Individual Giving Officer

San Francisco Ballet Association; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

San Francisco Ballet Association is seeking a Deputy Director, Campaign & Individual Philanthropy to manage a 350+ donor portfolio and drive mid-level giving growth. The role leads the Young Patrons Council, partners with events, and collaborates across Revenue & Growth to advance fundraising priorities.

The position requires at least three years in individual giving, strong communication skills, and expertise with Tessitura or similar CRM platforms.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Minimum three years of individual giving or relevant fundraising experience.
• Familiarity with CRM software (Tessitura preferred; Raiser’s Edge/Blackbaud/Salesforce advantageous).
• Ability to manage a portfolio and steward donors strategically.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of 350+ donor households, primarily $2,500–$7,499 gifts.
• Lead strategy with Christensen Society activities; ensure recognition and fulfillment.
• Solicits donors via face‑to‑face, written, and digital methods with meaningful touchpoints.
• Oversees Young Patrons Council and facilitates engagement with YPC Board.
• Supports events and Gala season with donor cultivation and ticket/sponsorship asks.
• Maintains donor records and reports in Tessitura; tracks revenue and expenses.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Donor cultivation & stewardship

Relationship management

Team collaboration

Portfolio management

Tools

Tessitura

Raiser’s Edge

Blackbaud

Salesforce

Job description

DEPARTMENTREPORTS TOPAY GRADESTATUSRevenue & GrowthDeputy Director, Campaign & Individual Philanthropy$82,000 - $88,000Full-time, exempt, hybrid (min. 3 days/week in office)About San Francisco BalletSan Francisco Ballet embodies the spirit of its city: innovative, forward-thinking, and unafraid to challenge convention. Founded in 1933, the company has long understood that ballet's power lies in its ability to blend timeless tradition with modern relevance — from presenting America's first full-length productions of Nutcracker and Swan Lake to consistently pushing the boundaries of contemporary choreography. That same spirit runs through San Francisco Ballet School, one of the premier training grounds for dance in North America, which has shaped generations of dancers and continues to build the pipeline of artistic talent that keeps the company's future as strong as its present. Under the artistic direction of Tamara Rojo and executive leadership of Branislav Henselmann, San Francisco Ballet is leading boldly into a new era, guided by a Comprehensive Enterprise Strategy that aligns artistic vision, organizational momentum, and civic energy toward a genuinely rare moment of opportunity. The company is reimagining what ballet can be, and making the case that its most compelling chapter is still ahead.POSITION OBJECTIVE:Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Campaign & Individual Philanthropy, the Individual Giving Officer is an integral member of San Francisco Ballet’s Development team. They manage a robust portfolio of mid-level donors who contribute $2,500–$7,499 annually, developing and executing customized plans to solicit, cultivate, steward, and upgrade these donors throughout the giving cycle. The Individual Giving Officer works to build meaningful, authentic, long-term relationships through personalized communications and timely follow-up, ensuring donors receive opportunities to deepen their engagement and upgrade their support throughout the year and have a positive, comprehensive, and consistent experience that reflects their interests and philanthropic goals. Throughout the season, the Individual Giving Officer develops and implements strategies to identify, qualify, and acquire new donors, with a focus on growing the organization’s mid-level donor pipeline. They proactively conduct prospect research, cultivate prospective donors, and create pathways for new supporters to become engaged, loyal, and increasingly committed to San Francisco Ballet. This position also leads the Young Patrons Council, serving as the primary staff liaison and strategic thought partner to the YPC Board. The Individual Giving Officer supports YPC member engagement, retention, and growth while driving philanthropic support from the next generation of donors.Job Duties and Responsibilities:Using sound fundraising principles, manages a portfolio of 350+ households, comprised mainly of donors giving $2,500-$7,499 as well as prospects capable of making a gift at the Christensen Society levelPartners closely with the Senior Individual Giving Manager on the strategy, planning, and execution of all Christensen Society activities, including benefit fulfillment and recognitionSolicits donors and prospectives donors via face-to-face, written, and electronic methods, deploying a strategic focus on meaningful touchpoints to increase affinity, loyalty, and level of givingUses Tessitura CRM fundraising software to track portfolio management, including ask and goal setting, plans maintenance, donor recognition preferences, accurate membership levels, and data analysisDevelops and executes individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies that prioritize meaningful relationship building and promote deeper engagement with San Francisco Ballet’s mission-driven programsPartners closely with the Individual Giving Team to establish and advance moves management strategies, ensuring coordinated prospect and donor engagement efforts that strengthen relationships, increase giving, and support the organization’s fundraising prioritiesTranslates organizational programs into clear, inspiring donor messages and investment narrativesRegularly attends performances during Nutcracker and the Repertory Season, engaging with supporters in the donor lounge at the War Memorial Opera House (WMOH) and writes seat notes for prospects and donors. Provides backstage tours as scheduledManages and oversees SF Ballet’s Young Patrons Circle, balancing long-term strategic planning with the execution of day-to-day operations, and is responsible for meeting or exceeding YPC’s annual budgeted revenue goalsRegularly strategizes with the Events Team to plan and execute YPC eventsSupports the Events Team during Gala season, Spring Festival, and other special fundraising events with duties as assigned and solicits portfolio donors for event ticket purchases, sponsorships, auction purchases, and gifts to Fund-A-NeedOther duties as assignedInternal Contacts:Revenue & Growth, Artistic, Artistic Operations, Production, Education & TrainingExternal Contacts:Individual donors, WMOH staff, volunteersYears and Type of Related Experience Required:At least three years of individual giving or relevant fundraising experience and familiarity with CRM software (i.e., Tessitura, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, Salesforce preferred). Strong verbal and written communication skills. Love of performing arts desired, dance or classical music knowledge is a plus.Professional/Technical Competencies:Develops and implements detailed portfolio plans, based on sound fundraising principles for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors in order to meet contributed revenue goalsPrepares annual work plan with performance indicatorsSuccessfully solicits individual gifts of $2,500 or moreDevelops detailed, holistic strategies for each donor in their portfolio and ensures that plans and progress are documentedRepresents SF Ballet at all times with the highest degree of professionalism and communicates the Ballet’s position on sensitive issues without losing the donor’s goodwillStaffs ballet performances and eventsArranges and attends meetings with donors and prospectsMaintains documentation and files and tracks donor contact reports and stewardship activities in TessituraMaintains strong relationships with the YPC Board, serving as their main point of contact and facilitating positive engagement and collaboration between YPC members and the organizationUtilizes and maintains special knowledge to create and monitor accurate YPC revenue and expense budgets and financial reportsMaintains effective communication and rapport with others, both internally and externallyUtilizes and maintains up-to-date knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, and CRM databaseEmbraces and contributes to the Development team’s culture of philanthropy through collaboration, discretion, kindness, and respect within and across departments. Refrains from gossip, internally and externally, at all times.Safeguards confidential information and uses discretion with sensitive informationPhysical Demands:Position requires periods of word-processing and database usage. Must have a flexible schedule to attend donor events and performances during Nutcracker and the Repertory Season. Ability to travel if necessary.Special Equipment/Software Used:Tessitura; Microsoft Office (including Teams and SharePoint); Adobe Acrobat; Asana; PC and standard office equipment, such as a printer and copier.Application ProcedureWe prefer you apply onlineNO CALLS, PLEASESan Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff. Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).