Chief Development Officer

Seattle Symphony Orchestra Inc•Seattle, WA

1d•$225,000 - $250,000

About The Position

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a member of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra & Benaroya Hall senior leadership team, reporting to the President & CEO. The CDO leads and coordinates individual and institutional fundraising, capital and endowment campaigns, planned giving, and contributed-revenue acquisition and retention. The role works closely with the organization’s three boards and senior leaders, and helps shape organizational strategy and future vision. The CDO will develop and implement a sustainable fundraising strategy, build annual and multi-year campaigns, personally solicit and steward donors, and engage staff, artists, educators, and board members in fundraising. The position oversees an annual contributed-revenue goal of $19.1 million in FY27, a 10% increase over FY26. It also includes growing the donor base beyond traditional symphony supporters, developing giving opportunities for audiences interested in education, community impact, and varied musical genres, and pursuing potential support from untapped cultural and ethnic donor communities. The CDO manages a 16-member Development team, including five direct reports: the Senior Director of Individual Giving, Director of Institutional Giving and Government Relations, Director of Special Events, Director of Strategic Communication, and Director of Development Operations. The leader will strengthen fundraising infrastructure, donor prospecting and cultivation, stewardship and recognition, and staff capabilities. The role also supports board-member recruitment strategy in consultation with the CEO and board leadership, and represents SSO/BH at community and social events. During the first six months, the CDO is expected to learn the organization’s history, culture, programs, constituencies, governance, financial support, and funding needs; assess fundraising efforts already in progress; and take a hands-on role in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts. The position operates in a high-output environment and may involve evenings, weekends, and travel on tour. Salary is $225,000 to $250,000 annually, plus benefits.

Requirements

Substantial fundraising experience with a sizable, high-performing institution and experience across capital, endowment, annual fund, event, and membership fundraising.
Successful experience raising principal or major gifts from individuals and institutional sources, preferably with an arts organization known for strategic thinking, operational excellence, aggressive action, and rapid growth.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills and the ability to connect with individuals, align the case for support, and create engagement opportunities.
Social grace, honesty, integrity, and the ability to build enthusiasm for SSO/BH.
Experience recruiting and cultivating new board members.
Demonstrated ability to motivate, direct, and manage staff and consultants and coordinate and support others’ fundraising activities.
Ability to listen to input from varied sources, analyze disparate information, and develop a sound, well-organized plan.
Broad knowledge of development activities, including web and social media, direct mail, membership, proposals and grants, planned giving, capital campaigns, event planning and management, direct solicitation, fundraising databases, donor segmentation, research, and volunteer management.
Experience structuring sponsorships and establishing stewardship and donor-recognition programs that sustain long-term relationships.
Understanding of fundraising systems and how data can manage fundraising, enhance donor cultivation, and guide fundraising priorities.
Emotional maturity, flexibility, sensitivity, and a good sense of humor to work with diverse personalities and situations in a high-energy environment.
Availability to work evenings and weekends and travel on tour as needed.

Responsibilities

Develop a fundraising plan with the President & CEO, including donor segmentation; annual, endowment, capital, and planned-giving objectives; success metrics; staff and board participation; roles; targets; and goals.
Collaborate with the President & CEO and CFO on annual operating plans and budgets, incorporating fundraising projections.
Manage and personally conduct donor solicitation and stewardship with the President & CEO, Music Director, Board Chair, Development Committee Chair, staff, and board members.
Retain, recruit, inspire, and manage development professionals; establish work plans and performance objectives, review performance, and provide professional development and training.
Implement a more systematic approach to prospecting, donor cultivation, and patron engagement.
Lead individual and institutional fundraising efforts, capital and endowment campaigns, planned giving, and contributed-revenue acquisition and retention.
Oversee high-touch donor stewardship and recognition, interact regularly with major donors, and represent SSO/BH at community and social functions.
Collaborate with the Chief Marketing Officer to turn patrons into donors and support seamless stewardship and deeper engagement.
Work with the Development Committee Chair and board members to strengthen board fundraising capabilities and secure contributed revenue.
Assist the Chair of the Board’s Nominations Committee with identifying and recruiting potential board members and developing recruitment strategy with the CEO and board leadership.
Review fundraising support infrastructure to ensure the organization can respond effectively to long-term financial requirements and short-term operating needs.
During the first six months, learn the organization and its funding needs, assess in-progress fundraising, and lead major-gift identification, cultivation, and solicitation.