Job Title: Director of Institutional Giving
Department: Development
Reports To: Chief Philanthropy Officer
Compensation: Director / Pay Grade 5 / $119,238 – $140,250
Status: Full-time, exempt, hybrid (min. 3 days/week in office)

ORGANIZATION

San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, has a history of making history. Founded in 1933, the company staged the first full-length American productions of Coppélia (1938) and Swan Lake (1940); and in 1944, launched an annual holiday tradition with the first full-length production of Nutcracker in the United States.

The bold and visionary Tamara Rojo joined SF Ballet as Artistic Director in 2022 and is the first woman to assume this role in the organization’s history. Under her direction, SF Ballet is focused on innovating ballet as an art form to reach new communities of artists and audiences in different ways. Rojo’s inaugural season (2023/24) was wildly successful, generating record-breaking ticket sales, exploring the intersection of AI and art, and inspiring a $60 million anonymous gift that is believed to be the largest in the field of dance in the United States.

Join us in building upon these—and many more—successes as we prepare to welcome a new Executive Director (2024/25), launch a multiyear comprehensive campaign (2024/25–2028/29), and plan for the 100th anniversary of the company (2032/33). The time to join SF Ballet is now.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

As Director, Institutional Giving for SF Ballet, you will be responsible for leading foundation, government, and corporate philanthropic giving through the full philanthropic cycle— from research, identification, and cultivation through securing of funds and stewardship of our institutional donors. In this role, you will continue to build strong relationships with current donors while expanding the institutional giving portfolio to include new opportunities for growth. Particular areas of growth include government relations, the build-out of a more robust foundation prospect pipeline, and a holistic approach to building relationships in the corporate sector as relates to special events, general/programmatic support, sponsorships, and more.

Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, working closely with a new Director of Strategic Partnerships, and collaborating with multiple internal and external stakeholders, the Director, Institutional Giving drives revenue growth across all areas in need of funding at SF Ballet and our SF Ballet School, including general operations, artistic programs, public programs, digital initiatives, dancer wellness, and more. The majority of focus will be on generating support for the operating budget, but there will also be opportunities to raise funds for the endowment, capital projects, and special fundraising campaigns. This role requires strong project management, relationship building, grantsmanship, creativity, flexibility, and attention, and adherence to overall strategic priorities. 

Responsibilities

• Research and identify funding opportunities, secure support, and steward relationships within foundation, government, and corporate donors.
• Develop, build, and strengthen relationships with key decision-makers and program directors/officers at funding organizations.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues within/beyond Development to support overall work of the department and the organization.
• Engage SF Ballet Board members and other volunteers who can be helpful in building our institutional giving portfolio.
• Keep abreast of programmatic direction across multiple areas of activity at SF Ballet and our SF Ballet School, proactively aligning funding opportunities with institutional priorities.
• Take the lead in preparation and timely submission of grant applications, proposals, and reports, ensuring all deadlines are met and submissions are compelling and competitive.
• Oversee a robust grants calendar and prospect pipeline for institutional donors.
• Maintain comprehensive records of grant activities, including proposals, awards, and reports, ensuring compliance with all funder requirements.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements and be proactive in seeking out opportunities for effective stewardship beyond what is required.
• Meet with prospects and donors virtually and in person, taking opportunities to schedule site visits, meet donors in the theater, and help plan/participate in cultivation/stewardship events.
• Play a strong role in building culture of philanthropy, performing additional duties as necessary to support Development goals.

DEPARTMENT

The Development team generates contributed revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies toward San Francisco Ballet’s operating budget, capital projects, endowment, reserves, and sometimes touring. Within the institutional giving arena comprised of foundation, government, and corporate donors, our goal is to expand funding opportunities and achieve revenue growth through a combination of renewed, increased, and new gift/grant activity.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience (7+ years) with foundation, government, and/or corporate donors.
• Strong understanding of fundraising principles, strategies, and best practices.
• Effective leadership of collaborative projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with a creative mindset and strong attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, team-centered, and results-oriented, demonstrating the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and multitask effectively.
• Expert grantwriting and other communication/meeting/presentation skills.
• Proficiency in budgeting and revenue tracking against revenue goals.
• Ability to prioritize projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working in with donor databases/CRMs (preferably Tessitura).
• Appreciation of the arts and commitment to a culture of philanthropy.
• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree desired.

COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic planning and execution
• Grantwriting and communications
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Budget management and reporting
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Commitment to IDEA

TO APPLY

We prefer you apply online.

No calls, please.

San Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff. Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).