Director of Development
DESCRIPTION
Palm Beach Opera seeks a Director of Development to begin full-time work in August/September 2024. This position serves as the organization’s chief development officer, and is responsible for the planning, implementation, execution, and evaluation of annual and long-term fundraising goals and strategies.
The Director of Development will manage philanthropic relationships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies to secure contributions of over $5 million annually from all sources in support of the operations and activities of PBO. This position is a key member of the senior management team, works in close collaboration with all other departments and an energized Board Philanthropy Committee, and is currently supported by a talented and dedicated Individual Giving & Special Events Manager, with interviews in progress for a Development Operations Coordinator, and the opportunity to immediately build and structure the team with an additional development position.
This position has been vacant at PBO since February 2023, and finding the right candidate is the priority of a new administration which began in June 2024 with the recent promotion of the company’s longtime Director of Artistic Administration to the role of General Director. The company is currently positioned for major growth, located in one of the wealthiest and most philanthropic communities in the world, with a rapidly increasing population and widespread enthusiasm for the artistic quality of recent seasons and the company’s civic impact. PBO is part of a vibrant cultural fabric in the region which contributes to an unparalleled quality of life alongside beautiful weather, pristine beaches, abundant outdoor activities, and world-class dining. In this idyllic setting, the current job opening is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and experienced development professional who is driven to achieve new heights. The ideal candidate will have an excellent track record in fundraising management and major gifts, will be an exceptional communicator, and a relationship builder with an authentic passion for the performing arts.
Primary Responsibilities
§ Plan and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that results in sustained annual growth, encompassing individual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, annual campaigns, planned giving, and special events.
§ Establish annual fundraising goals, and create and manage the development department budget.
§ Execute and build upon established fundraising programs for individual donors at all levels, with a focus on implementing a systematic process for prospect research and moves management.
§ Revise, design, and implement effective fundraising programs for institutional donors that capitalize on the current growth of the business communities in Palm Beach.
§ Provide strategic oversight on grantmaking opportunities with foundations and government agencies, including the implementation of a centralized grants management process, from application to compliance, reporting, and renewal.
§ Revise, design, and implement an effective planned giving program.
§ Provide strategic leadership in the planning and execution of special event fundraising, including the annual Gala.
§ Collaborate on aligning the company’s digital and print communications strategy to support fundraising efforts.
§ Ensure donor benefit fulfillment and continually evaluate benefit levels for effectiveness and improvement.
§ Engage with the Board of Directors and Philanthropy Committee to coordinate and maximize company’s fundraising efforts.
§ Represent Palm Beach Opera at community events, and build and maintain personal relationships with individuals and institutions that deepen the commitment of the Palm Beach philanthropic community to the company and its mission.
§ Motivate and lead a 3-person department, helping team members to develop skills, increase effectiveness, and achieve targets.
§ Participate in long-range planning for future capital and endowment campaigns.
§ Prepare and present reports for the Board of Directors.
Qualifications and Requirements
§ Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising.
§ Proven track record of soliciting and closing major gifts of $25,000 or more from individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
§ Demonstrated expertise in fundraising best practices, donor cultivation strategies, moves management techniques, grant writing, and event planning.
§ Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate PBO’s mission, programs, and impact to diverse audiences.
§ Charismatic personality with strong interpersonal skills and ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with donors, stakeholders, and community leaders.
§ Common sense and good manners.
§ Effective leadership qualities and experience managing a team.
§ Enthusiasm for the performing arts and a genuine interest in developing a deep knowledge of opera. An existing background in opera is an advantage.
§ Connection to the arts funding landscape of South Florida is an advantage.
§ Proficiency in donor management software and CRM systems for donor tracking, reporting, and analysis. Familiarity with PatronManager is an advantage.
§ Knowledge of computerized information systems and their application, including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office.
§ Discretion with confidential and sensitive information.
§ Ability to establish priorities and multitask, with strong organizational, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills, a determination to succeed, and meticulous attention to detail.
§ Must have the ability to work flexible hours, including extended hours, evenings, and weekends for donor events, performances, and meetings.
§ Access to reliable transportation.
This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this listing is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, the company reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed or assigned.
ABOUT THE COMPANY Palm Beach Opera is one of the nation's most highly regarded opera companies, noted for its more than 60-year legacy of excellence in mainstage productions featuring internationally-renowned singers, a robust education program which has a history of deep impact throughout Southeast Florida, and one of the premier resident artist training programs in the industry. The recently completed 2024 season was a triumph in each area of the company's mission. The three mainstage productions at the 2,220-seat Kravis Center for the Performing Arts were a showcase of superstars, from the sensational US debut of Anastasia Bartoli in Tosca alongside legendary bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, to the return of Kathryn Lewek in the tour-de-force role of the Four Heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann, to Angela Meade's generation-defining interpretation of Norma. The 2025 season builds on these successes with classic productions of Roméo et Juliette, La traviata, and The Marriage of Figaro.
The company's community engagement programs continue to be a vital force for arts education in the region, reaching thousands of children and adults each year, from frequent classroom concerts, to panels with visiting scholars, and many more activities designed to inspire a lifelong love of the performing arts, including an exciting partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs in which the children create and perform their own operas.
PBO has also become one of the leading training centers for emerging artists in the opera industry. Since the company’s first iteration of a formalized resident artist program in 2004, which included then-rising-star Nadine Sierra among its participants, PBO has built an impressive track-record of success in identifying and training the next generation of singers, and this season marked the milestone of PBO's third National Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera's Laffont Competition in just the past four years. With the current three-tiered structure, PBO provides mentorship for artists at several key stages of their development – from high school voice students preparing for college as part of PBO Studio, to recent conservatory graduates building professional experience in the Apprentice Artist Program, to singers on the verge of launching careers as principal artists through the Young Artist Program.
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $120,000 - $160,000 Annual
Full medical and dental benefits without employee contribution.
Company 403b contribution equal to 3% of salary, without a match required.
Generous vacation policy.
HOW TO APPLY
Please forward your cover letter and résumé in pdf format to: pboHR@pbopera.org. Please address communications to James Barbato, General Director.