Columbus Symphony - Position Profile              

Position:          Chief Development Officer

Reports to:       President and CEO

Location:          Columbus, Ohio

The Columbus Symphony

The Columbus Symphony is seeking a dynamic and innovative Chief Development Officer for its management team who, along with a new President/CEO and strengthened management team, will set the symphony on a breakthrough path with an innovative strategic vision that will recast the symphony’s future.  The symphony’s leadership will be at the forefront of creating a new business model for symphonic orchestras.

The mission of the Columbus Symphony is to advance a symphony orchestra of the highest artistic standard for the enrichment, enjoyment, and well-being of central Ohio. Through concerts, outreach, and educational activities, the Columbus Symphony serves as a community resource that is a major component of central Ohio’s quality of life. In addition, the Symphony is dedicated to educating and entertaining people of all ages to foster talent, create future audiences, nurture intellectual development, and spark creativity. The Columbus Symphony was established in 1951 and currently has a $9 million dollar budget.

Today, the Symphony serves a wide range of constituencies—from seasoned classical music lovers to school children who are experiencing orchestral music for the first time. In addition to a Classical concert series and both indoor and outdoor Pops series, the Columbus Symphony has four youth orchestras and quality education and community outreach programs—serving people of all ages, families, and school classrooms.

In January 2008, the Columbus Symphony board completed a strategic planning process, which has become the backbone of the Symphony’s recent progress. A new President and CEO arrived in August 2009. In collaboration with the board and musicians, he is shaping an innovative vision and a new business model for the future of the Columbus Symphony.

The priorities, based on the strategic plan, include stabilizing the budget and increasing audiences. To this plan, the leadership is adding the following key priorities:

• 
  
  facilitating a culture of excellence at every level of the organization;


• 
  
   utilizing online tools, videos, and other supplemental materials to enrich the concert experience; and


• 
  
  using social media to bond musicians with audiences.

With these initiatives the Symphony is joining a select group of orchestras that are taking the lead in adapting electronic media to serve the music lover—in the concert hall, via computer, and through a variety of innovative formats that permit listeners to choose how they receive their music.

The goal: grow audiences for the Columbus Symphony and build the relationships, loyalty, and buzz that are critical to long-term support of the organization. Times are changing and the business model must change to focus on content distribution, rather than concert production.

Under new staff leadership, near-term initiatives include:

• 
  
  strengthening development staffing, fundraising planning, and guidance to maintain a sustainable budget; and


• 
  
  developing new access and connections to the music—through electronic media outlets and opportunities—in order to increase audience numbers, commitment, and appeal among a broader age range; and to intensify the musical experience for all.

The Chief Development Officer, along with the new CEO and President, and strengthened management team will be responsible for the developing and implementing the fundraising strategy and plan to enable the Columbus Symphony to achieve its vision and goals.

Job Responsibilities

·         Establish the vision and direction for all development activity for the Columbus Symphony.  Ensure the successful implementation of established short-term and long-term strategic development plans and the related tactical plans and activities to achieve the development and strategic goals of the symphony. Develop on-going strategic plans to achieve development objectives.  As part of the executive management team, assist the CEO in overall strategy and planning.

·         Develop effective and strategic relationships with the Columbus philanthropic community, business community, the symphony board of directors, and auxiliary organizations.  Manage and cultivate relationships to achieve the full fundraising potential of the community.  Support the President and CEO in relationship building. Participate in community events to represent the symphony and to develop relationships.  Provide support to the board in fundraising activity including training, development of materials, relationship management, and ongoing donor cultivation efforts.

·         Provide overall direction for the development team.  Hire, manage and develop an effective team to ensure that fundraising objectives are established, prioritized and met.  Manage volunteer workforce(s) as appropriate.

·         Direct and oversee the effective implementation of all fundraising plans and programs, including annual fundraising, major gifts, gift planning, grants, corporate giving and sponsorship, tele-funding, and digital/tech fundraising.

·         Develop budget projections and recommend fundraising goals to the CEO and the board. Conduct thorough fundraising and expense analyses to determine budget projections and goals.

·         Direct and oversee an effective and responsive donor relations program including communications, recognition and stewardship activities.  Oversee the development of the compelling case(s) for support and fundraising communication materials. 

·         Direct and oversee effective database management of all donor records.  Ensure effective data management and reporting to the CEO, Finance Office and the Board. Oversee analysis and evaluation of fundraising programs and results.

·         Oversee all grant activity including grant applications, grant monitoring and reporting; researching grant opportunities; support application process; ensure relationships are cultivated with foundations, grantors and government agencies to cultivate maximum potential for funding/grant opportunities.

·         Direct and oversee all symphony fundraising events and activities.  Ensure that events are designed to achieve maximum fundraising potential, community exposure, and overall effective community relations.

·         Collaborate with internal departments to ensure effective planning implementation of fundraising and development activities. Establish close relationship and collaboration with the Marketing Department to ensure that all fundraising and development activity is consistent with the Columbus Symphony brand and supports the symphony marketing and event efforts.

Competency & Skill Profile

·         The ideal candidate will possess extremely strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to establish both short-term and long-term strategies for implementation of successful development plans.

·         Very strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with a wide range of people, from volunteers to major donors. The ability to be persuasive with the Board of Trustees, business community, and the philanthropic community is essential.  Further, strong listening skills will be critical in working with the board and community leaders.

·         Likewise, a very strong understanding of the business community and business acumen will be important in achieving results.

·         Very effective communication skills (i.e., verbal, written, presentation) will be essential. Organization and planning skills will be necessary to develop and implement the plans.

·         Ability to develop creative and innovative fundraising and development strategies and plans coupled with the ability to implement those plans in new and innovative ways.  Strong management and leadership skills to hire, direct, and develop the successful performance of the Development Office.   Managing the team will require the ability to establish priorities, goals, and timelines for the work team.  Management will also require overseeing the development of efficient fundraising processes and systems.

·         The Columbus Symphony is seeking a development officer who can work in a very fast pace; have a passion for the work and the success of the symphony; develop and maintain a presence in the community, and be action and results oriented.  Negotiation skills will be important in working with vendors, suppliers, and other parties in implementing the development strategy. 

·         This position will require high level and effective problem solving and decision making abilities.

·         The strategic direction of the symphony requires that the development executive be willing to embrace new technologies and systems, including social media.

Requirements

·         BA/BS in an academic discipline which supports development and fundraising.

·         Ten years of successful development and fundraising experience with proven abilities to develop and implement both strategic and tactical plans that achieve successful financial targets; including a minimum of five years of experience motivating, leading and managing a work team.

·         Desirable: Fundraising and Development experience in the arts.  Graduate level degree.

Application Process

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to ColumbusSymphony@transitionguides.com

For inquiries please contact Ginna Goodenow at (301)439-6635 or ggoodenow@transitionguides.com .

Position is based in Columbus, Ohio

About Columbus

Columbus is Ohio’s capital and the state’s largest city, with 1.7 million people in the metropolitan area. A vibrant place to call home, Columbus has acclaimed performing and visual arts organizations, entertainment, and shopping for all ages, plentiful educational opportunities, collegiate and professional sports, and a variety of inviting neighborhoods. 

Music abounds in central Ohio with the critically acclaimed Columbus Symphony, the region’s oldest performing arts organization; Opera Columbus, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Music Columbus, and a variety of choral arts organizations. Music education is available for all ages—from Ohio State and Capital University performance and teaching preparation to the Columbus Symphony’s music education in the schools as well as Jefferson Academy and the Jazz Arts Groups’ classes for young people.

Columbus takes pride in the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University, which has an international reputation for cutting-edge contemporary visual and performing arts. The Columbus Museum of Art is widely hailed for its permanent collection of American art, together with a calendar of prominent visiting exhibitions. The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden has a unique collection of global plant life and art. Theatre, including an equity company, also features a thriving children’s troupe and one of the original acting companies for senior citizens. Central Ohio also boasts the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, voted the favorite zoo of America by USA Travel Guide; COSI Columbus, the number one science center in the country for families according to Parents magazine; and the nation’s most highly rated public library system.

The region has some of the top public schools in Ohio, as well as private and parochial schools. In addition to The Ohio State University, the area is home to private institutions of higher learning such as Capital University, Otterbein College, Ohio Dominican University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Denison University, Ashland University, Pontifical College Josephinum, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. 

Columbus has active urban neighborhoods—such as German Village, the Short North Arts District, Victorian Village, and Clintonville—with unique housing, galleries and exhibition space, and shopping. The city includes many architectural landmarks, both historic and modern. And the metropolitan region has established and growing suburbs with many options for primary and secondary education and a wide variety of housing stock and a marvelous metro park system.

Columbus has a concentration of employers in the services industry including insurance, health services, retail, and research with headquarters such as Nationwide, Cardinal Health, Limited Brands and Battelle.