Associate Vice President of Philanthropic Giving

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music seeks an Associate Vice President of Philanthropic Giving who is responsible for leading the effort to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors in support of SFCM’s strategic fundraising priorities, and managing a dynamic team of fundraisers encompassing individual and legacy philanthropy at all levels.

This role reports to the Vice President of Advancement who oversees an integrated Advancement and Marketing/Communications department. The role operates within an 11-member Advancement team, and manages a team of 4 staff members: Director of Individual Philanthropy, Director of Legacy Giving, Philanthropy Officer, and Annual Giving Manager. This role also manages a personal portfolio of donor prospects capable of making significant philanthropic investments in SFCM.

As a key member of the Advancement leadership team, the AVP will lead the implementation of the Conservatory’s individual fundraising plans and make strategic decisions to maximize results. Current fundraising priorities include student scholarships, faculty and program support, free performances, community engagement, and an active $125 million endowment campaign. The annual fundraising goal is approximately $8 million within an operating budget of $46 million.

The AVP must be an accomplished, articulate, mature, and externally-focused development professional who can build successful working relationships with high net worth individuals and their representatives. This role requires an appreciation for music and arts education, exceptional management skills, and a proven track record of securing principal gifts. The ideal candidate will be deeply embedded in the San Francisco arts landscape, possessing the vision to leverage SFCM’s unique position within the city’s musical ecosystem to drive new donor growth.

The AVP will foster an engaged work environment and inspire a shared vision by strategically aligning effort and resources and promoting trust and accountability among Advancement staff and Conservatory stakeholders. They must have a proven record of building and managing results-focused teams with a leadership style that inspires others to improve their effectiveness and develop as leaders and fundraisers, including managing and oversight of a portfolio system for major donors as well as metrics-driven management of a team of front-line fundraisers. The AVP will take an active role in attracting talented fundraisers to the organization and will invest in the professional development and growth of the entire team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the fundraising team to drive activity and increase total contributions
• Work closely with Conservatory administrators and volunteer leadership to maximize and optimize fundraising opportunities
• Serve as a mentor and role model for staff, exemplifying the Conservatory’s mission, vision, and values
• Guide planned giving strategy as well as remain current in legacy giving best practices
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 75 donor prospects, focusing on securing gifts of $50,000+
• Generate a strong pipeline of new and upgraded major gifts for annual support
• Maintain a robust pace of donor meetings
• Personally solicit major and principal gifts
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit gifts for endowed priorities in SFCM’s endowment campaign, including scholarships, faculty chairs, programs, and strategic initiatives
• Partner with the VP of Advancement, President, faculty, and Board members on donor identification, cultivation, and collaborative solicitations
• Build long-term, trust-based relationships with donors through meaningful engagement, including campus visits, performances, rehearsals, and special events
• Prepare faculty and leadership for donor meetings and solicitation, prepare letters, proposals and other materials
• Engage in ongoing learning regarding philanthropy best practices and industry trends
• Cultivate a culture of excellence among fundraisers and Advancement staff by continually setting and achieving goals and sharing successes to elevate the team
• Consistently demonstrate professional accountability and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to accept responsibility for actions and results, as well as reevaluate strategies when needed, and develop long-term relationships with donors and the SFCM team

The incumbent will perform other duties as assigned.