Print Friendly, PDF & Email
  • Full Time
  • St. Louis City
  • Applications have closed
  • Salary: $100k - $200k Negotiable
  • Organization Type: Art/Culture

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

POSITION TITLE:  VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER

REPORTS TO:  President and CEO

DIRECT REPORTS:    

  • Senior Director, Individual Giving and Philanthropy Operations
  • Senior Director, Campaign and Leadership Gifts
  • Senior Director, Institutional Philanthropy

POSITION SUMMARY

The Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer (VP) serves as a key leadership team member and an active participant in making strategic decisions affecting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO). The VP will be instrumental in engaging the Board and Advisory Council, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the executive team in the creation and implementation of a long-term fund development strategy that can sustain and strengthen all fundraising and development needs for the entire organization.

The VP will help forge new relationships to build the organization’s visibility, impact, and financial resources. Additionally, the VP will design and implement a comprehensive plan for developing key external alliances by cultivating individual and philanthropic support and advancing a culture of philanthropy within the organization.  They will lead and manage the philanthropy strategy for the entire organization to rigorously engage new foundations, corporations, and individual donors, growing resources and securing funders to provide a deep investment in program expansion, as well as policy and evaluation efforts.

The VP will have primary responsibility for establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to support a $32M budget, grow the $8M Annual Fund and oversee a Campaign effort for Powell Hall, the SLSO’s home, through the solicitation of major gifts, federal and state grants, special events, and corporate and foundation support. The VP will have significant experience developing and managing a high-performing team to achieve bold annual fundraising goals, improving systems and processes, and demonstrating financial acumen. The VP will effectively represent the organization’s development interests to internal and external constituencies and will work in close collaboration with the CEO and Board to achieve philanthropic goals and build a compelling and inspiring case for support.

This position reports to the CEO, supervises all Philanthropy Team staff through three direct reports (Senior Director, Individual Giving and Philanthropy Operations; Senior Director, Campaign and Leadership Gifts; Senior Director, Institutional Philanthropy) and serves as a development resource throughout the organization. This position requires a creative, collaborative and results-oriented leader whose passion for the SLSO and music is matched with strong leadership, outstanding interpersonal skills, crisp decision-making in the face of complex challenges, and a proven track record of non-profit fundraising.

SCOPE OF POSITION

Leadership:

1.       Working with the President and CEO, Board leadership and the executive team, provide strategy, leadership and analysis to support the future success of the SLSO.

2.       Inform and shape philanthropy strategies and oversee all SLSO fundraising programs and stewardship efforts, as well as the Symphony Volunteer Association (SVA), an important group that supports fundraising initiatives; the Campaign Task Force and Cabinet; the Philanthropy Committee and all Board committees and task forces formed in support of philanthropic goals.

3.       Formulate short- and long-term goals driving the fundraising needs of the organization. Develop actionable strategies for meeting and exceeding fundraising goals for Annual Fund and Campaign efforts through Foundation, Corporate, public agency, and Individual support.

4.       Manage, organize and direct the development team to best approach a comprehensive philanthropic program.

Management:

1.       Track revenue and fundraising trends, then use the information to predict future opportunities for expansion efforts and avoid any downtrends in individual, corporate or foundation gifts.

2.       Discover new and potentially lucrative revenue streams for the expansion of the organization’s fundraising efforts.

3.       Cultivate and maintain relationships with major donors by responding to their inquiries, keeping them apprised of recent events with the organization and sharing the progress their donations have made possible.

4.       Exercise exceptional time management skills and meet fundraising deadlines.

5.       Demonstrate exceptional writing and communication skills.

6.       Motivate a team to action and keep order amongst competing interests.

7.       Use financial management skills to create, analyze, and manage budgets. Establish performance measures, monitor results, and evaluate the efficacy of the fund development program.

8.       Assure design and accuracy of donor and prospect records, gift management systems, and informational reports.

Community Impact:

1.       Work with a wide variety of potential donors and supporters, relying on strong interpersonal skills.

2.       Speak publicly, make presentations and facilitate donor meetings with members of the Board and Advisory Council.

3.       Raise awareness of the organization and its primary goals through outreach efforts, regular community engagement, publications and in support of media relations.

4.       Appropriately represent the institution, board and CEO to donors, prospects, public agencies, development committees and fundraising volunteers.

5.       Help identify, cultivate, recruit, train, and develop fundraising volunteers and leadership.

Organization/Board Resource Development:

1.       Maintain accountability and ensure compliance with all regulations and laws, as well as the code of ethics for fundraising professionals.

2.       Ensure that philanthropy and fund development are carried out in keeping with the organization’s values, mission, vision and plans.

3.       Participate with the CEO, staff and board in charting the organization’s course in fund development and governance. Advise CEO on board leadership recruitment and effective governance, participating in Governance and Nominating Committee’s work. Lead the efforts of the Philanthropy Committee, the Leadership Circle Committee, the Campaign Task Force and Cabinet and all other Board committees and Task Force created in support of Philanthropic efforts.

4.       Keep informed of developments in philanthropy and fund development as well as the general fields of management and the not-for-profit sector; inform the CEO, Philanthropy Committee and board on current trends issues, problems and activities to facilitate policy making.

5.       Recommend policy positions concerning fund development.

POSITION QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

–          Equivalent of master’s degree and CFRE certification.

–          10 years of direct experience in the development and implementation of comprehensive fund development strategies. At least 7 years of supervisory experience, with a proven track record of successful management and retention of employees and experience establishing goals and metrics to evaluate strategies and team effectiveness.

–          Requires proficiency in the use of computer-based fundraising management tools, as well as Tessitura, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Ability to embrace new technology.

–          Knowledge of orchestral music and performing arts is preferred.

–          Dynamic, strong and strategic institutional leader and fundraiser accustomed to setting and achieving aggressive fundraising goals.

–          Ability to engender the trust and confidence of the CEO, Board, senior leadership team, staff and donors in achieving fully integrated philanthropy across the organization.

–          Display a proven ability to lead staff through a department transition, including planning and organizing, evaluation and analysis, effective decision-making, motivating and supervising staff. Ability to work in a collaborative setting with a strong senior management team.

–          Ability to perform difficult, highly complex, or highly technical projects. Requires broad conceptual judgment and initiative and to work with extremely sensitive and confidential data of major importance where utmost integrity is required.

–          Ability to maintain a positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating with internal and external contacts using a high degree of diplomacy and the ability to deal with and influence persons in all types of positions. Must be able to inspire trust in employees and potential donors alike.

–          Exceptional writing, verbal and presentation skills.

–          Strategic thinker and proven fundraiser with strong organizational and budgeting skills.

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 140th year with the 2019/2020 season and its first with Music Director Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the world’s finest orchestras, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.

The SLSO musical family also includes two resident choruses: the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, founded in 1976 by Music Director Jerzy Semkow; and the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, an ensemble focused on the music of African-American and African cultures founded in 1994; and also the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, founded by Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin in 1970.  In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for more than 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting dozens of free education and community programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony: Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, with the upcoming season marking the 43rd year of the partnership.

The Grammy Award-winning SLSO’s impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years.  Today, the SLSO builds on the institution’s current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane Denève. Denève begins his tenure as the SLSO’s 13th Music Director with the 19/20 season. For more information, visit slso.org.

Application Procedure:  Please apply to https://www.slso.org/en/about-us/careers/ and prepare letter of interest with resume, clearly stating salary expectations and three references.