Description
Position Summary
Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the Deputy Director of Development (DDD) is a key strategic leader and the second most senior position on the San Francisco Symphony’s (the Symphony) Development Team. Serving as a senior partner and designated proxy to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the DDD plays a central leadership role in departmental strategy, contributed revenue growth, team performance, and organizational planning across the Symphony’s philanthropy operation. Together, they help lead a comprehensive philanthropy program that generates approximately $35 million annually.
The DDD provides leadership for the Symphony’s frontline fundraising efforts, the largest fundraising vertical within the Development department, and oversees a team of nine development professionals, including senior fundraising leaders responsible for major gifts, leadership annual giving, new philanthropy, and foundation and government support. Through this leadership structure, the DDD guides strategy, performance, and contributed revenue growth across a broad portfolio of fundraising activity and donor engagement initiatives.
Working closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Board leadership, fundraising volunteers, and senior institutional leadership, the DDD helps advance the Symphony’s philanthropic priorities and fosters a culture of ambitious, relationship-driven fundraising across the organization.
As a senior frontline fundraiser, the DDD personally manages a select portfolio of approximately 45 to 50 leadership and major gift households and prospects, with annual fundraising responsibility of approximately $3 million to $5 million in support of the Annual Fund and broader institutional priorities.
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.
Roles and 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
Traits and Characteristics
The Deputy Director of Development (DDD) will have the willingness to engage and work with different perspectives and demonstrate an openness to new ideas, complemented by outstanding interpersonal skills. Demonstrating an ability to engage donors at all levels, trustees, senior leadership, staff, and other key members of the Symphony community, the DDD will model accountability and diplomacy as foundational skills in the role.
Characteristics of the DDD include:
§ Leadership and Teamwork – The ability to organize and inspire people in a vision while creating a sense of purpose and direction with team members.
§ Influencing Others and Interpersonal Skills – The capability to influence others’ ways of thinking, decisions, and actions while building rapport and relating well to all kinds of people.
§ Time and Priority Management – The acuity to develop initiatives and demonstrate self-control in time and priority management while identifying and overseeing resources, tasks, systems, and people to obtain results.
§ Stakeholder Focus – The sensitivity to anticipate, meet, and/or exceed stakeholder needs, wants, and expectations.
§ Goal Orientation – The capacity to set, pursue, and attain goals regardless of obstacles or circumstances.
Qualifications
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.
