Job Description
Position Summary: Reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy, the Director of Special Campaigns will serve as a senior member of the Philanthropy team that works to build a robust major and planned giving program to meet the varied needs of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra (CSO). The Director will be responsible for developing relationships and executing strategies that support a multi-million dollar planned giving campaign as well as securing five to eight figure gifts for special projects and outright endowment; will inform and refine strategies to solicit planned, blended and outright gifts from key prospects and donors; will establish initiatives and manage the development and growth of major donors supporting a best-in-class stewardship program; and will work collaboratively with the Director of Individual Giving and Donor Services and Director of Institutional Giving to promote a culture of philanthropy that celebrates the generosity of every donor who invests in the mission of the CSO.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and vision in the development and implementation of a transformative planned giving and major gifts program
- Personally solicit special gifts and coordinate stewardship efforts in conjunction with the President and VP of Philanthropy and in collaboration with the department directors
- Actively analyze fundraising potential, set objectives and achieve desired goals and work with Data Systems Team to develop and maintain systems to track results
- Mange an assigned portfolio of major gift prospects and donors in an effort to achieve and surpass fundraising goals
- Carefully steward current planned and major gift donors and determine innovative and creative ways to recognize their generosity
- Supervise Major Gifts Coordinator whose chief responsibility is to provide overall campaign administrative support including special projects, estate/planned gifts and endowment
- Manage the Orchestra’s planned giving program to include the Thomas Schippers Legacy Society, the Planned Giving Committee of the Board, and relationships with key legal, tax, financial and philanthropic advisors
- Use proactive, service oriented approach with donors, donor advisers and colleagues
- Embrace volunteers to support all aspects of work
- Lead bi-weekly special project meetings to identify prospects and advance funding as required by the CSO’s financial policies
- Liaise with departments to more deeply understand current and future funding needs of the Orchestra beyond annual operations and to inform strategies
- Other duties as assigned
Candidate Requirements:
- 5-7 years of direct fundraising experience, preferably in a performing arts or cultural institution
- Proven track record of success in asking for and closing major and/or planned gifts
- Familiarity with and conversant in major types of planned giving instruments
- Ability to make decisions in a timely manner and exhibit sound and accurate judgement
- Poised, articulate professional who is comfortable in meeting new people and engaging in discussions on a variety of topics
- Demonstrated success in leadership within a department and with direct reports
- Ability to be collaborative and display a high level of communication with peers, colleagues, subordinates, volunteers, donors and prospects
- Undergraduate degree with at least five years of experience in a fast-paced, non-profit environment
- Ability to organize, manage, and complete multiple projects and tasks simultaneously with accuracy, timeliness, and enthusiasm
- Excellent oral and written communications skills and highly developed organizational skills combined with knowledge and experience working with Tessitura, Blackbaud or other donor tracking software
- Music enthusiast and love for all genres of the artform
About the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: Comprised of the world’s finest musicians, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra aims to fulfill its mission: to seek and share inspiration. A cornerstone of the Cincinnati arts community, the CSO’s vision is to engage audiences and community better than any other orchestra in the world. The CSO, which also performs and records as the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, presents over 100 concerts and events annually.
As one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the United States, the CSO has achieved international critical acclaim and an operating budget that consistently places it among America’s top 10 orchestras. The CSO serves as an ambassador for Greater Cincinnati to the world through national and international tours and an extensive Grammy-winning recording catalog, with over 10 million recordings sold worldwide. The success of the CSO is predicated by its values: it is an orchestra determined for greatness and committed to experimentation that serves as Cincinnati’s ambassador to the world and remains devoted to the Cincinnati community.
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