Organization

The San Francisco Symphony is widely recognized as one of the leading orchestras in the United States and among the most innovative performing arts organizations in the world. Founded in 1911, the Symphony is celebrated for its artistic excellence, adventurous programming, award-winning recordings, and commitment to education and community engagement.

In May 2026, the Symphony announced the appointment of conductor Elim Chan as its next Music Director, beginning in September 2027. Chan will become the 13th Music Director in the Symphony's history and the first woman to hold the position. An internationally acclaimed conductor, Chan has established herself as one of the leading artists of her generation through appearances with major orchestras across North America, Europe, and Asia. Recognized for her musical versatility, innovative programming, and collaborative approach, she brings a compelling artistic vision and global perspective to the Symphony at a pivotal moment in its history. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the institution as it builds on its distinguished artistic legacy while looking toward the future.

The San Francisco Symphony presents more than 200 concerts and presentations annually for an audience of approximately 350,000 at Davies Symphony Hall. Its programming spans the core orchestral repertoire, contemporary works, commissions, film concerts, chamber music, holiday performances, and SoundBox, the Symphony’s acclaimed experimental music series.

Education and community engagement are central to the Symphony’s mission. Through one of the nation’s most extensive orchestra-based music education programs, the Symphony provides free music education experiences to more than 25,000 students annually throughout the San Francisco Unified School District.

The Symphony has long been recognized as a leader in innovation both on and off the stage. Through its Grammy Award-winning SFS Media label, nationally distributed radio broadcasts, digital initiatives, and groundbreaking multimedia projects, the organization has expanded access to classical music for audiences around the world. The Symphony’s recordings and artistic achievements have been recognized with 17 Grammy Awards and numerous international honors.

Today, the San Francisco Symphony is entering a period of renewed artistic momentum and organizational opportunity. Under the leadership of President and CEO Matthew Spivey, Board Chair Priscilla B. Geeslin, and Music Director Designate Elim Chan, the organization is well-positioned to deepen its impact throughout the Bay Area and strengthen its role as one of the world’s leading cultural institutions.

Community

Situated on the ancestral lands of the Ramaytush people, San Francisco is home to 826,000 residents and one of the world’s most distinctive and innovative cities. The San Francisco Bay Area is a popular destination for those seeking gorgeous landscapes, some of the world’s finest wines, waterfront towns, nightlife, and diverse cuisines, coupled with top-tier educational institutions, distinguished arts and culture organizations, and innovative workforce options. The nine-county Bay Area is home to approximately 7.7 million residents and is among the most diverse regions in the United States.

San Francisco Symphony’s Davies Symphony Hall is in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center, adjacent to the San Francisco Ballet, the San Francisco Opera, SFJAZZ, the Asian Art Museum, Herbst Theater, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The Bay Area has the largest aggregation of research universities and federal research institutions in the nation. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University, among others, are key drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship. The Bay area  is home to many of the world’s leading Technology, Social and Digital Media, Life Sciences, and Biotech companies.

Sources: bayareaequityatlas.org; visitcalifornia.com; goldengatepark.com; census.gov; worldpopulationreview.com; sfchamber.com; culturedata.org.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the Deputy Director of Development (DDD) is a key strategic leader and the second most senior position on the San Francisco Symphony’s (the Symphony) Development Team. Serving as a senior partner and designated proxy to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the DDD plays a central leadership role in departmental strategy, contributed revenue growth, team performance, and organizational planning across the Symphony’s philanthropy operation. Together, they help lead a comprehensive philanthropy program that generates approximately $35 million annually.

The DDD provides leadership for the Symphony’s frontline fundraising efforts, the largest fundraising vertical within the Development department, and oversees a team of nine development professionals, including senior fundraising leaders responsible for major gifts, leadership annual giving, new philanthropy, and foundation and government support. Through this leadership structure, the DDD guides strategy, performance, and contributed revenue growth across a broad portfolio of fundraising activity and donor engagement initiatives.

Working closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Board leadership, fundraising volunteers, and senior institutional leadership, the DDD helps advance the Symphony’s philanthropic priorities and fosters a culture of ambitious, relationship-driven fundraising across the organization.

As a senior frontline fundraiser, the DDD personally manages a select portfolio of approximately 45 to 50 leadership and major gift households and prospects, with annual fundraising responsibility of approximately $3 million to $5 million in support of the Annual Fund and broader institutional priorities.

The Symphony operates on a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of two days per week in the office. The Deputy Director of Development is expected to maintain an active presence at select concerts, donor events, and other organizational activities throughout the year, including some evenings and weekends.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a senior strategic and operational partner to the Chief Philanthropy Officer in departmental planning, contributed revenue strategy, organizational leadership, and overall philanthropy operations.
• Lead strategy and performance for the Symphony’s frontline fundraising efforts, including major gifts, leadership annual giving, foundation and government support, and new philanthropy initiatives.
• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship for senior fundraising leaders and their teams to ensure strong portfolio management, strategic donor engagement, and achievement of ambitious contributed revenue goals.
• Oversee and guide contributed revenue growth strategies, donor pipeline development, and fundraising performance across frontline fundraising programs and donor segments.
• Serve as a member of the Development Leadership Team, contributing to department-wide planning, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational strategy.
• Manage a select portfolio of approximately 45 to 50 leadership and major gift households and prospects through all stages of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, with annual fundraising responsibility of approximately $3 million to $5 million.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and volunteer leaders to identify, cultivate, and engage prospective Board members and philanthropic leaders.
• Represent the Development department internally and externally as a senior institutional leader and ambassador for the Symphony’s mission, vision, and philanthropic priorities.

Board and Donor Engagement

• Partner closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Board leadership, and fundraising volunteers to strengthen philanthropic engagement and advance contributed revenue goals.
• Attend and participate in Board and committee meetings, including Development, Gift Planning, Committee on Governors, and other meetings as needed.
• Advise Board members and volunteer leaders on donor engagement strategies, cultivation planning, philanthropic best practices, and community ambassadorship.
• Help shape and support strategies that build meaningful pathways for the Bay Area’s diverse communities to engage with and support the Symphony as donors, partners, advisors, and ambassadors.
• Foster strong relationships with donors, trustees, institutional partners, and community stakeholders in support of the Symphony’s fundraising and engagement priorities.

Team and Organizational Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and management for senior fundraising staff and their teams to maximize performance, collaboration, accountability, and contributed revenue growth.
• Ensure fundraising portfolios and donor strategies are managed according to best practices and aligned with institutional fundraising priorities and annual goals.
• Guide and support the development of robust donor pipeline and discovery strategies across multiple channels and donor segments.
• Partner collaboratively with colleagues across Development, including Donor Engagement, Development Operations, and Legacy Giving, to strengthen integration, communication, and overall departmental effectiveness.
• Help foster a collaborative, high-performing, and team-oriented culture grounded in accountability, professionalism, respect, and shared purpose.
• Maintain a broad understanding of charitable giving strategies, tax considerations, and philanthropic trends relevant to high-net-worth donors and institutional fundraising.
• Take on other duties as assigned.

Traits and Characteristics

The Deputy Director of Development (DDD) will have the willingness to engage and work with different perspectives and demonstrate an openness to new ideas, complemented by outstanding interpersonal skills. Demonstrating an ability to engage donors at all levels, trustees, senior leadership, staff, and other key members of the Symphony community, the DDD will model accountability and diplomacy as foundational skills in the role.

Characteristics of the DDD include:

• Leadership and Teamwork – The ability to organize and inspire people in a vision while creating a sense of purpose and direction with team members.
• Influencing Others and Interpersonal Skills – The capability to influence others’ ways of thinking, decisions, and actions while building rapport and relating well to all kinds of people.
• Time and Priority Management – The acuity to develop initiatives and demonstrate self-control in time and priority management while identifying and overseeing resources, tasks, systems, and people to obtain results.
• Stakeholder Focus – The sensitivity to anticipate, meet, and/or exceed stakeholder needs, wants, and expectations.
• Goal Orientation – The capacity to set, pursue, and attain goals regardless of obstacles or circumstances.

Applications and Inquiries

To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments (electronic submissions preferred), please click here or visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/san-francisco-symphony-seeks-deputy-director-of-development/

The San Francisco Symphony is a fully committed equal employment opportunity institution and welcomes applications from all qualified persons, including those who consider themselves to be of a race, national origin, or ancestry that is not fully represented in musical arts programs in the United States. Personnel decisions regarding applicants for employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran, age, citizenship, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

Qualifications

A minimum of seven to 10 years of proven organizational, supervisory, and fundraising leadership experience is essential. Relative experience outside the nonprofit environment working with high-net worth individuals will be considered. A successful record of conceptualizing and executing fundraising plans across donor categories (individual giving, foundation and government support) is required. Proven success in cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting prospects at the $100,000+ level is required. Ability to successfully manage a team in a sophisticated, fast paced, and complex fundraising environment is essential. Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, and meet deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment is needed. The ability to lead and mentor an experienced team is essential. Experience leading and developing fundraising leaders and high-performing teams is required. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, especially regarding the Symphony and its mission, vision, and values are essential. Ability to professionally and diplomatically communicate and interact with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. Familiarity with and/or passion for orchestral music is a plus, and experience working in the arts is highly desired. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and donor database software is needed; Tessitura experience is preferred.

About San Francisco Symphony

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