Principal Gifts Officer

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION•San Francisco, CA

1d•$130,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Founded in 1933, San Francisco Ballet embodies the spirit of the city: innovative, forward-thinking, and unafraid to challenge conventions. From presenting America’s first Nutcracker and Swan Lake to consistently pushing the boundaries of contemporary choreography, the company understands that ballet’s power lies in its ability to blend timeless traditions with modern relevance. Under the artistic direction of Tamara Rojo and executive leadership of Branislav Henselmann, SF Ballet stands at an extraordinary inflection point where artistic vision, organizational transition, cultural evolution, and civic renewal converge to create a unique window of opportunity. As the organization approaches its centennial in 2033, the company is boldly reimagining what the art form can become in the 21st century and serving as the international leader of the future of ballet. To fuel its new comprehensive enterprise strategy and transformative artistic vision, SF Ballet has launched the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of American dance—Arrow to the Future: The Comprehensive Campaign for San Francisco Ballet. Built on three essential funding priorities—the Annual Fund, Endowment, and Strategic Reserves—Arrow to the Future has already achieved early momentum with a historic $60M gift, an early $8M investment, and successfully completing its first full pace-setting year on its five-year timeline (FY26-FY30). The Principal Gifts Officer role joins a robust team of experienced and passionate fundraisers who partner closely with a fully engaged Board of Trustees and professional consultants to ensure the success of this monumental endeavor for San Francisco Ballet.

Requirements

10+ years of frontline fundraising experience with a demonstrated record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts
Experience managing complex donor relationships in a campaign context; comprehensive or capital campaign experience preferred
Strong relationship-building skills with proven success engaging executive leadership, Board members, and high-net-worth individuals
Strong written communication skills; ability to craft compelling proposals, impact reports, and stewardship materials
Proficiency in Tessitura or comparable CRM; Microsoft Office Suite
Bachelor’s degree required

Nice To Haves

Background in the performing arts or cultural sector strongly preferred
advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of 75-100 top campaign prospects and donors with the capacity to make gifts of $1 million and above, including multi-million-dollar principal gifts.
Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each prospect, in close collaboration with the Managing Director and executive leadership.
Lead and participate in all stages of the solicitation cycle—prospect qualification, strategy development, proposal preparation, and gift closing—with sustained emphasis on in-person relationship building.
Collaborate with the Managing Director, campaign consultants, volunteer leaders, and executive leadership to facilitate joint solicitations and complex donor conversations.
Support the Managing Director, campaign consultants, volunteer leaders, and executive leadership in preparing campaign volunteers and Board members for cultivation and solicitation meetings.
Maintain timely and accurate records of all donor interactions and moves management in Tessitura.
Support the Managing Director in campaign strategy, prospect pipeline development, and moves management, contributing to portfolio reviews and solicitation planning.
Build and sustain meaningful relationships with principal gift donors through personalized, high-touch cultivation and stewardship.
Support the Managing Director in the Campaign Cabinet liaison function, including assisting with volunteer leadership coordination, meeting preparation, and follow-through on campaign activities, in collaboration with the Senior Campaign Manager & Prospect Researcher.
Partner with the Events team to design bespoke cultivation and stewardship experiences, including campaign-related events, that deepen donor relationships and advance campaign goals.
Develop strategically planned prospect lists for donor experiences and campaign events.
Collaborate with the Events and Individual Giving teams to create tailored engagement opportunities with SF Ballet’s leadership, artists, and programs.
Contribute to the development of briefing materials, proposals, and stewardship collateral for leadership solicitations.
Support the Managing Director in blended gift strategy development where principal gifts intersect with legacy giving.
Active representation at SF Ballet performances, events, and cultivation activities.