Vice President, Advancement

Our Mission: To inspire and welcome all to our music and arts community to learn, create, celebrate, and heal.
Our Vision: To unlock the potential in everyone.

TITLE: Vice President, Advancement

CLASSIFICATION: Full time, exempt. Salary Range: $92,000-$95,000, with the opportunity for performance-based bonus.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: Executes all aspects of the TMS Advancement strategic plan toward execution of the development goals, in collaboration with CEO and Board. Works to update and align the plan to meet or exceed operational goals, budget expectations, and policies and procedures. Assures all components of the development calendar and FY planning are executed, to include: Annual Appeals, events, and mailings; facilitates efficient operations and collaboration within the department and across the organization. Will partner closely with the President & CEO, join a highly engaged leadership team, and lead the comprehensive advancement strategy for The Music Settlement. The successful candidate will serve not only as the lead fundraiser but also as a trusted advisor and thought partner in shaping the organization's philanthropic strategy and future.

REPORTS TO: President & CEO

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Develops, leads, and executes an organization-wide, comprehensive donor development strategy that grows individual giving, successful grant applications and yields major gifts, planned giving, endowment giving, financial aid fundraising, monthly/recurring giving, and donor retention. Success in role will be measured using annual development outcomes toward budgeted and stated goals.
• Provides leadership and direction for the three department members, providing strategic direction, feedback, and professional development guidance and opportunities.
• Builds cross-functional relationships with Center and Bop Stop leadership and executives to align the department’s efforts to meet the programmatic needs, advancement priorities, and explore expanding funding opportunities, and translate program needs into compelling cases for support for individual and institutional donors.
• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a personal portfolio of top-tier major gift prospects and donors, and regularly conducts face-to-face solicitations for transformational gifts in coordination with the President & CEO and Board.
• Plans and executes strategic Annual Appeal campaigns, setting strategy, segmentation, and ask amounts.
• Leads corporate sponsorship and stewardship operations, stewards top-tier foundation, government, and corporate funder relationships in partnership with the President & CEO and leads transformational sponsorship outreach.
• Leads creative vision for the organization’s marketing function, including donor-centered storytelling, photography, video, and campaign messaging that supports cultivation, recruitment, fundraising, and community engagement.
• Leads the Board’s Advancement Committee and donor-facing Board engagement, meeting regularly with leadership, and Board Committee members to report on development progress, pipeline movement, and revenue performance.
• Engages and supports Board members and stakeholders in cultivation activities by conducting briefings, materials, and coaching, including onboarding new Board members regarding their responsibilities and expectations for supporting Advancement at TMS.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in nonprofit management, journalism, communications, marketing, English, or related field required. Ten (10) years of experience in advancement roles, including at least 3-5 years at a senior/Advancement Leadership capacity. Will consider a combination of fundraising, donor development, integrated nonprofit marketing communications, or related/relevant work experience. CFRE certification or progress toward certification is preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated success in all the Essential Functions.
• Deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape of Northeast Ohio and the arts/music institutions, and their roles in this landscape.
• Proven record of securing major gifts and institutional funding resulting in measurable revenue growth.
• Excellent written, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage diverse community stakeholders in philanthropic initiatives.
• Skilled user of donor CRM/database systems, preferably with our present system, Raiser's Edge.
• Willingness to work primarily onsite, to support necessary collaboration and leadership. Must be available and supportive of meeting the time demands of the role, including working evenings and weekends to support goals through attendance at TMS and partner organization events, musical performances, donor cultivation events or meetings, and community engagement opportunities.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and the means/ability to travel to meetings, events, and production locations as needed.

Physical requirements include the ability to sit, stand, bend, crouch, and transport to move oneself around the various TMS and other job locations and from one to another including driving oneself and transporting AV equipment, laptop, cameras, and materials such as boxes of brochures or other printed or recording supplies. Lifting, pulling and pushing up to 25 pounds occasionally. Vision to include near and far visual acuity, including for the use of creating work product materials using computers, cameras, video and sound recording equipment, in various settings with various human subjects including individuals and ensembles. The ability to see in order to collect, design and capture photography, video and audio content, including video recording, editing, creating, planning content, creating and reviewing brand aligned design materials, and other deliverable content described herein. The ability to hear and speak, including in person and other remote speech, to communicate with outside and internal customers to impart oral information to the public and coworkers when communicating in creating and capturing content, as well as planning and designing to execute job duties.

• HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume, cover letter, list of three references, and at least two writing samples (preferably a capital campaign strategy, annual giving plan, or general donor engagement plan).

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