.
• Ability to delegate and multitask.
• A professional and cordial demeanor, tact, and diplomacy are imperative as the incumbent is regularly in contact with people at all levels of society and business including Kennedy Center leadership, high level volunteers, major donors and prospects, and other Center personnel.
• A clear understanding of the Trump Kennedy Center mission, and an understanding of the ways in which a fundraising operation works within a large and complex institution.
• Ability to deftly manage many relationships and personality types; both internally among staff members, and externally among constituents.
• Experience with Tessitura is ideal.
• 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

• Large, vibrant, fast-paced office that values initiative, efficiency, diversity, and teamwork.
• Office culture encourages professional growth through internal promotion whenever possible.
• Working outside of normal business hours (nights and weekends) can be expected from time to time
• The noise level in the work environment is low, however attendance at major fundraising events and performances is required. In those conditions, the noise level is very loud.
• No travel is required.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

An affiliate of the Trump Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera is led by General Director Timothy O'Leary and internationally-acclaimed stage director and WNO Artistic Director, Francesca Zambello. WNO celebrates its 70^th 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.