The Director of Development is responsible for creating, implementing, and managing the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s fundraising and donor relationship activities. This position oversees a comprehensive program of cultivation and stewardship strategies to attract, engage, and retain donors throughout southeastern Virginia and works in partnership with the other members of the patron services staff in an effective collaborative team model to support patrons in all the ways they engage with the VSO. Experience in developing strategic fundraising plans, the ability to communicate and inspire, and the skills required to plan and manage departmental resources are key to success in this position. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: ➢ Prepares a comprehensive annual plan for VSO’s development activities to support the short- and long-term philanthropic needs of the organization. This targeted development plan and calendar will provide concrete metrics and goals for fundraising from individuals, grants, sponsorships, and events. The plan will outline regularly scheduled donor communication and opportunities for cultivation, elevation, stewardship and align with the overall patron pipeline plan. ➢ Functions as a major and planned gifts officer by ensuring that the external cultivation and stewardship of donors is adequate to meet or exceed the goals set forth in the annual plan, including proactive management of meetings and solicitations by board and organizational leaders including the President and CEO and Music Director. ➢ Builds organizational capacity to effectively expand and cultivate a diverse donor base. ➢ Creates strategic and targeted opportunities for cultivation and stewardship through personal visits. ➢ Ensures that policies and procedures to support major gift fundraising are up to date and implemented. ➢ Provides leadership and oversight to departmental staff, including coaching and training. ➢ Develops annual departmental budgets. Monitors reports on a monthly basis. Provides timely forecasting of expected results. ➢ Responsible for successful execution of planned development activities to achieve stated revenue goals; includes collaborating with senior leadership, board, committee members, volunteers and others as appropriate. ➢ Oversees and assigns donor portfolios to staff in areas including (but not limited to) annual fund, planned giving, capital fundraising, grant writing and reporting, telefunding, volunteer management, gift processing, donor database management, special events, and marketing efforts tied to fundraising activities, as appropriate. ➢ Works in partnership with the Director of Marketing to ensure consistency in brand communications. ➢ Supervises the staff responsible for accurate and timely gift processing, donor records, and mailing lists. ➢ Ensures that accurate and thorough records are maintained, including contact and call reports, giving history, biographical data, etc. ➢ Prepares a monthly and annual summary which includes the fundraising highlights, fundraising results, accomplishments, and summary of goals and objectives. ➢ Performs specific other duties or tasks as may be assigned to advance the understanding, cause, mission and the support of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
