The Winston-Salem Symphony seeks a Chief Philanthropy Officer. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will play a pivotal role in driving the philanthropic vision of the Winston-Salem Symphony (WSS) by overseeing the development, implementation, and management of an enterprising and strategic multi-year fundraising strategy designed to produce sustaining and transformational results. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will build and nurture relationships with current and prospective donors, ensuring high-touch stewardship practices that strengthen commitment and expand the donor base across demographic, geographic, and programmatic segments. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will spearhead innovative fundraising strategies, leveraging technology and performance metrics to maximize operational efficiency and effectiveness. A key part of the role involves recruiting and training board members and volunteers, fostering a culture of giving, and leading annual campaigns that meet or exceed fundraising goals. Additionally, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will collaborate closely with the President & CEO on the growth of major gift and planned giving initiatives, while overseeing all aspects of donor engagement, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. With responsibility for managing an active portfolio of major donors, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will drive strategic initiatives, including major fundraising campaigns, partnerships, and events. By providing leadership to the philanthropy team and fostering a diverse, high-performance culture, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will ensure that the organization’s philanthropic efforts align with its broader mission and objectives.

The Winston-Salem Symphony is one of the oldest and most respected professional arts organizations in the southeastern United States. Founded in 1946 as a civic orchestra on the campus of Salem College, the Symphony has grown into a nationally recognized regional orchestra with seventy-six professional musicians employed on a per service basis. It also boasts a volunteer chorus of over one hundred voices, an inspiring and robust music education program, and is committed to the power of community partnerships to enhance inclusion and accessibility. In addition to being lauded for its high-quality performances and excellent education offerings, the Symphony is recognized for its longstanding commitment to fiscal integrity; it is in a solid position when compared to other orchestras in the field and enjoys a loyal and expanding audience and patron base.

"On behalf of the Winston-Salem Symphony family, thank you for your interest in exploring our Chief Philanthropy Officer position. We appreciate that talented fundraising professionals have a multitude of choices when considering new opportunities, and through this note I hope to inspire your desire to learn more about ours. The opportunity to join our team in pursuing these and other goals through your vital leadership as Chief Philanthropy Officer, and to bask in the gratifying sense of accomplishment that comes with it, is what I hope to be able to explore more fully with you." — E. Merritt Vale, President & CEO

For more information, including core competencies and qualifications, please refer to the full prospectus.