Leadership Giving Officer - Cal Performances

University of California-Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 94,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Cal Performances, based at the University of California, Berkeley, seeks a Leadership Giving Officer to manage a donor portfolio and drive major gifts in support of its mission. The role requires experience in development, strategic fundraising, and strong donor relations across multiple teams.

The position entails engaging with donors at performances and events, writing proposals, and advancing fundraising initiatives to secure gifts while collaborating with a nine-person development team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in major or individual giving or equivalent experience.
• Advanced knowledge of fundraising and donor relations concepts.
• Advanced written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to meet predetermined fundraising goals through planning and execution.
• Experience writing proposals and soliciting gifts from prospects.
• Familiarity with donor databases and digital communications.

Responsibilities

• Manages a dynamic portfolio of ~150 donors with capacity to give $100,000+ to Cal Performances.
• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards prospects; offers personalized donor experiences.
• Evaluates fundraising approaches using prospect research and capacity data; plans annual solicitation programs.
• Works with discovery/new philanthropy staff to bring new donors into the pipeline.
• Writes proposals for solicitation of individual prospects and coordinates with senior staff for solicitations.
• Attends performances and related events to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects.
• Conducts 10–12 donor visits per month through various channels.
• Develops stewardship reports, donor profiles, and collaborates with other staff.

Skills

Communication skills

Fundraising knowledge

Presentation skills

Analytical thinking

Relationship building

Digital communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related area

Tools

Tessitura

Salesforce CRM

Job description

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and providing space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride.

Departmental Overview

Cal Performances is the performing arts presenting, commissioning, and producing organization based at the University of California, Berkeley. The mission of Cal Performances is to produce and present performances of the highest artistic quality, enhanced by programs that explore compelling intersections of education and the performing arts. Cal Performances fulfills this mission by presenting, producing, and commissioning outstanding artists, both renowned and emerging, to serve the University and the broader public through performances and education and community programs.

Under the strategic direction of the Chief Development Officer, the Leadership Giving Officer develops and executes long-range development strategies for prospects and donors with the capacity to give 6+ figure gifts to Cal Performances. The Leadership Giving Officer works in partnership with other members of a 9-person development team to create comprehensive fundraising strategies designed to inspire giving from existing major gifts donors and new major gifts prospects.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: October 30, 2026

Responsibilities

Develops and manages a dynamic portfolio of approximately 150 donors, with the capacity to give $100,000 or more to Cal Performances.

• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards prospects for gifts in the portfolio; this may also include delivering personalized experiences such as backstage visits and working with corporate and foundation prospects with ties to individual major donors and prospects.
• Evaluates fund development approaches using prospect research and financial capacity data, including planning and evaluating annual solicitation programs for the portfolio, and making recommendations for improvements.
• Works collaboratively with discovery and new philanthropy staff to bring new donors into the pipeline through discovery, cultivation, and solicitation.
• Writes proposals for solicitation of individual prospects. Solicits gifts directly; works with senior staff, content experts, and key volunteers to implement successful solicitation strategies.
• Manages relationships with some of the University's most important donors, especially where designated as primary manager.
• Develops and executes long- and short-term strategies to secure major gifts from individuals in support of the Cal Performances mission.
• Attends performances and related education events to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects.
• Conducts 10-12 prospect/donor visits per month, through various means.
• Develops stewardship reports, including donor profiles, to donors as needed, in collaboration with artistic, education, marketing, and other staff.
• Analyzes needs and assists in the creation of strategic plans for Development programs.
• Attends functions, meetings, and serves on internal/external committees as a representative of Cal Performances.
• Works as part of the team to execute various duties related to events, including the annual fundraising gala, including but not limited to executing fundraising strategies, vendor communications, ticket and table sales, donor stewardship, auction and fund-a-need, and donor communications.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience

• A minimum of 5+ years in the field of major or individual giving, overseeing any aspect of development.
• Advanced knowledge of fundraising and events, donor relations concepts, procedures, and techniques.
• Enthusiasm for the range of performing arts.
• Advanced written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies.
• Advanced skills in making persuasive and compelling presentations of the organization's goals/objectives to successfully secure gifts.
• Advanced skills to meet predetermined goals and objectives through effective project planning, organization, execution, and evaluation.
• Advanced analytical, critical thinking, problem recognition, and resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed fundraising goals and objectives.
• This position requires the successful completion of a criminal background check.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, and general policies about philanthropy.
• Ability to learn and work with University policies, especially related to philanthropy.
• Very strong skills in maintaining confidentiality.
• Strong skills in digital technology for documents, spreadsheets, donor databases, email, and digital communications.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years in any area of development for higher education or cultural organizations preferred.
• Experience in major fundraising campaigns.
• Advanced knowledge of Tessitura and/or Salesforce CRM preferred.

Salary & Benefits

• For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
• The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is: $94,300 to $104,000

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct Disclosure

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.