Vice President of Advancement

Description

Department:

Development

Reports To:

President and CEO

Classification:

Exempt 

Status:

Regular, Full-time 

Direct Reports:

3 direct reports; 12 indirect reports 

Salary Range:

$200,000 - $225,000 annually

Position Summary: 

The Vice President of Advancement, an accomplished fundraising strategist, is responsible for setting and leading all aspects of a comprehensive fundraising vision for the Minnesota Orchestra, with primary accountability for leading major donor strategy and solicitation, and partnering with the CEO and VP-level peers to drive the Orchestra’s long-term success. 

This role has a proven record of closing strategic gifts, accelerating top donor prospects, monitoring results, and adjusting plans as necessary.  The VP of Advancement plans strategy and develops short- and long-range plans for all fundraising efforts across the Minnesota Orchestra including, but not limited to, annual fund, endowment, planned giving, capital projects, and fundraising events. 

About the Minnesota Orchestra

The Minnesota Orchestra is a Grammy Award-winning orchestra known for acclaimed performances in Minnesota and around the world, a storied history of recordings and radio broadcasts, innovative educational engagement programs and a commitment to new orchestral music. Founded by Emil Oberhoffer in 1903 as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, the organization was the eighth major orchestra established in the United States. In 1911, it began a series of children's concerts under the sponsorship of the Young People's Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA), which continues to this day. Early in the 1920s, the orchestra was one of the first to be heard on recordings and on the radio, playing a nationally broadcast concert with guest conductor Bruno Walter in 1923. In 1968, the orchestra changed its name to the Minnesota Orchestra (or Minnesota Orchestral Association).

Today the Orchestra performs a wide variety of music including nearly 175 concerts in a typical year, primarily at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis, the organization’s home since 1974. The Orchestra is led by Music Director Thomas Søndergård and has historically toured regularly throughout Minnesota, nationally and abroad. The Minnesota Orchestra has an annual budget of $42.6M and ended FY2024 with net assets of $185.5M. The organization employs over 150 FT employees and over 100 PT staff,  and is supported and governed by an 80+ member Board of Directors.  In 2024-25, 237,875 guests attended in-person concerts; with audio streaming, digital concerts, TV and radio broadcasts included that number reached more than 2.5 million people.    

Minnesota Orchestra Values:

At the Minnesota Orchestra, we believe every employee is essential to the success of the organization and critical to accomplishing our mission to enrich, inspire and serve our community. Our working relationships are based on respect for each other as individuals, confidence in one another, and a genuine desire to actively listen and collaborate with each other. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization that honors and reflects the community we serve, welcomes, and instills diversity across our organization, and nurtures an equitable and inclusive culture.

Learn more at www.minnesotaorchestra.org  

Essential Functions:  

• Shapes and guides the Minnesota Orchestra’s overarching philanthropic vision in order to substantially grow contributed revenue
• Serves as a key strategic partner to the President and CEO and senior leadership team while collaborating closely with the Board Chair, Campaign Cabinet, Development Committee, and others
• Leads and sets the strategic direction for a high-caliber team of fundraising professionals in the Development Department
• Designs and implements cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for the orchestra’s highest-capacity prospects, including principal and transformational gifts
• Actively manages a portfolio of approximately 40 major and principal gift prospects, including direct solicitation and stewardship
• Supports and guides the President/CEO and Music Director in managing their own prospect portfolios
• Builds strong and mutually beneficial relationships with Board members, musicians, staff, volunteers, patrons, and external stakeholders 
• Serves as the department’s voice in organizational planning and decision-making
• Serves as a senior ambassador for the orchestra in the philanthropic and civic community
• Models enthusiasm and passion for the mission of the Minnesota Orchestra by providing clear direction and mentorship to the entire development team

Leadership Expectations:
This position manages staff members responsible for engaging the development department and works alongside the President and CEO and the Board of Directors and, therefore, is well-informed, of high integrity, and can easily build trust. The following expectations provide key behaviors for leaders/managers: 

• Demonstrate integrity in actions and words
• Demonstrate a commitment to the MN Orchestra Values
• Set clear goals and priorities, holding yourself and direct reports accountable to meet strategic priorities
• Ability to effectively lead through changing priorities 
• Coach and counsel direct reports regarding individual performance and other career development areas, taking corrective action when necessary
• Create an environment that inspires a high level of commitment and performance
• Lead innovation and positive change on your team and across the organization 
• Maintain staff by recruiting, selecting, and training employees 

Requirements

• An enthusiastic commitment to the mission of the Minnesota Orchestra.
• 10 years or more of senior leadership experience in managing comprehensive fundraising teams, preferably within a large arts, cultural, or mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success securing seven- and eight-figure gifts and leading comprehensive campaigns.
• Experience working with board members and board committees in a collaborative style that furthers the mission of the organization
• Demonstrated ability to work as a partner with all constituents of the organization
• Strategic thinker; able to see the big picture, plan for the future and deliver results
• Knowledge about current and evolving trends in philanthropy
• Familiarity with software platforms, such as Tessitura, used to track donor data
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential and sensitive information, possess a high degree of personal integrity and sound judgment 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with excellent attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively present ideas and deliverables to internal stakeholders, external suppliers, vendors, or other entities
• Ability to collaborate with others to identify and solve issues or make proactive recommendations and lead through influence
• Ability to participate in donor engagement events, including concerts, receptions, dinners, lunches, and fundraising events
• Bachelor's Degree in or the equivalent amount of training and hands-on experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the position

Technology/Equipment:

• Working knowledge of a donor-centered CRM systems, especially managing data analytics and reporting 
• Intermediate knowledge of MS Office suite, especially Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint

Work Environment and Physical and Mental Demands: 

The Minnesota Orchestra is primarily a place-based organization, offering hybrid schedules that require some in-person, on-site work. Permission is required for applicants and current employees seeking to reside outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area or more than 60 miles from Orchestra Hall. While working on site at Orchestra Hall or the administrative offices, work is performed in an open office environment with moderate noise levels in a cubical desk configuration and in a performing art building on stage, in a lobby or other location within the facility, and occasionally in an outdoor environment for outdoor concerts, or other activities.  While performing the duties of this position, incumbents may be required to do all or some of the following, with or without accommodation:

• Sit or stand at a desk, counter, or other work surface 
• Talk and/or hear spoken words, music, or other sounds 
• Use hands or fingers to handle or touch objects around them
• Review documents, monitors, or displays with potentially small print 
• Operate a computer, phone and other common office tools or controls
• Mentally focus on tasks and apply sound reasoning and judgement
• Work in or attend meetings or other events in any of the Orchestra locations or other sites as necessary
• Lift/move objects (such as files, packages, props, or office equipment) or ensure objects are lifted/moved that may weigh up to 15 lbs.

The typical workdays and hours for the organization are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm with required extended evening, weekend or holiday hours.  In this exempt position, work is expected to be delivered within established deadlines and quality standards without regard to the typical working days or hours as noted above with some autonomy to determine attendance at a performance or other events.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Minnesota Orchestral Association is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable discrimination laws. We recruit, hire, train and promote all persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, creed, status with regard to public assistance or any other non-job related characteristic.