Senior Director of Philanthropy
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Job summary
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County is seeking a strategic, results‑oriented Senior Director of Philanthropy to lead the development program. Reporting to the President and Artistic Director, this role oversees annual giving, major gifts, endowment, grants, corporate/foundation support, and special events.
The ideal candidate combines creativity with financial acumen, strong relationship skills, and a track record of building donor pipelines.
Qualifications
- Proven experience developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies.
- Ability to lead a development team and manage multiple giving programs.
- Strong donor relations and stewardship expertise.
Responsibilities
- Lead development strategy aligned with organizational priorities and goals.
- Grow fundraising revenue and donor engagement across all giving channels.
- Oversee endowment, major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and events.
- Cultivate major donors and prospective supporters with organizational leadership.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Job Title: Senior Director of Philanthropy
Location: Irvine, CA (on-site)
Enrollment Type: Full-time, exempt
Department: Development
Primary Reporting to: President and Artistic Director
Supervisor to: Four direct reports (Senior Director of Development/Annual Fund Director; Development Operations Manager; Development Coordinator; and PT Grant Writer)
Compensation: $130,000-$140,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience
Benefits: Medical, Vision and Dental insurance; 401(k) plan available with employer match
Founded in 1954 as Orange County’s first music organization, the Philharmonic Society presents the world’s greatest symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, soloists and international artists. The performances take place at various venues in Orange County, including the world-class Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the Irvine Barclay Theatre, and Soka Performing Arts Center.
The Philharmonic Society’s nationally recognized Youth Music Education Programs, offered free of charge, engage more than 75,000 students annually through curriculum-based music education programs that aim to inspire, expand imaginations, and encourage learning at all levels. These programs are made possible by the Committees of the Philharmonic Society comprised of 450 volunteer members who provide more than 50,000 hours of in‑kind service each year. As a key youth program, the Orange County Youth Symphony & String Ensemble (OCYS/E) provides top‑tier training to the area’s most talented young musicians through multi‑level ensemble instruction, leadership training, touring opportunities, challenging professional repertoire, and performances in world‑class venues. The Philharmonic Society also promotes life‑long learning by connecting with colleges and universities to conduct masterclasses and workshops and providing pre‑concert lectures to introduce audiences to program selections.
The mission of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County is to foster an appreciation for music by presenting national and international performances of the highest quality while also providing dynamic and innovative music education programs for individuals of all ages.
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County seeks an accomplished, strategic, and relationship‑driven fundraising leader to serve as its Senior Director of Philanthropy (referred to throughout this description as the Director). Reporting directly to the President and Artistic Director, the Director will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive philanthropic strategy to strengthen the Philharmonic Society’s financial sustainability and expand its impact through world‑class performances and transformative music education programs.
As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director will partner with the President and Artistic Director, Board of Directors, and colleagues across the organization to grow philanthropic support, deepen donor relationships, and advance a culture of philanthropy throughout the Philharmonic Society.
The Director will oversee a multifaceted fundraising program encompassing annual giving, major gifts, endowment, legacy giving, grants, corporate and foundation support, sponsorships, and special events. In addition to leading a dedicated development team, the Director will personally engage key donors and prospects, strengthen relationships with philanthropic partners, and ensure that fundraising strategies and resources are aligned with the Philharmonic Society’s organizational priorities.
With an operating budget of approximately $5 million and the Philharmonic Society’s 75th anniversary approaching in 2028-2029, this is an important opportunity to strengthen the organization’s philanthropic infrastructure, grow its permanent endowment, and build the resources needed to sustain its artistic and educational mission for generations to come.
The ideal candidate is an experienced, creative, collaborative and results‑oriented nonprofit fundraising leader who combines strategic vision and financial acumen with strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and a demonstrated ability to inspire teams and build lasting relationships.
- Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with the Philharmonic Society’s mission, financial priorities, and long‑term organizational goals.
- Establish fundraising priorities, annual goals, performance measures, and strategies to grow philanthropic revenue and strengthen the Philharmonic Society’s financial sustainability.
- Oversee fundraising across annual giving, major gifts, endowment, legacy giving, capital and campaign initiatives, corporate and foundation support, government grants, sponsorships, and special events.
- Develop and execute strategies to acquire new donors, increase giving, strengthen retention, and deepen engagement across donor constituencies.
- Identify and cultivate new philanthropic opportunities, strategic partnerships, and external relationships that expand the Philharmonic Society’s visibility, reach, and resources.
- Lead efforts to grow permanent endowment assets and advance campaign priorities in preparation for the Philharmonic Society’s 75th anniversary in 2028-2029.
- Partner with the President and Artistic Director, Board Chair, and Board members to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospective supporters.
- Develop and implement strategies to strengthen Board participation in fundraising, including Board giving, donor introductions, relationship building, and philanthropic advocacy.
- Support the recruitment and engagement of Board leaders and key fundraising volunteers.
- Personally cultivate and solicit significant individual, corporate, and institutional gifts in partnership with organizational leadership.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy that encourages meaningful donor engagement and reinforces the importance of long‑term relationships.
- Ensure thoughtful, personalized stewardship that demonstrates the impact of philanthropic support and strengthens donor loyalty.
- Oversee the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities aligned with the Philharmonic Society’s mission and programs.
- Strengthen relationships with institutional funders, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.
- Collaborate with colleagues across the organization to develop compelling cases for support, sponsorship opportunities, grant proposals, and funding initiatives.
- Ensure that grant development, reporting, and stewardship processes support funder relationships and organizational accountability.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Philharmonic Society’s development team, establishing clear goals, responsibilities, and performance expectations.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and supportive team culture that encourages professional growth, innovation, and effective execution.
- Oversee the systems, processes, and infrastructure necessary to support an effective and growing fundraising program.
- Evaluate and improve development operations, donor engagement strategies, and performance metrics to strengthen efficiency and results.
- Oversee the effective use of Tessitura and other fundraising tools to support donor relationship management, reporting, and informed decision‑making.
- Provide regular reports and strategic updates to the President and Artistic Director and Board regarding fundraising performance, progress toward goals, and emerging opportunities.
- Serve as a strategic partner to the President and Artistic Director and an active contributor to the Senior Leadership Team, helping shape organizational priorities and long‑term planning.
- Collaborate closely with the Vice President of Communications to align philanthropic communications, donor‑facing materials, brand standards, and audience and donor engagement initiatives.
- Partner with the Vice President of Education to strengthen relationships with the Philharmonic Society’s volunteer Committees, Orange County Youth Symphony families, and other education‑related constituencies.
- Work across departments to connect fundraising priorities with the Philharmonic Society’s artistic programming, music education initiatives, and broader community impact.
- Represent the Philharmonic Society professionally and persuasively to donors, volunteers, institutional partners, and other external stakeholders.
- Help advance an organization‑wide culture of philanthropy, collaboration, and shared responsibility for the Philharmonic Society’s long‑term success.
- The equivalent of a bachelor’s degree or comparable professional experience. CFRE certification is a plus.
- At least 10 years of direct experience developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including experience with capital campaigns, annual giving, special events, and endowment fundraising, preferably for a performing arts, cultural, or other mission‑driven nonprofit organization.
- At least five years of supervisory experience, with a demonstrated record of effective staff leadership, employee development, and retention. Proven success establishing fundraising goals, evaluating performance, and leading teams to achieve organizational objectives.
- Demonstrated experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts and building productive relationships with donors, Board members, volunteers, and institutional funders.
- Strong strategic, financial, organizational, and budgeting skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, establish priorities, and make sound decisions.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to develop compelling cases for support and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change, strengthen systems and processes, and support team effectiveness.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and the ability to adopt and leverage new technologies. Working knowledge of Tessitura is preferred.
- A high degree of professionalism, discretion, integrity, diplomacy, and sound judgment when working with sensitive and confidential information.
- The ability to build trust and work collaboratively with the President and Artistic Director, Board, senior leadership, staff, volunteers, and donors.
- Knowledge of classical music and the performing arts is preferred.
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strategic Leadership: Connects philanthropic strategy to organizational priorities, anticipates opportunities and challenges, and translates vision into measurable results.
- Relationship Building and Diplomacy: Builds trust, navigates complex relationships with tact, and communicates effectively with people across roles, backgrounds, and constituencies.
- Team Development: Inspires and motivates colleagues, establishes clear expectations, supports professional growth, and creates an environment of accountability and collaboration.
- Planning and Execution: Establishes priorities, manages competing demands, and ensures effective execution of strategic initiatives.
- Adaptability and Resilience: Responds constructively to challenges, exercises sound judgment under pressure, and maintains a solutions‑oriented approach.
- Integrity and Stewardship: Demonstrates discretion, transparency, and a strong commitment to responsible fundraising and donor relationships.
The expected salary range for this position is $130,000-$140,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The Philharmonic Society provides this range as a good‑faith estimate of the compensation it reasonably expects to offer. The final salary will be determined based on factors including the scope of responsibilities, qualifications and experience, organizational budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market compensation for comparable positions.
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance and a 401(k) plan with employer match.
The position is based on‑site in Irvine, California. The role requires frequent computer-based work, telephone use, and written communication, along with routine sitting, walking, standing, bending, squatting, and kneeling. Occasional lifting or carrying of items weighing up to 30 pounds may be required. The Philharmonic Society will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position.
The Philharmonic Society is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Philharmonic Society does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Attn: Human Resources
1124 Main Street, Suite B
Irvine, CA 92614
Email: HR@philharmonicsociety.org
Website: www.philharmonicsociety.org
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