Deputy Director of Development

Jun 23

Anticipated Start Date: TBD

Description

Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the Deputy Director of Development (DDD) is a key strategic leader and is the second most senior position on the Symphony’s Development Team. The DDD is responsible for strategy and contributed funding from individuals, foundations, and government supporters and overall growth of private philanthropy. The DDD works regularly with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Board leadership, fundraising volunteers, and supports the Development Committee of the Board.

The DDD is a critical frontline fundraiser. managing a portfolio of 45–50 Major Gift and Planned Giving prospects totaling a minimum of $3 to $5 million annually for the Annual Fund. The Symphony operates on a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of two days per week in the office. The Deputy Director of Development is expected to maintain an active presence at select concerts, donor events, and other organizational activities throughout the year, including some evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Serve as a senior strategic and operational partner to the Chief Philanthropy Officer in departmental planning, contributed revenue strategy, organizational leadership, and overall philanthropy operations.
Lead strategy and performance for the Symphony’s frontline fundraising efforts, including major gifts, leadership annual giving, foundation and government support, and new philanthropy initiatives.
Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship for senior fundraising leaders and their teams to ensure strong portfolio management, strategic donor engagement, and achievement of ambitious contributed revenue goals.
Oversee and guide contributed revenue growth strategies, donor pipeline development, and fundraising performance across frontline fundraising programs and donor segments.
Serve as a member of the Development Leadership Team, contributing to department-wide planning, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational strategy.
Manage a select portfolio of approximately 45 to 50 leadership and major gift households and prospects through all stages of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, with annual fundraising responsibility of approximately $3 million to $5 million.
Collaborate with senior leadership and volunteer leaders to identify, cultivate, and engage prospective Board members and philanthropic leaders.
Represent the Development department internally and externally as a senior institutional leader and ambassador for the Symphony’s mission, vision, and philanthropic priorities

Board and Donor Engagement

Partner closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Board leadership, and fundraising volunteers to strengthen philanthropic engagement and advance contributed revenue goals.
Attend and participate in Board and committee meetings, including Development, Gift Planning, Committee on Governors, and other meetings as needed.
Advise Board members and volunteer leaders on donor engagement strategies, cultivation planning, philanthropic best practices, and community ambassadorship.
Help shape and support strategies that build meaningful pathways for the Bay Area’s diverse communities to engage with and support the Symphony as donors, partners, advisors, and ambassadors.
Foster strong relationships with donors, trustees, institutional partners, and community stakeholders in support of the Symphony’s fundraising and engagement priorities.

Team and Organizational Oversight

Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and management for senior fundraising staff and their teams to maximize performance, collaboration, accountability, and contributed revenue growth.
Ensure fundraising portfolios and donor strategies are managed according to best practices and aligned with institutional fundraising priorities and annual goals.
Guide and support the development of robust donor pipeline and discovery strategies across multiple channels and donor segments.
Partner collaboratively with colleagues across Development, including Donor Engagement, Development Operations, and Legacy Giving, to strengthen integration, communication, and overall departmental effectiveness.
Help foster a collaborative, high-performing, and team-oriented culture grounded in accountability, professionalism, respect, and shared purpose.
Maintain a broad understanding of charitable giving strategies, tax considerations, and philanthropic trends relevant to high-net-worth donors and institutional fundraising.
Take on other duties as assigned.

Requirements

A minimum of seven to 10 years of proven organizational, supervisory, and fundraising leadership experience is essential.
Relative experience outside the nonprofit environment working with high-net worth individuals will be considered.
A successful record of conceptualizing and executing fundraising plans across donor categories (individual giving, foundation and government support) is required.
Proven success in cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting prospects at the $100,000+ level is required.
Ability to successfully manage a team in a sophisticated, fast paced, and complex fundraising environment is essential.
Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, and meet deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment is needed.
The ability to lead and mentor an experienced team is essential.
Experience leading and developing fundraising leaders and high-performing teams is required.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, especially regarding the Symphony and its mission, vision, and values are essential.
Ability to professionally and diplomatically communicate and interact with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
Familiarity with and/or passion for orchestral music is a plus, and experience working in the arts is highly desired.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and donor database software is needed; Tessitura experience is preferred.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

The Symphony provides a competitive salary depending on experience in a range between $168,809 to $193,485 with generous health and welfare benefits.

The Symphony operates on a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of two days per week in the office. The Deputy Director of Development is expected to maintain an active presence at select concerts, donor events, and other organizational activities throughout the year, including some evenings and weekends.

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

About the Organization

The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) is widely considered to be among the most artistically adventurous and innovative arts institutions in the U.S. Under the artistic direction of Michael Tilson Thomas since 1995, the Orchestra is a leading presence among American orchestras at home and around the world, celebrated for its artistic excellence, creative performance concepts, active touring, award-winning recordings, and standard-setting education programs.

In December 2018, the San Francisco Symphony announced Esa-Pekka Salonen as its Music Director Designate along with a group of eight Collaborative Partners from a variety of cultural realms who collectively form a new artistic leadership model. Salonen will begin his appointment as the SFS’s 12th Music Director in September 2020, at which time Michael Tilson Thomas will become the Orchestra’s first Music Director Laureate, following his remarkable 25-year tenure as Music Director.

WOC is not responsible for the content of job postings.