Senior Director of Philanthropy

Philharmonic Society of Orange County; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan with employer 1

Job summary

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County seeks an accomplished fundraising leader to serve as Senior Director of Philanthropy. Reporting to the President and Artistic Director, this role will craft and execute a comprehensive philanthropic strategy to sustain the organization’s artistic and education mission while expanding impact.

You will lead a diverse fundraising program—annual giving, major gifts, endowment, grants, corporate support, sponsorships, and events—while building donor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or comparable professional experience; CFRE certification is a plus.
• 10+ years of direct experience developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including capital campaigns, annual giving, endowment fundraising, preferably for a performing arts or mission-driven nonprofit.
• At least five years of supervisory experience with staff leadership, development, and retention; proven goals and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts and building relationships with donors, boards, volunteers, and funders.
• Strong strategic, financial, organizational, and budgeting skills; ability to assess complex situations and make decisions.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills to communicate cases for support.
• Ability to lead through organizational change and strengthen systems and processes.
• Working knowledge of Tessitura; proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Professionalism, discretion, integrity, and judgment when handling confidential information.
• Ability to collaborate with leadership, staff, volunteers, donors, and boards.
• Knowledge of classical music and the performing arts is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Grow philanthropic revenue and strengthen financial sustainability.
• Oversee annual giving, major gifts, endowment, legacy giving, grants, corporate/foundation support, sponsorships, and events.
• Cultivate new donors and deepen engagement across donor constituencies.
• Identify partnerships and external relationships to expand visibility and resources.
• Lead endowment growth and campaign priorities for the 75th anniversary.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Strategic leadership

Board relations

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Tessitura experience

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

CFRE certification

Tools

Tessitura

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job description

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.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Philanthropic Strategy and Fundraising Growth

• 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.

Major Gifts, Board Engagement, and Donor Relationships

• 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.

Institutional Giving and Strategic Partnerships

• 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.

Team Leadership and Development Operations

• 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.

Organizational Collaboration and Leadership

• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 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.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

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.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The expected salary range for this position is $130,000-$140,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance and a 401(k) plan with employer match.