Director of Development

West Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

West Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Charleston, WV is seeking a Development Director to lead the fundraising strategy, manage a donor portfolio, and ensure revenue targets are met across individual gifts, sponsorships, grants, and planned giving.

Reporting to the President, this role partners with the Music Director and WVSO leadership to build a unified development operation, nurture relationships, and convert artistic assets into sustained giving while maintaining ethical standards and donor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated success soliciting and closing individual small and major gifts.
• Experience with foundation relations and management, grants and final reports.
• Experience coordinating planned giving with stakeholders and patrons.
• Proven success coordinating fundraising across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Proven experience managing a development budget and reporting against targets.
• Knowledge of donor database/CRM systems and data-driven fundraising strategy.
• Love of classical music and ability to articulate impact.
• Experience in performing arts or cultural nonprofit fundraising.
• Experience leading capital campaigns or major institutional giving initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own and achieve the annual development revenue target across gifts, sponsorships, grants and planned giving.
• Collaborate with WVSO leadership and Board on prospect assignments and strategy.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan with quarterly benchmarks.
• Build and manage a qualified major-gift pipeline and solicit $2,500+ gifts.
• Coordinate a unified major-gift strategy across portfolios and share pipeline visibility.
• Develop and execute a planned giving strategy with targeted communications.
• Identify and secure new corporate sponsorship and foundation grant opportunities.
• Equip and support Board of Directors in donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Engage Music Director in donor cultivation and stewardship events.
• Lead donor stewardship and uphold ethical standards and confidentiality.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Major gifts

Grants & foundation relations

Planned giving

Budget management

CRM / donor databases

Fundraising strategy

Capital campaigns

Stakeholder coordination

Nonprofit fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

Job description

The Development Director is the senior staff leader responsible for designing, executing, and owning West Virginia Symphony's fundraising strategy to support the WVSO’s mission to make great music to enrich and inspire everyone in our region. This role holds direct accountability for meeting annual fundraising targets across individual giving, corporate sponsorship, grants, and planned giving, while managing a robust personal portfolio of donors.

This role partners closely with the President and Music Director, both of whom play active roles in fundraising. Closely working with the other staff members of the WVSO in a collaborative relationship is an important part of the position. The Development Director is responsible for coordinating efforts into a unified, strategic, and accountable development operation, building sustainable systems and donor pipelines. The Director will collaborate with colleagues and leadership to transform the development function from an activity-based operation into a results-driven revenue engine.

This is a strategic leadership position reporting to the President, with regular reporting to the Board of Directors on progress against revenue goals.

KEY PARTNERSHIPS

• President — Maintains their own board/donor portfolio and is actively engaged in solicitation; the Development Director will coordinate closely with the President to ensure a unified major gifts strategy, avoid donor‑cultivation overlap, and align messaging and targets. While the President is the final architect of the cohesive fundraising strategy, the Development Director is a strong and respected voice in the planning and implementation of the efforts.
• Music Director — A key fundraising asset, particularly for donor cultivation events, major gift visits, and donor stewardship touchpoints where artistic vision and personal connection drive giving. The Development Director will work closely with the Music Director to strategically deploy their time and relationships for maximum fundraising impact.

REPORTS TO: President

CLOSE COLLABORATORS: Annual Fund Manager, Artistic Operations, Finance, Education, and Marketing

HOURS/WEEK

• 35‑hour office work week, plus concerts, special and community events. There is an expectation of regular evening events and concert hours that is compensated for with a generous PTO allotment.
• Full‑time, exempt
• Because this role involves close collaboration and on‑site activity, it is primarily based on location. Limited remote work opportunities and flexible schedule arrangements are available.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & OUTCOMES

• Own and achieve the annual development revenue target, broken down across
• Individual/Major Gifts
• Corporate Sponsorships
• Grants (foundation/government)
• Planned Giving

• Collaborate with WVSO leadership and Board members on the assignment of prospects based on existing relationships and the potential strategic value to the WVSO
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy with clear quarterly and annual benchmarks

• Build and manage a qualified major‑gift pipeline, personally cultivating and soliciting gifts at the $2,500 level and above
• Coordinate a unified major‑gifts strategy across the Development Director’s own portfolio and the President’s portfolio, ensuring clear donor assignment, no duplication of outreach, and shared visibility into pipeline status
• Develop and execute a planned giving strategy that includes management of the planned giving website, targeted communications, and individual cultivation and solicitation.
• Identify and secure new corporate sponsorship and foundation grant opportunities to diversify and grow the revenue base

Board & Organizational Partnership

• Equip and support Board of Directors in donor cultivation and solicitation activities
• Strategically engage the Music Director in donor cultivation including donor events, one‑on‑one major donor meetings, and stewardship communications to leverage artistic relationships as a fundraising asset
• Partner with the President on strategic fundraising campaigns, including capital or endowment initiatives as needed
• Staff board committees with development focus
• Work with WVSO staff whose duties overlap (Annual Fund Manager, Grants Writer, Marketing Director) to ensure Development workflow

Other

• Lead donor and sponsor stewardship, including timely acknowledgment, regular touchpoints, and a retention plan for major donors and sponsors
• Stay current on fundraising best practices and bring relevant ideas to the team
• Attend WVSO concerts and donor events, and represent the orchestra at civic and cultural events.
• Adhere to recognized ethical standards for fundraising (such as the AFP Code of Ethical Standards) and protect donor confidentiality
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President

QUALIFICATIONS PREFFERED

• Demonstrated success personally soliciting and closing individual small and major gifts (please provide specific gift‑size experience in resume)
• Experience with foundation relations and management, writing and preparing grants and final reports
• Experience coordinating and cultivating planned giving with stakeholders and patrons
• Demonstrated success coordinating fundraising efforts across multiple stakeholder groups (e.g., executive leadership, board members, or other non‑development staff with donor relationships)
• Proven experience managing a development budget and reporting against measurable targets
• Knowledge of donor database/CRM systems and data‑driven fundraising strategy
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
• Love of classical music and the ability to articulate the impact of orchestras in their communities
• Experience in performing arts or cultural nonprofit fundraising
• Experience leading capital campaigns or major institutional giving initiatives

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Use of an office phone, computer and internet is required
• Must have a valid driver’s license and own transportation
• This job will be based at the WVSO offices in Charleston
• A cell phone and remote access to e‑mail and office files are required, as many tasks take place offsite
• Ability to occasionally carry materials or signage