Associate Vice President of Philanthropic Giving

Description

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music seeks an Associate Vice President of Philanthropic Giving who is responsible for leading the effort to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors in support of SFCM’s strategic fundraising priorities, and managing a dynamic team of fundraisers encompassing individual and legacy philanthropy at all levels.

This role reports to the Vice President of Advancement who oversees an integrated Advancement and Marketing/Communications department. The role operates within an 11-member Advancement team, and manages a team of 4 staff members: Director of Individual Philanthropy, Director of Legacy Giving, Philanthropy Officer, and Annual Giving Manager. This role also manages a personal portfolio of donor prospects capable of making significant philanthropic investments in SFCM.

As a key member of the Advancement leadership team, the AVP will lead the implementation of the Conservatory’s individual fundraising plans and make strategic decisions to maximize results. Current fundraising priorities include student scholarships, faculty and program support, free performances, community engagement, and an active $125 million endowment campaign. The annual fundraising goal is approximately $8 million within an operating budget of $46 million.

The AVP must be an accomplished, articulate, mature, and externally-focused development professional who can build successful working relationships with high net worth individuals and their representatives. This role requires an appreciation for music and arts education, exceptional management skills, and a proven track record of securing principal gifts. The ideal candidate will be deeply embedded in the San Francisco arts landscape, possessing the vision to leverage SFCM’s unique position within the city’s musical ecosystem to drive new donor growth.

The AVP will foster an engaged work environment and inspire a shared vision by strategically aligning effort and resources and promoting trust and accountability among Advancement staff and Conservatory stakeholders. They must have a proven record of building and managing results-focused teams with a leadership style that inspires others to improve their effectiveness and develop as leaders and fundraisers, including managing and oversight of a portfolio system for major donors as well as metrics-driven management of a team of front-line fundraisers. The AVP will take an active role in attracting talented fundraisers to the organization and will invest in the professional development and growth of the entire team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the fundraising team to drive activity and increase total contributions
• Work closely with Conservatory administrators and volunteer leadership to maximize and optimize fundraising opportunities
• Serve as a mentor and role model for staff, exemplifying the Conservatory’s mission, vision, and values
• Guide planned giving strategy as well as remain current in legacy giving best practices
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 75 donor prospects, focusing on securing gifts of $50,000+
• Generate a strong pipeline of new and upgraded major gifts for annual support
• Maintain a robust pace of donor meetings
• Personally solicit major and principal gifts
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit gifts for endowed priorities in SFCM’s endowment campaign, including scholarships, faculty chairs, programs, and strategic initiatives
• Partner with the VP of Advancement, President, faculty, and Board members on donor identification, cultivation, and collaborative solicitations
• Build long-term, trust-based relationships with donors through meaningful engagement, including campus visits, performances, rehearsals, and special events
• Prepare faculty and leadership for donor meetings and solicitation, prepare letters, proposals and other materials
• Engage in ongoing learning regarding philanthropy best practices and industry trends
• Cultivate a culture of excellence among fundraisers and Advancement staff by continually setting and achieving goals and sharing successes to elevate the team
• Consistently demonstrate professional accountability and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to accept responsibility for actions and results, as well as reevaluate strategies when needed, and develop long-term relationships with donors and the SFCM team

The incumbent will perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated individual giving success, strong planned giving knowledge, excellent oral and written communication skills, exceptional judgment, and be a motivated self-starter. Specifically they will have:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience
• Demonstrated track record of success in leading, mentoring, and inspiring staff to achieve goals and fostering an attitude of staff responsiveness
• Proven track record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts
• Superior attention to detail, as well as superb interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Exemplary diplomacy, problem-solving, and teamwork skills
• Passion for music, arts education, and mission-driven organizations
• Experience fundraising in higher education, arts organizations, or music schools
• Knowledge of principal gifts, endowments, and planned giving, as well as ongoing training in these areas
• Familiarity with donor databases/CRMs (e.g., Blackbaud, Salesforce)
• Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends

Salary and Benefits

SFCM provides a competitive and equitable compensation package with salary estimated in the range of $160,000 to $170,000. Employee benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays; health, long-term disability, and life insurance; and a voluntary 403(b) retirement plan. This position has a hybrid work schedule given its donor focus.

About SFCM

At SFCM, we believe that music is essential to life and education is the best promise for tomorrow. We empower students to create fearlessly, pursue their purpose, and seek achievement in every endeavor. With limitless imagination, determination, and pioneering partnerships in the professional world, we are defining the future of music. We believe that inspiring the imagination, cultivating the artist, honing the intellect, and developing the professional are the keys to launching innovative graduates who excel in any field. Our phenomenal faculty and our location in the heart of a magnificent city provide an experience that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

Founded in 1917, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music has earned an international reputation for producing musicians of the highest caliber. SFCM provides an education that transforms its students artistically, intellectually, professionally, and individually. The heart of SFCM’s work is the Collegiate Division, which offers 30 fully accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs to 450 students in performance and composition, including Technology and Applied Composition and Roots, Jazz, and American Music. Additionally, our Pre-College Division provides high standards of excellence and personal attention to over 250 young students, while the Continuing Education Division offers stimulating programs for nearly 200 adults.

In 2021, SFCM opened the Bowes Center, which dramatically amplifies the scale of opportunity SFCM provides for our students and deepens our engagement with the arts community at San Francisco Civic Center. The Bowes Center incorporates student housing, dining, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, performance spaces, faculty and partner offices, and a radio station. The building enables students to create, learn, and share music in an integrated, collaborative environment.

In recent years, SFCM has acquired two leading artist management companies, Askonas Holt and Opus 3 Artists, and the storied record label Pentatone. The entities operate independently but work together on projects that create opportunities for students, artists, and the public. This Global Creative Alliance acts as a research and development engine for the music industry by enabling professional musicians to take artistic risks on the Conservatory’s campus that might not otherwise be affordable, while offering students an up-close experience of what it is like to develop and refine inventive forms of performance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Personnel decisions regarding applicants for employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran, age, citizenship, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications through our web portal. This position will be posted until filled.