Principal Gifts Officer

About San Francisco Ballet

San Francisco Ballet embodies the spirit of its city: innovative, forward-thinking, and unafraid to challenge convention. Founded in 1933, the company has long understood that ballet's power lies in its ability to blend timeless tradition with modern relevance — from presenting America's first full-length productions of Nutcracker and Swan Laketo consistently pushing the boundaries of contemporary choreography. Under the artistic direction of Tamara Rojo and executive leadership of Branislav Henselmann, SF Ballet is leading boldly into a new era, where artistic vision, organizational momentum, and civic energy converge to create a genuinely rare moment of opportunity. The company is reimagining what ballet can be, and making the case that its most compelling chapter is still ahead.

Role Overview

To fuel its new comprehensive enterprise strategy and transformative artistic vision, SF Ballet has launched the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of American dance—Arrow to the Future: The Comprehensive Campaign for San Francisco Ballet. Built on three essential funding priorities—the Annual Fund, Endowment, and Strategic Reserves—Arrow to the Future has already achieved early momentum with a historic $60M gift, an early $8M investment, and successfully completing its first full pace-setting year on its five-year timeline (FY26-FY30).

The Principal Gifts Officer role joins a robust team of experienced and passionate fundraisers who partner closely with a fully engaged Board of Trustees and professional consultants to ensure the success of this monumental endeavor for San Francisco Ballet.

The Principal Gifts Officer is a senior frontline fundraiser responsible for managing a portfolio of top campaign prospects and individual donors capable of gifts of $1 million and above. Reporting to the Managing Director of Campaign & Individual Philanthropy, this role is central to the success of SF Ballet’s comprehensive campaign — cultivating transformational relationships, executing complex solicitations, and supporting campaign strategy in close partnership with the Managing Director, executive leadership, and the Campaign Cabinet. This is an individual contributor role that operates as an integral member of the individual giving and campaign team.

Primary Responsibilities

Principal Donor Cultivation & Solicitation

• Manage a portfolio of 75-100 top campaign prospects and donors with the capacity to make gifts of $1 million and above, including multi-million-dollar principal gifts.
• Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each prospect, in close collaboration with the Managing Director and executive leadership.
• Lead and participate in all stages of the solicitation cycle—prospect qualification, strategy development, proposal preparation, and gift closing—with sustained emphasis on in-person relationship building.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director, campaign consultants, volunteer leaders, and executive leadership to facilitate joint solicitations and complex donor conversations.
• Support the Managing Director and leadership in preparing campaign volunteers and Board members for cultivation and solicitation meetings.
• Maintain timely and accurate records of all donor interactions and moves management in Tessitura.

Campaign Strategy & Stewardship

• Support the Managing Director in campaign strategy, prospect pipeline development, and moves management, contributing to portfolio reviews and solicitation planning.
• Build and sustain meaningful relationships with principal gift donors through personalized, high-touch cultivation and stewardship.
• Support the Managing Director in the Campaign Cabinet liaison function, including assisting with volunteer leadership coordination, meeting preparation, and follow-through on campaign activities, in collaboration with the Senior Campaign Manager & Prospect Researcher.
• Partner with the Events team to design bespoke cultivation and stewardship experiences, including campaign-related events, that deepen donor relationships and advance campaign goals.
• Develop strategically planned prospect lists for donor experiences and campaign events.
• Collaborate with the Events and Individual Giving teams to create tailored engagement opportunities with SF Ballet’s leadership, artists, and programs.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of briefing materials, proposals, and stewardship collateral for leadership solicitations
• Support the Managing Director in blended gift strategy development where principal gifts intersect with legacy giving
• Active representation at SF Ballet performances, events, and cultivation activities

Cross-Functional Collaboration

This role works in close daily partnership with the Managing Director of Campaign & Individual Philanthropy, the Director of Individual Giving, and the Senior Campaign Manager & Prospect Researcher. Coordinates with the Events team on bespoke cultivation and stewardship experiences, and with the Senior Director of Revenue Operations & Insights on prospect research, portfolio analytics, and moves management. Engages regularly with executive leadership, the Artistic Director, and Board members in support of top solicitations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of frontline fundraising experience with a demonstrated record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts
• Experience managing complex donor relationships in a campaign context; comprehensive or capital campaign experience preferred
• Strong relationship-building skills with proven success engaging executive leadership, Board members, and high-net-worth individuals
• Strong written communication skills; ability to craft compelling proposals, impact reports, and stewardship materials
• Proficiency in Tessitura or comparable CRM; Microsoft Office Suite
• Background in the performing arts or cultural sector strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred

Physical Requirements

• Regular evening and weekend attendance at performances and cultivation and stewardship events
• Occasional travel for donor cultivation and touring
• Occasional unassisted lifting to 40 lbs.

Application Procedure

We prefer you apply online

NO CALLS, PLEASE

San Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff.

Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).