Campaign Director
Position Overview
The Kansas City Symphony is undertaking the largest fundraising effort in its history, a combined capital and endowment campaign designed to secure the future of the orchestra. The centerpiece of the capital effort is a new music venue at 49th and Main Street, adjacent to the Country Club Plaza. This will be a modern indoor live music venue, best in class for amplified offerings and catering to every contemporary music genre except classical, with an estimated peak capacity of 4,640 and every person in the audience within 145 feet of the stage. The Symphony will be the sole owner of the venue, and Music and Events Management, Inc. (MEMI), the venue and presentation arm of the Cincinnati Symphony, will operate and program it. The venue project is capped at $70 million and is funded primarily through private philanthropy.
Responsibilities
Manage the day-to-day operation of the campaign, including the campaign plan, timeline, solicitation calendar, and milestones, keeping the effort on pace toward its goal.
Track and report campaign progress, maintaining accurate pipeline data and producing clear, timely reporting for the President & CEO, Chief Development Officer, Campaign Co-Chairs, campaign committee, and board.
Supervise the Special Projects Coordinator, directing campaign administrative support, meeting logistics, and records management.
Cook up campaign activity with the broader Development program so that annual giving relationships are protected and strengthened through the campaign.
Staff the Campaign Co-Chairs and campaign committee, preparing agendas, materials, minutes, and follow-up for all campaign meetings.
Prepare volunteer and executive solicitors for every donor interaction with thorough briefings, donor profiles, talking points, proposals, and prompt follow-up.
Manage volunteer solicitation assignments, tracking activity, and gently keeping assignments moving to completion.
Manage the campaign prospect portfolio through all stages of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, developing individualized strategies with the President & CEO and Chief Development Officer.
Direct prospect research and pipeline analysis, identifying new prospects, and ensuring the campaign always has sufficient qualified prospects to meet its goal.
Carry a modest personal portfolio of campaign prospects as appropriate, in coordination with the Chief Development Officer.
Maintain and refine the campaign case for support, proposals, pledge agreements, and naming and recognition materials, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all campaign communications.
Support foundation proposals and grant applications related to the campaign in collaboration with Development staff.
Design and execute donor recognition and stewardship for campaign commitments, ensuring that every donor's generosity is honored promptly and personally.
Qualifications
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including direct experience staffing or managing a capital, endowment, or comprehensive campaign.
Proven track record in major gift strategy and solicitation, and in preparing and supporting volunteer and executive solicitors.
Demonstrated success managing complex projects with many moving parts, multiple stakeholders, and firm deadlines.
Strong proficiency with fundraising CRM systems (Tessitura preferred) and with prospect research and pipeline reporting.
Knowledge of and experience with the Kansas City philanthropic community is strongly preferred; affinity for orchestral music is a plus.
Key Performance Indicators
Campaign progress: Dollars committed against the campaign timeline, and the health of the prospect pipeline behind those commitments.
Volunteer effectiveness: Campaign Co-Chairs and committee members who are prepared, active, and well supported, and who would describe their campaign work as rewarding.
Solicitation readiness: Briefings, proposals, and materials that are accurate, persuasive, and delivered when solicitors need them.
Data integrity: Pipeline records, gift documentation, and campaign reporting that leadership can rely upon without hesitation.
Timely and effective communications: Ensure that parties know what they need to know, when they need to know it, so that people across the campaign feel respected, informed, and aligned in their work.