Reporting to the President and CEO, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music seeks a Vice President for Advancement as a key member of its senior leadership team to support the mission, vision and growth of SFCM within an inspiring and dynamic organization. As the lead strategic fundraiser and liaison to the President and Board, the Vice President directs, recruits and mentors an outstanding team of development professionals while overseeing all aspects of Advancement at the Conservatory of Music. In 2022 the Conservatory completed the $200 million+ Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts while reimagining the model for a modern conservatory following the incorporation of a unique curriculum designed to equip students for lifelong success in any endeavor. The Bowes Center project was launched with a single gift of $46.4M, the largest gift in history to a music school in support of a building project. Following the celebrated completion of the Bowes Center campaign, exceptional fundraising for endowment, partnerships and innovative music programs continues unabated, guided and strongly supported by the President and Board of Trustees while under the direction of the Vice President for Advancement. SFCM has added 120 scholarships and successfully acquired three for-profit companies in just the last three years.

About Us

SFCM’s mission is to transform our students: artistically, intellectually, professionally and individually. Through the study of music at the highest level, our students learn to seek achievement in every endeavor, to convert challenges into opportunities, to understand the nature of excellence, and to pursue their dreams with vigor and determination. We believe that inspiring the imagination, cultivating the artist, honing the intellect, and developing the professional are the keys to launching innovative graduates who excel in any field. SFCM is located in the heart of one of the world’s most innovative and diverse cities and is home to a vibrant academic community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields.

SFCM recently acquired Opus 3 Artists, Pentatone, and Askonas Holt, establishing the conservatory as the only institution paired with two leading artist management companies and a legendary recording label. The new initiatives of this network created the Artist Apprentice Program as well as numerous artist-led residencies and campus engagements, creating innovative and distinctive programs for today’s top global artists and the students and faculty of SFCM. In addition to its novel programs in Technology and Applied Composition and Roots, Jazz, and American Music, the school forged educational alliances with the San Francisco Symphony, Opera, and Ballet, the SFJAZZ Center, Skywalker Studios, SONY, and numerous companies in Silicon Valley. SFCM also works to increase representation in the arts, including a collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony for the Emerging Black Composers Project—a ten-year engagement program to spotlight early-career Black American composers and their music—and the Denis de Coteau Fellowship with SF Ballet which provides funding, instruction, and performance opportunities for musicians with diverse backgrounds.

Job Duties

The Vice President for Advancement:

• Collaborates with the President and key Trustees to ensure strong momentum for the comprehensive campaign for endowment, partnerships, and special initiatives. Advises and assists the President and key Trustees on principal gift strategy and solicitation.
• Directs individual giving, major gifts, alumni support, corporate and individual support, fundraising events, planned gifts and stewardship activities through a comprehensive campaign for SFCM.
• Manages the Advancement leadership team to ensure there are established performance metrics and that Advancement staff are accountable for and reach their fundraising goals.
• Ensures that the Advancement department structure and staffing is optimized to support SFCM’s fundraising goals and that Advancement staff have the supervisory support and administrative resources they need to be successful. Recruits and mentors new team members.
• Cultivates and solicits a portfolio of high-net-worth donors to support SFCM through major and planned gifts, following clear and measurable goals of the fiscal year and campaign.
• Acts as primary liaison to the Advancement Committee, Campaign Cabinet, and Governance & Nominating Committee.
• Collaborates with key members of SFCM’s senior leadership team to align operational priorities and maximize engagement with the donor, alumni, student and faculty communities.
• Ensures the continued development and maintenance of effective communications and record management programs for donor engagement and data collection/tracking, coordinating closely with colleagues in Marketing and Communications.
• Develops and oversees spending for advancement operations and ensures budget adherence.
• Collaborates with the President and senior leaders of SFCM on the development and implementation of the comprehensive campaign goals to support SFCM
• Shape the strategic development plan for Advancement operations.
• Performs other duties as needed.

• Seven years of proven organizational, supervisory and fundraising leadership experience.
• Successful record of conceptualizing and executing fundraising plans, particularly in a performing arts or higher education context.
• Willingness to engage and work with different perspectives and an openness to new ideas.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with an ability to engage donors at all levels, trustees, senior leadership, staff, and other key members of the SFCM community.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to sincerely advocate for and promote SFCM.
• Ability to travel as needed to represent SFCM.
• Ability to be present at evening and weekend events.

Compensation and Benefits Description

Competitive salary depending on experience in a range that starts at $300,000.00/year, with generous health and welfare benefits.

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications through our website. This position will be open until filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SFCM is a fully committed equal employment opportunity institution and welcomes applications from all qualified persons, including those who consider themselves to be of a race, national origin or ancestry that is not fully represented in musical arts programs in the United States. Personnel decisions regarding applicants for employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran, age, citizenship, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

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