Leadership Giving Officer (7547U

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and Mac Arthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond.

Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and providing space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

Cal Performances is a performing arts presenting, commissioning, and producing organization based at the University of California, Berkeley. The mission of Cal Performances is to produce and present performances of the highest artistic quality, enhanced by programs that explore compelling intersections of education and the performing arts. Cal Performances fulfills this mission by presenting, producing, and commissioning outstanding artists, both renowned and emerging, to serve the University and the broader public through performances, education, and community programs.

Under the strategic direction of the Chief Development Officer, the Leadership Giving Officer develops and executes long-range development strategies for prospects and donors with the capacity to give 6+ figure gifts to Cal Performances. The Leadership Giving Officer works in partnership with other members of a 9-person development team to create comprehensive fundraising strategies designed to inspire giving from existing major gifts donors and new major gifts prospects.

The First Review Date for this job is:
August 19, 2026

• Develops and manages a dynamic portfolio of approximately 150 donors, with the capacity to give $100,000 or more to Cal Performances.
• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards prospects for gifts in the portfolio; this may also include delivering personalized experiences such as backstage visits and working with corporate and foundation prospects with ties to individual major donors and prospects.
• Evaluates fund development approaches using prospect research and financial capacity data, including planning and evaluating annual solicitation programs for the portfolio, and making recommendations for improvements.
• Works collaboratively with discovery and new philanthropy staff to bring new donors into the pipeline through discovery, cultivation, and solicitation.
• Writes proposals for solicitation of individual prospects. Solicits gifts directly; works with senior staff, content experts, and key volunteers to implement successful solicitation strategies.
• Manages relationships with some of the University’s most important donors, especially where designated as primary manager.
• Develops and executes long- and short-term strategies to secure major gifts from individuals in support of the Cal Performances mission.
• Attends performances and related education events to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects.
• Conducts 10-12 prospect/donor visits per month, through various means.
• Develops stewardship reports including donor profiles to donors as needed, in collaboration with artistic, education, marketing, and other staff.
• Analyzes needs and assists in the creation of strategic plans for Development programs.
• Attends functions, meetings, and serves on internal/external committees as a representative of Cal Performances.
• Works as a part of the team to execute various duties related to events, including the annual fundraising gala, including but not limited to executing fundraising strategies, vendor communications, including ticket and table sales, donor stewardship, auction and fund-a-need, and donor communications.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's…