Title: BSO Campaign Director
Department: Advancement and Communications
Reports to: SVP, Chief Advancement & Communication Officer
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Baltimore, MD
Effective Date: October 21, 2024

 

THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
For over a century, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been recognized as one of America’s leading orchestras and one of Maryland’s most significant cultural institutions. The orchestra is internationally renowned and locally admired for its innovation, performances, recordings, and educational outreach initiatives including OrchKids.

 

POSITION SUMMARY
The Campaign Director leads the implementation and successful completion of a comprehensive fundraising campaign. This position is both strategic and tactical, with responsibility for the day-to-day planning, coordination, and management of a multi-year campaign (from quiet phase through to public launch) that garners outright and/or planned gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations across multiple types of capital: endowment, facility, change (bridge dollars as well as seed dollars for innovation), and working (annual fund). The Director will work closely with BSO executives, Advancement colleagues, senior leadership across all departments (in particular, Communications, Artistic, Orchestra Personnel, Education, Events & Engagement, and Marketing), as well as key volunteer leaders including a campaign executive committee, the board of directors, and endowment trustees.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:
Prospect Research and Donor Pipeline

• Leverage the CRM (Tessitura), people, publicly available sources, and systems (MarketSmart, Wealth Engine, etc.) to proactively identify prospects across all campaign divisions
• Perform prospect research to gather detailed information on prospect background, giving history, and potential philanthropic interests to inform campaign request strategies
• Support the SVP & CAO in bi-weekly Prospect Management Group meetings with giving officers to coordinate the right time/right ask/right solicitor plans for all portfolio accounts across the quiet phase of the comprehensive campaign

Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship

• Collaborate with the SVP & CAO, colleagues, and volunteers to manage, update, and implement a strategic plan for the campaign
• Support senior staff and campaign volunteer solicitation success by preparing briefing and solicitation materials, providing strategic guidance, and assisting with donor communications and scheduling
• Manage campaign committees by assisting in volunteer recruitment, coordinating meetings, setting strategic agendas, and training volunteers on campaign best practices
• Plan and coordinate campaign cultivation and recognition events and meetings
• Directly solicit campaign gifts where appropriate, maintaining an active personal portfolio of campaign prospects at any time
• Develop donor-facing correspondence, including letters, gift agreements, acknowledgements, and other stewardship mailings (print and digital)
• Oversee the writing and development of campaign print and electronic collateral and coordinate their design and production
• Support the development and execution of a campaign communications plan, lifting campaign milestones for ongoing publications and public relations outreach, providing talking points for the media, and advising on a comprehensive public launch and engagement strategy
• Ensure donor acknowledgement and public recognition

Data Management, Reporting, and Tracking

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date and readily available information and record-keeping on campaign goals, progress, prospects, donors and gift decisions
• Maintain a comprehensive campaign timeline and organize the pipeline of prospective donors to ensure timely activity and progress towards campaign benchmarks
• Regularly evaluate progress towards goals and benchmarks, prepare timely progress reports, and recommend revisions to the campaign plan and timeline, as needed
• Serve as a subject matter expert on the BSO’s gift acceptance policy, campaign policies, and overall prospect management best practices

Miscellaneous

• Regularly staff concerts including donor lounge duty for BSO concerts at the Meyerhoff, Strathmore, and other run-out locations
• Event duty and attendance as required
• Other duties as assigned

CORE COMPETENCIES

• A high level of integrity and extraordinary work ethic
• A superior communicator, able to work effectively and respectfully with donors, board members, volunteers, and colleagues
• Comfort in asking individuals to commit their funds, time, and/or talents to support the mission of an organization
• Proficiency with office technology and donor information systems
• Passion for the mission of the BSO
• Energetic, self-motivated, flexible, and adaptable; able to multi-task and work independently in a hands-on work environment

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of seven years’ professional experience in fundraising with a proven record of success in meeting fundraising goals and managing volunteer solicitors, with specific experience in capital campaigns and/or major gifts
• A track record of closing five and six-figure gifts
• Demonstrated experience in producing highly polished and persuasive solicitation and campaign materials
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment in making independent decisions on matters of significance to the BSO’s ability to effectively execute its campaign fundraising plan
• Experience with CRM, preferably Tessitura
• Knowledge of the philanthropic community that supports the BSO (preferred)

Salary: Salary range is $95,000 – $115,000.00 commensurate with experience, expertise, and other qualifying factors.

Position Type and Work Hours: This is a full-time role requiring at least 3 days per week in office (Baltimore), possibly more when required; 8-10 hours per day. The Director must be able to work longer hours on nights/weekends as necessary. Occasional local or regional travel.

How to Apply: Send a cover letter, professional resume, and relevant work samples with appropriate redactions (e.g., solicitation letter(s), stewardship publication(s), broadbase or public mailing appeal(s), etc.) with salary requirements to Devojobs@bsomusic.org. Best apply by November 22, 2024.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and short- and long-term disability insurance. In addition, a 403(b) and paid vacation benefits.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is committed to fair employment practices and equal employment opportunity regardless of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, creed, ethnicity, family-care status, gender identity (including characteristics and/or expression), marital status, matriculation at a college, medical condition (including HIV/AIDS), chronic illness, pregnancy, childbirth (or other related medical conditions), membership in a labor union or union activities covered by the Act, mental disability, national origin, personal appearance, height and weight, physical disability, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and veteran status.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources.