Senior Philanthropy Officer

Job Details:

Job Location:

San Francisco - SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102, Position Type:
Full Time, Salary Range: $ - $ Salary/year, Job Category:
Business Development,

Revenue & Growth

Deputy Director, Campaign & Individual Philanthropy

$129,000 - $140,000

Full-time, exempt, hybrid (min. 3 days/week in office)

San Francisco Ballet embodies the spirit of its city: innovative, forward-thinking, and unafraid to challenge convention. Founded in 1933, the company has long understood that ballet's power lies in its ability to blend timeless tradition with modern relevance - from presenting America's first full-length productions of Nutcracker and Swan Lake to consistently pushing the boundaries of contemporary choreography. That same spirit runs through San Francisco Ballet School, one of the premier training grounds for dance in North America, which has shaped generations of dancers and continues to build the pipeline of artistic talent that keeps the company's future as strong as its present.

Under the artistic direction of Tamara Rojo and executive leadership of Branislav Henselmann, San Francisco Ballet is leading boldly into a new era, guided by a Comprehensive Enterprise Strategy that aligns artistic vision, organizational momentum, and civic energy toward a genuinely rare moment of opportunity. The company is reimagining what ballet can be, and making the case that its most compelling chapter is still ahead.

San Francisco Ballet's Senior Philanthropy Officer is a strategic and relationship-focused fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individuals capable of making five- and six-figure philanthropic contributions to the organization. This position is a key member of the Individual Giving team and plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s fundraising priorities and building a sustainable pipeline of major and principal level donors.

Working closely with leadership, program staff, Trustees, and other members of the Development team, the Senior Philanthropy Officer manages a portfolio of high-capacity and high-potential individuals and develops customized strategies to deepen donor engagement and increase philanthropic support. The Senior Philanthropy Officer is responsible for building authentic relationships with current and prospective major donors, advancing San Francisco Ballet’s strategic enterprise initiatives and long-term vision, and inspiring supporters to philanthropically engage with the organization.

They actively and positively contribute to a culture shift from benefits-based fundraising to impact-driven philanthropy and serve as a strategic partner to fellow front-facing gift officers.

• Using sound fundraising principles and best practices, manages a portfolio of approximately 150 major gift donors and prospects capable of making five- and six-figure investments, developing customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each assigned donor
• Manages the solicitation process from identification through verbal commitment, documentation, gift closure, and gift acknowledgement, determining appropriate ask amounts, timing, gift structures, and cultivation strategies
• Builds authentic, long-term relationships with donors, centering their philanthropic interests, motivations, and values and connecting them to giving opportunities at SF Ballet
• Develops and maintains meaningful relationships with current and prospective donors through ongoing 1:1 personal visits, virtual meetings, and on-site engagement opportunities
• Personally solicits five- and six-figure contributions and works collaboratively with senior leadership, Trustees, volunteers, and staff to capitalize on emerging fundraising opportunities and peer-to-peer networks
• Drafts compelling proposals, solicitation strategies, and curated stewardship opportunities tailored to individual donor interests
• Identifies, qualifies, and evaluates potential major donors using research, wealth screenings, and other prospecting strategies
• Represents SF Ballet in the community while also being very visible at SF Ballet special events and at the War Memorial Opera House during Nutcracker and Repertory Season performances and donor benefit events
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date prospect and donor information in Tessitura, including logging detailed contact reports in plans
• Develops thoughtful…