Chief Development Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Development Officer will develop and lead a comprehensive annual fundraising and communications strategy to advance GTCYS’ mission and expand philanthropic support. Key responsibilities include setting strategy, serving as a major gifts officer, and overseeing the development and communications team. This is a senior level position that reports to the executive director. This is an exciting opportunity to continue building on GTCYS’ positive fundraising momentum and success as the largest youth orchestra program in the country.

The ideal candidate will have strong leadership and supervisory skills, a background in communications, a passion for GTCYS’ mission, and a successful track record of creating revenue growth from personal solicitations and best practices with a relationship‑based approach. They will also have excellent interpersonal skills, can balance high‑level strategy with analysis and hands‑on work, and thrive in a small staff with significant impact.

This is a hybrid position in the Twin Cities, with some in‑person work at GTCYS’ St. Paul office, as well as some evening and weekend attendance at donor meetings, concerts, and key activities.

• Develop, implement, and oversee a comprehensive fundraising plan to support individual giving, major gifts, planned giving, institutional support, and communications.
• Create metrics and systems for development activities including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with GTCYS alumni, families, and other individuals.
• Identify donor prospects and assign and track donor portfolios across the annual fund, planned giving, and campaigns.
• Serve as a major gifts officer, including moves management for a portfolio of leadership gifts and personal cultivation and stewardship visits and meetings.
• Identify and implement opportunities to accelerate fundraising growth and meet contributed income goals.
• Oversee cultivation activities and fundraising events, including GTCYS’ annual Orchestrating Opportunities benefit and Leadership Circle.
• Support GTCYS’ board of directors by leading the Development committee, guiding the board’s fundraising actions, and partnering with the executive director on board stewardship and governance.
• Maintain thorough donor records, including call notes and gift details.
• Develop key messages, case for support, and organization‑wide communications strategies in collaboration with the communications manager.
• Represent GTCYS as a senior leader at meetings and events with constituents, and community activities.
• Supervise and provide leadership for the development and communications department.
• Develop and monitor the annual department budget, and prepare regular progress reports.
• Create fundraising policies and procedures as needed.

• Minimum of 8 years of broad professional fundraising experience, with emphasis on individual giving
• Understanding of best practices and knowledge of the fundraising field.
• Track record of developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies and meeting revenue goals.
• Demonstrated success in personally soliciting and closing major gifts from individuals.
• Experience with moves management and prospecting.
• Experience leading and mentoring development and communications teams, and managing up to the head of an organization.
• Outstanding relationship‑building skills and ability to create trust with broad range of constituents.
• Facility with Excel and Microsoft 365; ability to analyze and interpret data.
• Experience with CRMs and databases (GTCYS uses Neon CRM).
• Authentic passion for GTCYS’ mission and equity goals (background in music is strongly preferred).
• Superior verbal and written communications skills, and ability to articulate GTCYS’ case for support.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends to support GTCYS program activities.
• Motivated, flexible, and able to work well independently and with others.

Salary is $90,000–$100,000 depending on experience. Benefits include health insurance (70% paid by GTCYS), 3% match to 401(k) plan, long term disability insurance, access to dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid…