Director of Advancement Strategy and Operations

Settlement Music; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Settlement Music School is seeking a Director of Advancement Strategy and Operations to lead the Advancement team, set revenue goals, and drive growth in philanthropic programs. The role focuses on building capacity, guiding cross-department collaboration, and implementing a new CRM while planning capital and endowment initiatives.

The position reports to the Chief Advancement Officer, supervises three managers, and works on a hybrid schedule in Philadelphia.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6–8 years of development experience, including track record in fundraising operations and annual programs.
• Experience managing other development professionals.
• Commitment to Settlement Music School’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead and refine operating plan timelines; supervise the Development Operations Manager, Individual Giving Manager, and Development Communications Manager.
• Maximize functionality of the new CRM (Bloomerang) and reconcile gift accounting with Finance.
• Develop fundraising strategies with the CEO, staff, and boards; oversee donor stewardship activities.
• Budget and plan campaigns in collaboration with the CAO and CEO; formalize the Planned Giving program.
• Manage moves management system and lead pipeline meetings to review progress toward goals.

Skills

Development leadership

Fundraising operations

Mission alignment

Tools

Bloomerang CRM

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Job description

Director of Advancement Strategy and Operations

Founded in 1908 Settlement Music School, a non-profit organization, is one of the largest community schools of the arts in the United States serving children and adults of all ages at five branches in Pennsylvania located in South, West and Northeast Philadelphia, Germantown, Willow Grove, and its virtual branch, Settlement Music Online. Settlement provides $3 million dollars each year in financial aid and scholarships to 60% of its students. Settlement’s reach is broad, and it continues the principles of its Founders, that there be no barriers to participating in music and arts education.

Role: Director of Advancement Strategy and Operations

Reports to: Chief Advancement Officer

Supervises:

• Development Operations Manager
• Individual Giving Manager
• Development Communications Manager

Location: 416 Queen Street, Philadelphia PA 19147

Position Overview:

The Director of Advancement Strategy and Operations provides direction and oversight within the Advancement team, focused on building the institution’s capacity for growing philanthropic revenue. As a practical and strategic thought-partner with the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), this critical position helps set and achieve revenue goals, creates learning and growth opportunities for team members, proactively manages timelines and projects, and strengthens opportunities for cross-departmental function, thereby assuring excellence in all aspects of development operations.

The successful candidate will join the organization at an exciting time, in pre-planning phase for capital and endowment campaigns. The position will play an integral part in the success of these initiatives by leading the conversion to a new CRM and operationalizing a Planned Giving program.

The candidate will help Settlement meet its mission of a creative arts education for all and will join a collaborative, caring, and dynamic Advancement team, leadership that is committed to and knowledgeable about fundraising with a strong record of success, and a deeply engaged Board.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership and Management

• Manage and refine operating plan timelines and calendar, leading regular meetings.
• Supervise Development Operations Manager, Individual Giving Manager, and Development Communications Manager.
• Serve as a liaison to Finance and Administration to reconcile gift accounting and monitor budgets.
• Maximize functionality of new CRM (Bloomerang)
• Manage the CEO’s and CAO’s work on an endowment and capital campaign
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Advancement Officer.

Fundraising and Prospect Management

• Manage a portfolio of individual giving prospects; execute strategies to achieve annual revenue goal.
• Develop fundraising strategies with the CEO, staff, and boards.
• Plan and oversee stewardship activities at all donor levels, engaging staff, board and faculty in expanding the culture of philanthropy.
• Collaborate with Chief Advancement Officer and CEO to budget and plan campaigns.
• Collaborate with Chief Advancement Officer and board members to formalize Planned Giving program.
• Establish and monitor activity goals and solicitation strategies for each fundraiser.
• Manage the moves management system within donor database and lead pipeline meetings to review progress to goals.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 6 – 8 years of development experience, including track record in fundraising operations and annual programs.
• Experience managing other development professionals.
• Commitment to Settlement Music School’s mission.

Additional skills:

• Broad knowledge of all facets of a sophisticated development program.
• Skilled at establishing and cultivating strong relationships with peers, across different levels of the organization and externally.
• Mission-driven and creative leader with developed management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of development tracking systems, as well as research analytics and screening tools.
• Ability to set objectives, develop plans and implement programs to achieve goals.
• Highly - organized, attentive to detail, and goal - oriented.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills.
• Empathetic communicator and careful listener.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including but not limited to Excel, Access, Outlook and Word, plus the ability to learn other software programs as needed.

The Advancement Team works on a hybrid schedule, three days per week in office with exceptions as necessary.

Compensation includes a salary range of $80,000 – $95,000 and comprehensive benefits.

Settlement Music School is an Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

Explore Your
Settlement Pathway

At Settlement, we welcome all ages, instruments, skill levels, and
ambitions. Wherever you may find yourself on your creative journey,
we are here to support your success every step of the way.