Director of Development, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

The Director of Development’s primary responsibility is to lead annual operating, special campaigns, and planned giving revenue goals. This key senior management position will be instrumental in achieving the success of a new five-year plan to make the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra a model of a 21st century orchestra.  The position reports to the Executive Director & Chief Development Officer.

Main Responsibilities:

Provides operational support to the Chief Development Officer (CDO)

• Supports solicitations for the Development Committee and volunteer leadership.
• Serves as a member of the Development Management Team, helping to establish goals, objectives, and procedures for the department.
• Develops and monitors expense and revenue budgets.
• Works closely with the Marketing & Communications department to ensure a coordinated approach to patron development.
• Works closely with CDO and Development Committee to develop and execute strategy to achieve goals of campaigns, including timely and frequent revenue analysis and tracking.
• Responsible for the timely and effective execution of benefits to donors at all levels.
• Works closely with the Grants Coordinator to secure revenue from private foundations, Arts Councils, and Federal programs.

Oversees and provides leadership for the entry-level and mid-level gifts, foundations, and planned giving programs.

• Works to establish effective day-to-day strategy and long-term vision to maximize revenue through the major and planned giving programs.
• Monitors and evaluates program performance, utilizing metrics, industry trends, and best practices to ensure the programs reach their full potential.
• Serves as an individual and institutional giving subject matter expert.
• Works with program staff to understand and support organizational funding priorities.
• Supports strategic solicitations that incorporate operating, campaign, and planned giving asks as appropriate.
• Provides strategy for prospecting efforts related to major and planned gift fundraising and fosters regular reviews of portfolios.
• Works with the Stewardship team to produce impactful donor engagement and recognition opportunities.

Generates major gifts from a portfolio of donors and prospects.

• Maintains a personal portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.
• Develops individual cultivation and solicitation strategies and timelines for donor prospects and gifts.
• Solicits and closes gifts.
• Ensures proper engagement to build and sustain donor relations.
• Trains and works with staff, volunteers, and trustees to maximize opportunities for both operating and campaign support.

Generates entry and mid-level gifts from a portfolio of donors and prospects.

• Develops institutional cultivation, solicitation strategies and timelines for donor prospects and gifts at the entry-level.
• Develops strategies for an effective patron-development cultivation that encourages a healthy pipe-line of prospects and donors’ upgrades.
• Solicits and closes gifts.

Professional Experience and Qualifications

Bachelor’s or master’s degree, or equivalent experience, with a minimum of five years’ experience in contributing at the leadership level to a successful Development office. Strong management skills, critical thinking, and attention to detail required. Impeccable oral/written communication skills. Experience developing strategic plans and communicating program vision. Thorough knowledge of development department functions, including donor identification and solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship.

Additional qualifications include:

• Strategic thinking, relationship building skills, collaboration, and attention to detail.
• Work to ensure that systems, organizational culture, and practices are aligned with ASO’s mission, vision and guiding principles.
• Develop and refine programs and activities to ensure equitable practices and support the development of a diverse and effective team.
• Ability to ensure an inclusive working environment that supports diverse populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Ability to recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Having flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
• Working knowledge of tax laws related to charitable contributions of cash, property, and securities along with planned giving experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of Patron Manager Software is a plus.