View Position Brochure Here

ABOUT LACO:

Beloved by audiences and praised by critics, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, known to Angelenos as LACO, is a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks as well as a champion of contemporary composers. Headquartered in the heart of the country’s cultural capital, LACO has been proclaimed “America’s finest chamber orchestra” (Public Radio International), “LA’s most unintimidating chamber music experience” (Los Angeles Magazine), “resplendent” (Los Angeles Times), and “one of the world’s great chamber orchestras” (KUSC Classical FM).

LACO was founded in 1968 as an artistic outlet for the recording industry’s most gifted musicians. Founder, cellist James Arkatov, envisioned an ensemble that would allow these conservatory-trained players to balance studio work and teaching with pure artistic collaboration at the highest level. The Orchestra presented its first performances with the financial backing of philanthropist Richard Colburn and managerial expertise from attorney Joseph Troy, who also became the Orchestra’s first president. Sir Neville Marriner, Gerard Schwarz, Iona Brown, Christof Perick, and Jeffrey Kahane, LACO’s illustrious music directors, each built upon a tradition of joyous music-making performed by exceptional artists. Jaime Martín, praised as “a visionary conductor, discerning and meticulous” (Platea Magazine), joined LACO as Music Director at the start of the 2019/20 season.

LACO has made 31 recordings, toured Europe, South America and Japan, performed across North America, and garnered eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming. The Orchestra’s offices are located in downtown Los Angeles.

Mission and Vision

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s mission is to enrich and connect its community through intimate and transformative musical experiences which exemplify and foster artistic excellence, education and innovation. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra seeks to be a cultural force in Los Angeles and recognized as a premier orchestra worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.laco.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

With the vision to be a cultural force in Los Angeles and recognized as a premier orchestra worldwide, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is seeking a hands-on, strategic, and collaborative development professional with a keen eye for patron experience and audience development as its Director of Development.

Reporting to Executive Director, Benjamin Cadwallader, the Director of Development is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of a comprehensive fund development program including building and growing the major gifts program to ensure the Orchestra’s ongoing success and sustainability. A hands-on fundraiser responsible for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a portfolio of current and prospective donors, the Director of Development will play a leading role in developing a pool of broad-based givers and major gift prospects through personal interaction, cultivation calls, and stewardship opportunities. In addition to leading by example through major gift fundraising, the successful candidate will oversee the four-person development team in all fundraising activities for LACO including leadership giving, planned and annual gifts, special events, and institutional grants to meet annual contributed income goals. The Director of Development must be equally comfortable in managing people, processes, and must be effective at building strong relationships with the Orchestra's volunteer leadership and donor base.

Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Fundraising/Strategy 

• Cultivate, grow, and solicit a personal portfolio of donors and prospects with a focus on building and growing the major giving program. 
• Provide fundraising leadership, strategy, and support to the Executive Director and Board of Directors. 
• Collaborate with the development team to ensure all donor levels are strategically identified, cultivated, solicited, and stewarded. 
• Identify new opportunities for donor engagement. 
• Oversee the grant approval and writing process. 
• Develop, lead, and implement annual and long-term development strategies.
• Develop and implement a systematic approach to cultivation and stewardship. 
• Maintain a working knowledge of best practices and significant developments and trends in philanthropy relevant to LACO and adapt fundraising strategies, as necessary. 

Leadership/Management

• Foster a culture that attracts, retains, mentors, and motivates a diverse team.
• Ensure that the department is effectively structured and staffed. 
• Establish goals and metrics to evaluate the implementation of strategy and tactics and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the development department. 
• Provide ongoing coaching to direct reports and ensure staff are provided with training and professional development. 
• Work with the Executive Director to ensure sound fiscal operation including timely and accurate budgets, reporting, and monitoring. 
• Oversee the development database and ensure quality prospecting, segmenting, trend identification, and relationship and communication management. 

Board Engagement

• Attend all Board meetings, providing the Board with timely and accurate information on fundraising progress.
• Provide staff leadership to the Board’s Development Committee, working to set goals, monitor progress, and recruit new members. 

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED:

The successful candidate will be a hands-on and forward-thinking development professional with exceptional interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism and integrity. A compelling, charismatic leader with the ability to move ideas forward by inspiring and motivating people with creativity and energy, the Director of Development should not only possess excellent verbal and written communication skills but should also be able to thrive in a collaborative environment that is conducive to open and direct communication with individuals of varying degrees of involvement with LACO and its work. The Director of Development should be a resourceful, results-oriented leader with the ability to think strategically, generate new ideas, prioritize, plan, multitask, and set goals and objectives, as well as implement and follow through while meeting financial goals and deadlines. The ideal candidate will be both a skilled manager and an individual contributor who works and thinks independently yet can also build on group dynamics and lead by example to set and achieve high expectations for the team. An appreciation for music, a compelling enthusiasm for the mission and work of LACO, and the ability to communicate its impact and future goals passionately and persuasively are essential.

CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION:

The Director of Development will be an experienced fundraising professional with documented success in creating and managing a comprehensive development program with a focus on major giving. A strong record of personal achievement in cultivating donors, motivating volunteers, building strong relationships and raising major gifts is essential. The Director of Development will be a creative and entrepreneurial professional with a successful record of fundraising, including building and executing a development plan. The ideal candidate will have experience in all areas of fundraising including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grants, governmental support, and fundraising events, as well as a fluency in technology that supports fundraising. Previous experience working with Board members is preferred. Experience in the performing arts is a plus.

COMPENSATION & ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $175,000 plus benefits.

This is a hybrid position with the expectation of in-person work in the office two to three days per week as well as occasional evenings and weekends for concerts and donor meetings.