OMNI is honored to be retained by the Kansas City Symphony in their search for a Director of Development. The Director of Development is the deputy leader of the development department, providing leadership in support of the Chief Development Officer (CDO), along with specific oversight of operations across the entire team. The Director of Development will play a critical role in developing and executing individual, foundation, government, and corporate giving strategies focused on annual and planned gifts that support the growth trajectory the Symphony is pursuing.

For this leadership position, we seek a strategic thinker, eager to further develop and drive the strategy for development in a collegial setting. The ideal candidate will possess a collaborative and innovative leadership style and the ability to instill and support an upbeat team culture. They must also have unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

Collaboration & Leadership

• In partnership with the CDO, support advancing the growth and maturation of the Symphony’s development program by designing and implementing systems to optimize fundraising operations.
• Assist the CDO in leading and mentoring a team of front-line fundraisers and functional leaders to support their success and achievement of fundraising goals.
• Provide expertise to staff, board members, and other volunteers for identifying and cultivating major & planned gift prospects.
• Oversee the development of donor communications, and subsequent cultivation, stewardship, and tracking activities for donors.

Development Portfolio Growth and Donor Engagement

• With the CDO, establish goals and track progress for all portfolios including planned, major, corporate, foundation, and government annual gifts, and donor acquisition and retention.
• Design and implement a robust donor upgrade program to support donors moving through the giving cycle.
• Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and day-to-day mentorship to development staff to support individual fundraising skills and overall team performance.
• Model best practices in relationship management and philanthropic engagement, ensuring the team is equipped with effective tools, messaging, and strategies.
• Encourage and support innovation and continuous improvement by empowering staff to test new approaches, share insights, and celebrate successes.
• Support the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts of the Executive Leadership Team and Board members so that they are properly prepared for each donor interaction, including donor profiles, briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up.

Development Operations Management

• Develop, oversee, and ensure adoption of systems, processes, and metrics for optimal development operations.
• Accurately project revenue, track progress towards goals, and produce regular reports to the CDO, Executive Leadership Team, and development staff regarding projected and achieved goals.
• With the CDO, establish and monitor detailed key performance indicators for every member of the department.
• Oversee portfolio management to ensure all donors and prospects are cultivated, solicited, and stewarded through the giving cycle.
• In collaboration with the CDO, develop strategies for the development team aimed at building and maintaining robust, data-driven systems to support dynamic development operations.
• In partnership with the CDO, oversee budget development and monitoring for all development activities.

Fundraising Portfolio

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 donors with an annual capacity of 5-figure gifts and higher.
• Strategically move prospects and donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to advance them through the giving pipeline in a systematic way.
• Undertake analysis and strategy to determine which prospective donors are best aligned with supporting various programs; develop and execute plans to engage and cultivate them through face-to-face visits, special appeals and campaigns, and events.
• Communicate persuasively through personal visits, written proposals, and appeal letters and report the important case for giving to the Kansas City Symphony.
• Ensure timely donor acknowledgement, including appreciation and recognition, to ensure a high-quality donor experience.

Planned Giving

• Reinvigorate and oversee a robust planned giving program to identify, cultivate, and steward planned giving prospects across all portfolios to increase and manage the membership of Kansas City Symphony’s Sempre Society.
• Develop a comprehensive planned giving acquisition plan based on a model of blended annual fund and planned gift solicitations by all frontline fundraisers.
• Create systems for identifying planned giving prospects and collaborating with individual fundraising staff to develop and implement successful strategies for cultivation and solicitation.
• Build and oversee a meaningful plan for stewarding members of the Sempre Society and celebrating a culture of legacy giving to Kansas City Symphony.
• Serve as the primary liaison for finalizing and settlement of estate gifts in cooperation with the CDO and CFO, in keeping with the Symphony’s Gift Acceptance Policy.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to thrive within a small, non-profit environment.
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Goal-oriented with a commitment to growth and change.
• Current, valid driver’s license.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of five years of experience soliciting planned and major gifts.
• Prior experience fundraising in a performing arts environment or cultural institution preferred.
• Previous oversight of planned giving program operations preferred.
• Volunteer management, interpersonal skills, time management, and organizational skills preferred.

Other:

• This position supervises four employees.
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Current, valid driver’s license

Physical Demands:

• This position requires the ability to sit or stand at a desk and operate a computer for prolonged periods of time.
• Some lifting is required.
• Ability to drive a car and climb stairs.

Work Environment:

• The position is located in an office.
• Periodic attendance at meetings held at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts or other off‑site locations is required.
• In addition to regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.), weekend and evening work is often required in support of our performance schedule.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Target base salary range is $90-110k, commensurate with candidate experience
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage
• Generous vacation and PTO

We appreciate your referrals to professionals who may have an interest in this outstanding opportunity. Formal interest accepted through the OMNI Executive Career Portal. Please direct all inquiries to:

OMNI Human Resource Solutions

Anna Robinson, Senior Consultant – arobinson@omnihrm.com

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers.