Director, Major Gifts

Current Newspaper; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

Classical California is seeking a Director of Major Gifts to shape strategy for major and mid-level giving, overseeing donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across KUSC and KDFC.

The role leads a team, partners with USC Advancement, and drives revenue growth while guiding a high-performing, inclusive fundraising culture. Hybrid work with travel to LA and SF is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of fundraising experience, preferably in public media or the arts.
• 3+ years of major donor fundraising and stewardship.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience.
• Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot) and online giving platforms.
• Strong writing, relationship-building, and project management skills.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and data-driven fundraising.
• Willingness to travel regularly between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead multi-year strategies for major and mid-level giving.
• Manage a personal portfolio of top donors and prospects—cultivation, solicitation, stewardship.
• Oversee portfolio segmentation, pipeline development, and moves-management practices.
• Lead donor events and experiences across Southern and Northern California.
• Supervise and coach gift officers; set goals and development plans.
• Coordinate cross-functional work with USC Advancement, Development, Marketing and Finance.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Major donor fundraising

Supervisory experience

Writing and relationship-building

Project management

Budgeting and forecasting

Data-driven fundraising

Travel between LA and SF

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

HubSpot

Job description

Director, Major Gifts

About Classical California

Classical California is America’s largest listener-supported public media organization dedicated to classical music. Home to KUSC in Los Angeles and KDFC in San Francisco, our broadcasts and streams reach 1.6 million listeners each month worldwide. We enrich lives and communities through music experiences that are accessible, inclusive, and relevant to audiences of all ages.

Position Summary

Classical California seeks a strategic and relationship-driven Director, Major Gifts to lead our major and mid-level giving programs. This newly established role sets the vision and strategy for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across KUSC and KDFC, driving revenue growth, donor retention, and pipeline development.

Reporting to the President of Classical California, the Manager oversees a team of gift officers and stewardship professionals, collaborates across departments, and serves as a key partner to USC Advancement. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a fundraising professional passionate about classical music, public media, and donor engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Strategy – 40%

• Develop and lead multi-year strategies for major ($2,500+) and mid-level giving.
• Manage a personal portfolio of top donors and prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Oversee portfolio segmentation, pipeline development, and moves-management practices.
• Lead donor events and experiences across Southern and Northern California.

Team Leadership – 25%

• Supervise and coach gift officers; set goals, activity expectations, and development plans.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
• Recruit and onboard staff in alignment with USC and Classical California values.

Donor Relations & Giving Programs – 15%

• Design and implement personalized donor journeys and a year-round stewardship calendar.
• Oversee planned giving, foundation support, and grant initiatives.
• Manage strategic engagement with the Board of Councilors
• Coordinate targeted campaigns and digital giving strategies in collaboration with Development and Marketing.

Budgets & Administration – 20%

• Manage the Donor Relations budget and revenue forecasting.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment with Development, Marketing, Finance, and USC Advancement.
• Uphold compliance with USC policies, IRS regulations, and donor intent.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.
• Minimum 7 years of fundraising experience, preferably in public media or the arts.
• At least 3 years of experience in major donor fundraising and stewardship.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and online giving platforms.
• Strong writing, relationship-building, and project management skills.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and data-driven fundraising.
• Ability to travel regularly between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• 10 years of fundraising experience
• Knowledge of planned giving, foundation support, and grants.
• Experience with enterprise online giving (preferably GoFundMe Pro)
• Experience with email marketing, website development/coding and Adobe Creative Suite.

Preference will be given to candidates located in the Los Angeles area; however, applicants from the San Francisco Bay Area will also be considered. This is a hybrid-fixed position under our current work arrangement plan, with the expectation of an on-site presence for 3 days/week at the USC Tower in downtown Los Angeles or at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Nights, weekends, and travel are required for this position.

Classical California is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all, where all staff and our stakeholders have the opportunity to connect, belong, and grow while supporting the University of Southern California’s mission, values, and goals.

Compensation and Benefits

The budgeted salary range for this position is $170,000 - $189,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here.