Senior Director of Development

Senior Director of Development

Full-Time, Exempt | Hybrid | Reports to the Executive Director

Supervises: Director of Civic Impact and Deputy Director of the Academy

Annual Salary: $120,000

Position Summary

The ASO seeks an experienced Senior Director of Development for a newly created position leading contributed-revenue growth for the Orchestra and Academy.” Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Director develops and executes a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing major gifts, annual giving, foundation and government grants, individual and institutional philanthropy, business partnerships and sponsorships, campaigns, and donor stewardship.

This is both a strategic and hands-on fundraising position. The immediate priorities are to reconnect with existing donors after a period with no fundraising lead on staff, strengthen relationships with major supporters, cultivate new prospects, and secure gifts and commitments. Alongside this work, the Senior Director builds the systems and pipeline necessary for sustained contributed-revenue growth.

The Senior Director maintains an active donor portfolio and personally cultivates, solicits, and secures gifts. Working with executive, artistic, Academy and board leadership, the position translates organizational priorities into compelling funding opportunities and engages the people best placed to advance each relationship.

The Senior Director supervises the Director of Civic Impact and Deputy Director of the Academy, who leads foundation and government grant execution, civic partnerships, community engagement, and Academy philanthropy in coordination with organizational goals. The Director of Civic Impact and Deputy Director of the Academy supervises the Development & Academy Coordinator, whose administrative work supports the full development function and Academy operations.

The Senior Director is accountable for execution of the development plan and fundraising performance across the department. The Executive Director remains visibly engaged in fundraising, personally leads designated principal donor relationships, and shares accountability for institutional contributed-revenue goals.

Who Is the Senior Director of Development

The successful candidate is an accomplished fundraiser with demonstrated success securing significant gifts and growing contributed revenue. They combine curiosity about donors’ interests with the discipline to develop solicitation strategies, make the ask, close commitments, and follow through.

They understand the organization’s needs well enough to turn artistic, educational, and community priorities into specific philanthropic opportunities. They know when to involve the Executive Director, Artistic Director, Board, musicians, or Academy leadership, and prepare those partners to participate effectively.

They recognize the full journey of engagement, from first-time ticket buyer or Academy family to subscriber, advocate, donor, and philanthropic partner. They collaborate with colleagues in other departments to deepen relationships while keeping fundraising results central to their work.

They are also an effective manager who establishes clear expectations, supports colleagues’ expertise, and creates accountability. They bring sound judgment, discretion, initiative, and persistence to both donor relationships and team leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Growth

• Develop and execute an annual development plan with clear revenue goals, priorities, performance benchmarks, and accountability.
• Lead all contributed revenue efforts, including major gifts, annual giving campaigns, institutional support, business partnerships, and sponsorships.
• Oversee foundation and government fundraising through the Director of Civic Impact and Deputy Director of the Academy, including funding strategies, grant opportunities, funder relationships, proposals, and reporting.
• Manage an active major-gift portfolio and prospect pipeline, personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to secure gifts and multi-year commitments.
• Strengthen donor retention, renewal, upgrades, and reengagement through coordinated campaigns and relationship management.

Philanthropic Opportunities and Leadership Engagement

• Partner with executive, artistic, and Academy leadership to develop compelling philanthropic opportunities, cases for support, and campaign priorities.
• Lead Academy fundraising strategy in collaboration with Academy leadership, supporting scholarships, educational programs, accessibility, and growth.
• Partner with the Executive Director on principal and transformational gifts, coordinating relationship management, solicitations, and follow-through.
• Engage the Board, Artistic Director, and other organizational leaders in prospect identification, donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications on donor communications, recognition, and engagement strategies.

Fundraising and Donor Events

• Establish the strategy, goals, calendar, and budgets for fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events, balancing revenue potential, relationship value, and staff capacity.
• Oversee event planning, execution, and evaluation, including sponsorship goals, donor engagement, and leadership participation.
• Ensure timely donor follow-up and measure event effectiveness in generating philanthropic support and strengthening relationships.

Department Leadership and Development Operations

• Supervise the Director of Civic Impact and Deputy Director of the Academy, establishing priorities and accountability for institutional giving, grants, civic partnerships, and Academy philanthropy.
• Coordinate departmental priorities, staff responsibilities, and development support provided by the Academy & Development Coordinator.
• Oversee donor services, gift processing, stewardship, prospect management, and reporting in coordination with Finance and administrative staff.
• Leverage Patron Manager, donor research, and giving data to inform fundraising strategies, prospect development, and performance analysis.
• Monitor revenue forecasts, departmental expenses, and progress toward goals, reporting results, risks, and recommendations to the Executive Director and Board.

Qualifications

• 5-7 year minimum of significantly progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, including leadership responsibility for contributed-revenue goals and results.
• Proven success personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts and growing philanthropic support.
• Experience developing and executing fundraising plans spanning individual giving, annual giving, institutional support, campaigns, and stewardship.
• Experience leading or overseeing foundation and government fundraising, including funding strategy, proposals, renewals, reporting, and performance accountability.
• Ability to translate institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities and successful solicitations.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with donors, executive leadership, Board members, and other stakeholders.
• Experience supervising and developing staff and establishing clear expectations and accountability.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple donor relationships and fundraising priorities.
• Experience using CRM systems, donor research, data, and reporting to guide strategy; PatronManager experience preferred.
• Sound judgment, discretion, initiative, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Arts and culture experience is preferred.

Benefits

At the ASO we value the well-being and growth of our team. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance covered 100% by the ASO
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO) 
• 11 annual holidays plus Spring Break, Winter Break, and Thanksgiving Break (includes Federal Holidays except when events occur)
• 100% Employee-Funded 401K Retirement Savings
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Hybrid work arrangements
• ASO is compliant with state law for workers' compensation and unemployment insurance.
• ASO will implement Maryland's new paid family & medical leave in accordance with state law. (Maryland FAMLI)

Scheduling And Physical Requirements

• This position requires onsite work at designated performances and events, including evenings and weekends;
• The employee must be able to travel among ASO offices, performance venues, storage facilities, printers, post offices, and other local locations as required;
• Reliable transportation is required for local pickups and deliveries;
• The position requires extended periods of computer and telephone work;
• The employee must be able to move, transport, set up, and store routine office, promotional, ticketing, and event materials, with reasonable accommodation as required; and
• The employee must be able to work in a fast-paced performance environment and respond professionally to time-sensitive patron and operational needs.

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs.