Sarasota Orchestra | Sr. Director of Donor Engagement - Major Gifts

About Sarasota Orchestra
Founded in 1949, Sarasota Orchestra is one of Florida’s leading cultural institutions and a cornerstone of the Gulf Coast’s vibrant arts community. Known for its artistic excellence and innovative programming, the Orchestra presents a full season of Masterworks, Pops, Chamber, and Youth concerts, serving audiences across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Under the leadership of Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, the Orchestra continues to elevate its artistic profile while deepening its connection to the community.

Beyond the concert hall, Sarasota Orchestra is a powerful force for arts education and community engagement. Through youth orchestra programs, school partnerships, and accessible community performances, the organization reaches thousands of students and families each year. Education is not ancillary to the mission, it is central to it. The Orchestra’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians and audiences reflects both its civic leadership and its long-term vision.

Sarasota Orchestra is currently advancing plans for a transformational new Music Center, a permanent home designed to support artistic growth, expand education initiatives, and serve as a year-round cultural gathering space. This capital initiative represents a defining moment in the organization’s history and signals bold ambition for the future. With strong board leadership, a loyal donor base, and a deeply collaborative advancement team, Sarasota Orchestra is poised for its next chapter of impact and growth.

The Opportunity
Sarasota Orchestra seeks a Sr. Director of Donor Engagement - Major Gifts to join its established and successful Donor Engagement team. Known for its team-oriented fundraising culture, the Orchestra values collaboration, stewardship, and shared accountability in achieving philanthropic goals.

This position focuses on the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major individual gifts, while supporting and helping execute successful giving campaigns. The Sr. Director will maintain strong awareness of the organization’s overall development program, including annual giving, foundation and corporate support, and revenue generated from special events. The role will also support fundraising efforts tied to the new Music Center facility.

Reporting to the Sr. Vice President of Advancement and Strategic Initiatives, the Sr. Director will work closely with fellow Donor Engagement team members to establish objectives, meet goals, and contribute to a culture grounded in stewardship, professionalism, and respect.

  
Key Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major individual donors and prospects to secure major gifts, annual fund support, and funding for special projects
• Interact with major donors, board members, and professional advisors, and participate in fundraising activities to strengthen relationships
• Participate in the tracking and qualification of new prospects, recording of gifts, and development of stewardship and acknowledgment strategies
• Participate in donor cultivation and stewardship at concerts, special events, receptions, and outside community gatherings
• Meet objectives and budget goals as a member of the Donor Engagement team
• As a member of the Music Center Campaign team, assist with prospect research, gift agreements, documentation, and donor stewardship and cultivation strategies
• Collaborate with the Campaign team in all aspects of the major gifts program for both the Capital Campaign and Annual Fund
• Support a respectful and positive working relationship with employees, patrons, and donors, promoting an inclusive culture aligned with Sarasota Orchestra’s values
• Embrace additional duties as assigned

Qualifications & Experience

• Seven to ten years of progressive development experience; bachelor’s degree required
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual donors, including active portfolio management and advancing prospects through a structured moves management process
• Experience supporting or participating in a capital campaign environment strongly preferred
• Proven ability to build authentic, long-term relationships with donors, board members, professional advisors, and community leaders
• Strong strategic thinking and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple donor relationships simultaneously while meeting established revenue goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals, donor correspondence, and stewardship materials
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment when handling confidential donor information
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a relationship-driven fundraising culture
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word and Excel; experience with development CRM systems required, Tessitura preferred
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, and willingness to be hands-on in supporting development-related events and donor engagement activities

Living in Sarasota
Sarasota offers a rare combination of cultural sophistication and coastal ease. Long celebrated as Florida’s cultural capital, the region is home to a remarkable concentration of arts organizations including opera, ballet, theater, museums, and galleries, all within minutes of world-renowned beaches. For those who value living in a community where the arts are woven into daily life, Sarasota delivers in every season.

The downtown core is walkable, vibrant, and filled with independent restaurants, waterfront parks, farmers markets, and year-round festivals. Residents enjoy warm Gulf breezes, sunset views over Sarasota Bay, and access to some of the country’s most beautiful white-sand beaches. Outdoor recreation, boating, cycling, and golf coexist effortlessly with evenings at the symphony or theater.

Perhaps most distinctive is Sarasota’s philanthropic and civic culture. The community is deeply invested in its cultural institutions, with engaged donors, active volunteers, and board leaders who care deeply about shaping the region’s future. For professionals who care about meaningful work in a community that values culture, Sarasota offers both professional opportunity and an exceptional quality of life.

Compensation & Benefits 
The salary range for this position is $125,000- $135,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. The Sarasota Orchestra offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that supports employee well-being and work-life balance. 

To Apply 
Sarasota Orchestra has engaged ThinkingAhead Executive Search to lead this search. Interested candidates should submit a resume and letter of interest outlining their leadership experience and interest in the role. 

Rachael Holloway
ThinkingAhead Executive Search
[email protected]

Jonathan McIntosh
ThinkingAhead Executive Search
[email protected]