Individual Giving Officer

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

Job summary

San Francisco Ballet is seeking an experienced Individual Giving Officer to join the Revenue & Growth team. You will manage a robust donor portfolio, focusing on mid-level donors, cultivate relationships, and upgrade giving across the year.

The role leads the Young Patrons Council and partners with events to drive fundraising revenue. Strong communication, CRM proficiency, and a passion for the performing arts are essential.

Qualifications

• At least three years of individual giving experience or relevant fundraising background.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms such as Tessitura, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, or Salesforce is preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of 350+ households, primarily donors giving $2,500–$7,499 and prospects at Christensen Society level.
• Collaborates with Senior Individual Giving Manager on Christensen Society activities, benefits, fulfillment, and recognition.
• Solicits donors and prospects via face-to-face, written, and electronic methods with strategic touchpoints to increase giving.
• Uses Tessitura CRM to track portfolio, set goals, plan activities, and maintain donor records.
• Develops individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies to deepen engagement with SF Ballet’s mission-driven programs.
• Partner with the Individual Giving Team to advance moves management and coordinated donor engagement.
• Translates organizational programs into clear donor messages and investment narratives.
• Attends performances, writes seat notes, and provides backstage tours as scheduled for donors.
• Oversees SF Ballet’s Young Patrons Circle, aims to meet or exceed YPC revenue goals, and supports YPC events and governance.
• Collaborates with Events Team to plan Gala season, Spring Festival, and other fundraising events; solicits donors for tickets, sponsorships, auctions, and Fund-A-Need gifts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Donor stewardship

Communication skills

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Donor cultivation

Tools

Tessitura CRM

Raiser’s Edge

Blackbaud

Salesforce

Job description

DEPARTMENT: Revenue & Growth

REPORTS TO: Deputy Director, Campaign & Individual Philanthropy

PAY GRADE: $82,000 - $88,000

STATUS: Full-time, exempt, hybrid (min. 3 days/week in office)

About San Francisco Ballet

San 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 level
• Partners closely with the Senior Individual Giving Manager on the strategy, planning, and execution of all Christensen Society activities, including benefit fulfillment and recognition
• Solicits 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 giving
• Uses Tessitura CRM fundraising software to track portfolio management, including ask and goal setting, plans maintenance, donor recognition preferences, accurate membership levels, and data analysis
• Develops and executes individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies that prioritize meaningful relationship building and promote deeper engagement with San Francisco Ballet’s mission-driven programs
• Partners 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 priorities
• Translates organizational programs into clear, inspiring donor messages and investment narratives
• Regularly 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 scheduled
• Manages 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 goals
• Regularly strategizes with the Events Team to plan and execute YPC events
• Supports 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-Need
• Other duties as assigned

Internal Contacts

Revenue & Growth, Artistic, Artistic Operations, Production, Education & Training

External Contacts

Individual donors, WMOH staff, volunteers

Years 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 goals
• Prepares annual work plan with performance indicators
• Successfully solicits individual gifts of $2,500 or more
• Develops detailed, holistic strategies for each donor in their portfolio and ensures that plans and progress are documented
• Represents 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 goodwill
• Staffs ballet performances and events
• Arranges and attends meetings with donors and prospects
• Maintains documentation and files and tracks donor contact reports and stewardship activities in Tessitura
• Maintains strong relationships with the YPC Board, serving as their main point of contact and facilitating positive engagement and collaboration between YPC members and the organization
• Utilizes and maintains special knowledge to create and monitor accurate YPC revenue and expense budgets and financial reports
• Maintains effective communication and rapport with others, both internally and externally
• Utilizes and maintains up-to-date knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, and CRM database
• Embraces 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 information

Physical 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.

San 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).