Vice President of Philanthropy

Company Description:

The Louisville Orchestra, founded in 1937, is a nationally recognized ensemble performing over 125 concerts each season across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The organization has a longstanding commitment to music education, exemplified by its award-winning Making MUSIC program and extensive community outreach. Historically, the Louisville Orchestra has been a leader in commissioning and recording contemporary works, collaborating with renowned composers and sharing its First Edition Recordings globally. Under the leadership of Music Director Teddy Abrams, the orchestra continues to focus on innovative community engagement, world premieres, and strengthening connections between musicians and audiences to sustain its legacy of musical advancement.

Job Summary:

The LO is seeking a strategic and dedicated fundraising professional to drive the mission of the LO to new heights. The Vice President of Philanthropy (VPP) is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. In partnership with the CEO, the VPP is the senior administrative officer responsible for all aspects of fundraising and donor relations, including campaigns and major gifts. This individual reports to the CEO and works collaboratively with the LO’s board, staff, musicians, volunteers, donors, and prospective donors to drive strategic fundraising.

The Ideal Candidate:

The successful VPP is a proven philanthropy strategist and major gifts fundraiser with leadership experience. The VPP will serve as one of the Orchestra's principal ambassadors, cultivating meaningful relationships with major philanthropists, civic leaders, business executives, foundations, and influential community partners. This individual is strategic, a relationship builder, a strong listener, and someone who can craft a compelling case for support for the short and long term.

The VPP will partner with the CEO in creating and managing a strategic development plan that encapsulates how our donors dynamically impact the LO. The LO is building momentum upon recent fiscal success and is in a new growth phase, and the VPP is ready to build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing philanthropy team grounded in accountability, collaboration, innovation, and professional development. The VPP will foster a culture of strategic thinking, donor-centered fundraising, and continuous improvement.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive long-term philanthropic strategy aligned with the Louisville Orchestra's strategic priorities and future growth.
• Partner with the CEO and Board to identify emerging opportunities for transformational philanthropy.
• Help shape organizational priorities by bringing donor perspectives, market intelligence, and philanthropic trends into strategic planning discussions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership on fundraising strategy and donor engagement.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing philanthropy team to achieve ambitious contributed revenue goals while fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Oversee all aspects of philanthropy operations, including the annual fundraising budget, team portfolios, performance targets, initiatives, reporting, and progress to ensure fundraising goals are achieved.
• Develop and cultivate relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, and significant funders
• Plan, implement, and manage capital, major gift, endowment, and planned giving fundraising programs, including activities related to individuals, foundations, corporations, and fundraising events, like the annual Gala.
• Solicit from a portfolio focused on individual major gifts, meeting or exceeding set targets.
• As the main point of contact to the Board Development Committee, actively engage the board in all fundraising activities on how to cultivate, solicit, and steward their network.
• Regularly attend concerts, donor events, social functions, professional networking events, and community events representing the LO.
• Other duties as assigned by the CEO.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter along with your resume to:

Nathaniel Koch, Chief Operating Officer

[email protected]