Posted: 15-Jul-25
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Type: Full Time
Salary: $65,000 - $75,000
Salary Details:
Required Education:
Reports to Executive Director
In partnership with the Executive Director, the full-time Development Director oversees and directs all philanthropic activities for Tulsa Symphony including annual giving, major gifts, institutional giving, planned giving, fundraising campaigns, and special events. This position supervises and collaborates with a full-time Development Associate to set and achieve departmental goals.
Today, TSO celebrates the onset of its 20th season — twenty years of growth and success accomplished with integrity, transparency, and candor. Our organization provides connections for students and families to quality music experiences that ignite curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation of the arts. Our talented musicians, visionary leadership, and dedicated supporters have positioned us for remarkable growth. With a deep commitment to artistic excellence, music education, and audience engagement, we are charting an exciting path for the future.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising
Collaborate with Organizational Leadership
- Work with Executive Director (ED) and Fund Development Committee to develop and implement long- and short-term fundraising goals and strategies including an annual Development Plan identifying and soliciting viable donors, sponsors, grant-makers, in- kind supporters, and partners
- Work with ED to create processes that help mobilize and inform the ED, Board, Fund Development Committee, and event chairs on how to connect with prospects and proactively engage in fundraising activity
Individual Giving
- Direct all aspects of annual donor programs, including stewardship, sponsorship, special events, cultivation, benefits fulfillment, daily donor interaction, and volunteer management
- Oversee progress of annual fund donor portfolio; plan and oversee the execution of all broad-based fundraising efforts through direct mail, electronic mail, and phone campaigns, including creation of content, designing materials, and directing mailing list cultivation and management
- Create and implement strategy and processes for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and gift closure of individual major gift prospects
- Utilize and oversee organizational use of Tessitura CRM software for donor management
Institutional Giving
- Research, identify, and contact potential new private and public funders to support TSO or its programs; work with ED and Board members to identify prospects and with civic leaders to forge positive partnerships
- Research, write, and submit competitive proposals to private and public foundations, corporations, and government agencies
- Cultivate, manage, and maintain positive relationships with representatives of corporate, foundation, and government funders, with multiple points of contact throughout the year
Planned Giving
- Develop and manage TSO Tomorrow, Tulsa Symphony’s legacy society
Marketing
- Participate in the creation and dissemination of all development-related marketing materials for campaigns and special events in consultation with the Marketing Director and staff.
- Develop promotional partnerships with the Marketing team for supporting annual giving programs, sponsorships, campaigns, special projects, and events, and create customized donor stewardship and recognition opportunities to support expanded fundraising activities
- Work with the Marketing Director and staff to plan and oversee execution of electronic solicitations and social media fundraising campaigns
- Oversee all donor/sponsor recognitions (written acknowledgments and foundation/corporation logos) in printed and electronic material, including each Intermission concert program
- Establish and oversee the process of accepting donations through the Box Office and TSO website, ensuring customer experience and internal communication/reporting
Special Events
- Oversee the planning and execution of a major annual fundraising gala, as well as other events of various sizes (dinners, receptions, luncheons) for stewardship, cultivation, and acquisition. This may include working with an event planning company, event chairs, etc. Facilitate necessary meetings and communications to accomplish goals.
Leadership Responsibilities/Other Duties
- Support TSO’s continued success through a commitment to its mission
- Be a professional, articulate, enthusiastic, and informed ambassador of TSO
- Work respectfully and collaboratively with the Board, committees, musicians, and across all staff departments on a regular basis
- Inspire engagement of TSO staff, Board members, musicians, and patrons through leadership by example
- Represent TSO at professional and community meetings and give presentations when appropriate. Create and foster relationships with other arts organizations and nonprofits in Tulsa. Contribute towards the strengthening of performing arts throughout the region.
- Provide monthly written reports and attend meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and report on all areas of oversight as requested.
- Organize, communicate, and facilitate meetings with the Fund Development Committee
- Participate in all meetings of TSO Leadership Team, weekly or as needed
- Participate in and report in bi-weekly staff meetings
- Participate in professional development, mentoring, and training as much as time and resources allow. Assess current technology and refine development practices to ensure maximum efficiency and results, utilizing data to analyze and document fundraising needs and opportunities.
Tulsa is the cultural Mecca of Oklahoma, and TSO finds itself at the center of this robust arts community with Philbrook Museum of Art, theatre companies, international ballet company, opera, and Gathering Place, the largest privately funded park in the United States.