Chief Philanthropy Officer

About us
Kansas City Ballet (KCB) is a distinguished cultural institution committed to artistic excellence, dynamic community engagement, and the advancement of ballet as an art form. Since its founding in 1957, KCB has captivated audiences with a diverse repertoire that spans timeless classical masterpieces and bold contemporary works. Through world-class performances, a nationally recognized dance school, and robust outreach programs, Kansas City Ballet inspires and enriches artists, audiences, and students throughout the region.

Mission
To Inspire and Engage Through the Beauty, Power & Passion of Dance
Vision
Outstanding Dance Experiences Accessible to All

The role
The Chief Philanthropy Officer ensures the financial sustainability of KCB by securing contributed income for operations, capital projects, and endowment growth. As a key member of the executive leadership team, this role bridges donor relationships with organizational strategy, directly impacting KCB’s leadership priorities.

Essential Functions
 

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship	Relationship Building: Serve as the primary liaison for individual, corporate, and institutional donors, designing tailored cultivation strategies.   Stewardship Programs: Implement touchpoint plans for all donors, including personalized communications, exclusive events, and impact reporting.   Planned Giving: Oversee legacy gift programs, including charitable gift annuities (CGAs) and donor-advised funds (DAFs), in collaboration with legal and financial advisors.
Strategic Philanthropy Leadership	Revenue Generation: Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising plans to meet annual goals, including major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and endowment campaigns.   Grant Proposal Preparation and Administration: Oversee preparation and management of grant proposals, including foundation, government, and     corporate support, ensuring effective pursuit and stewardship of institutional funding.   Budget Preparation and Review: Lead budget preparation and review for all philanthropic efforts, aligning resources with organizational priorities.   Donor Pipeline Management: Build and maintain a portfolio of 75–100 major donors, with a focus on securing six- and seven-figure gifts.   Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with the Artistic Director, Executive Director, and Board to align philanthropy efforts with programming and community initiatives.
Executive Collaboration	Staff Leadership: Mentor and guide the philanthropy team, setting clear performance metrics and professional development goals.   Budget Oversight: Manage the annual philanthropy budget, ensuring cost-effective resource allocation and ROI tracking.   Data-Driven Strategy: Leverage data from Tessitura CRM to analyze donor trends, forecast revenue, and refine solicitation strategies.
Community Representation	Strategic Ambassador: Ensure that the organization is actively represented at a wide range of community functions, nonprofit gatherings, and other public events, while fostering meaningful partnerships with civic and cultural organizations.   Accessibility Initiatives: Advance accessibility to the art form through innovative donor engagement and funding strategies.   Event Coordination: Coordinate all fund- and friend-raising events to foster meaningful engagement with donors and the broader community.   Support Group Collaboration: Collaborate with support groups such as the Guild and Young Professionals (BARRE KC) to advance shared goals and strengthen community connections.   Next-Gen Philanthropy: Develop programs to engage the next generation of donors, aligning with evolving giving trends.

 
Competencies

• Strategic Leadership & Visionary Thinking: The ability to align fundraising strategies with organizational missions and long-term community goals. This involves setting visionary agendas for innovative initiatives, translating strategic plans into multi-year fundraising roadmaps, and contributing thought leadership to the broader philanthropic sector.
• Relationship Building & Collaboration: The ability to build partnerships across sectors, fostering trust with individuals, corporations, and foundations. This includes managing donor portfolios, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and engaging stakeholders through community-centered strategies.
• Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional written and verbal skills are critical for articulating organizational impact. This includes crafting persuasive proposals, delivering presentations, and using storytelling to inspire donor commitment
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: The ability to leverage analytics to optimize campaigns, track donor engagement, and measure ROI. Skills include wealth screening, database management, and using metrics to refine strategies.

Qualifications
Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of senior-level fundraising experience in nonprofit or performing arts organizations, with demonstrated success in securing six and seven-figure gifts.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, with experience managing staff of 5+ in a goal-driven environment.
• Expertise in donor cultivation strategies, including major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and endowment campaigns.
• Strong strategic planning skills, with experience aligning philanthropic efforts with organizational priorities.
• Exceptional communication skills for executive-level collaboration, board reporting, and public speaking engagements.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in philanthropy, arts administration, or related field.
• CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) certification.
• Background in performing arts or cultural institutions, with understanding of ballet-specific donor communities.
• Experience using Tessitura or similar CRM platforms for donor management.
• Track record of building partnerships with community organizations and civic leaders.

How to apply
Submit a resume and cover letter detailing your fundraising achievements and leadership experience to careers@kcb.org.

Kansas City Ballet is an equal opportunity employer. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.