SUMMARY OF POSITION:
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy, Patron Programs, the Associate Philanthropy Officer will support the growth and vitality of the School’s long-term philanthropy strategy, including through the Building Our Future capital campaign for the new Frank Gehry-designed Colburn Center. The Associate Philanthropy Officer is a front-facing representative who will serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for the School at performances and special events and will build a donor pipeline and new portfolio of donors through cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects to the School’s annual fund, endowment, capital campaign, special projects, and planned giving program. You will be responsible for contributing to the success of a 15-person philanthropy team’s growth of contributed revenue through a $10M+ annual fund, a $400M comprehensive campaign, endowment gifts and planned giving commitments by managing a 50+ donor and prospect portfolio of $1k - $10k annual fund donors and donors to other philanthropy programs.
You belong on our team if you are looking to grow your fundraising career with a high-performing philanthropy team, have a deep interest in education, the performing arts, and the Los Angeles community, and are highly self-motivated, forward-thinking, donor-centric, and committed to teamwork as well as individual achievement!
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Performance and Event Presence
- Attend performances an average of three days/evenings/weekends per week. As a performance representative of the philanthropy department, you will serve as a VIP client services representative and prepare for such events by prospecting and reaching out to audience members in advance of, at, and following Colburn activities. Such activities will include performances across all units of the School, the annual gala, and private in-house programs;
- Through your invitations and hosting at events, you will introduce new attendees, community members, and cultural partners to the organization’s mission, programs, and philanthropic opportunities thus helping to achieve donor pool growth targets; and
- Create opportunities at performance and events to help leverage Colburn’s extremely active performance calendar for prospect research, prospect cultivation and donor stewardship.
Portfolio Management, Donor Cultivation, and Pipeline Development
- In partnership with your manager and your team of philanthropy and senior philanthropy officers, build and maintain a portfolio of early-stage prospects and active donors and help move high-potential prospects into active cultivation or solicitation by philanthropy officers, senior philanthropy officers, or executive leadership; apply best-in-class practices of stewardship, cultivation, and recognition;
- Support stewardship opportunities including reports and recognition programs, and ensure all engagement aligns with the organization’s mission and brand promise of excellence and authenticity;
- Support strategies that broaden and diversify the donor pipeline and contribute to the growth of the annual fund in particular.
Collaboration and Internal Partnerships
- Work closely with Patron Programs team to help develop a robust membership program to grow our donor audience of $1k+ donors in the context of the new concert hall and dance school slated for opening in fall 2027;
- Work together with the philanthropy team, academic units, and communications to match donor interests and help create appealing engagement opportunities;
- Support a data-informed office culture by documenting donor interactions, prospect research, and qualification notes in the CRM system in a timely and accurate manner; comfort navigating a CRM for list-pulling, research, and donor activity;
- Establish credibility and collaborative relationships with senior leadership, Board members, donors, volunteers, and colleagues from all academic units and other departments;
- Contribute to successful annual galas through sales, sponsorships, and on-site gala staffing;
- Develop a current, thorough, and comprehensive understanding of the Colburn School’s mission, areas of excellence, student population, student and faculty profiles, services, programs, and goals; and
- Perform other duties as
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- A bachelor’s degree is required and four years of experience in fundraising or similar field;
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to initiate conversations, connect effectively in verbal and written form, and build rapport quickly;
- Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal relationship-building; comfort interacting with diverse audiences, including donors, community groups, first-time attendees, families, trustees, and prospects;
- An ability to work independently and closely with a broad team of varying constituents, including staff, faculty, volunteers, artists, and trustees;
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive; dedication to accuracy and timeliness is a must;
- Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information appropriately;
- Aptitude for design and branding, messaging, and the common technology used to support and advance these activities, like Adobe Creative Suite, email marketing, CRM systems, and websites; experience utilizing collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom;
- Interest in developing skills under experienced campaign, membership, and fundraising leadership mentors and managers;
- A commitment to the mission of Colburn—to provide access to the highest quality performing arts education at all levels of development in an optimal learning environment;
- Interest in working evenings and weekends for performances and events approximately 3 days per week as well as in-office days; a 40-hour work week in total.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Physical:
- Must be able to see, hear, feel, and use hands to type and grasp objects with fingers. Seating, standing, walking, bending, and stooping will all be a part of the job environment; occasional light lifting and carrying of objects weighing 25 pounds or less; light to heavy repetitive use of hands, wrists and forearms while working on a computer.
Emotional:
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships involving interactions and communications personally, by phone and in writing with a variety of individuals and/or groups of individuals from diverse backgrounds on a regular, on-going basis; ability to concentrate on detailed tasks for extended periods of time and/or intermittently while attending to other responsibilities; ability to work effectively under pressure on multiple tasks concurrently while meeting established deadlines and changing priorities. Ability to work in a fast-paced high-performing environment with nuance and flexibility.
Working Conditions:
- A mixture of an indoor office environment with frequent contact with and interruptions by individuals in person or by phone as well as public-facing events, quiet performance venues, and private parties in homes and other private venues. Appropriate attired and etiquette will be required.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The pay range for this position: $28.85 to $40.87 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience.
This is a full-time, non-exempt position working evenings and weekends for performances and events approximately 3 days per week as well as in-office days; a 40-hour work week in total.
The Colburn School offers excellent benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance plans, Long Term and Short-Term Disability, Life Insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and a 403(b)-retirement plan with a generous employer matching contribution.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a cover letter and resume through the Colburn School’s Careers portal at www.colburnschool.edu/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
ABOUT THE COLBURN SCHOOL:
The Colburn School is a world-renowned performing arts institution located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Its mission is to provide the highest quality performing arts education at all levels of development in music and dance, and to foster a vibrant community through a wide range of performances, events, and educational activities.
The Colburn School trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.
The academic units of the school provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education:
Conservatory of Music - The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.
The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This residential program balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.
The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers over 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.
The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from the pre-professional ballet program in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.
Center for Innovation and Community Impact was created to empower the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Colburn School partners with 15 Los Angeles Unified School District schools, 13 of which receive Title I funding, to provide interactive and engaging concerts and instructional sessions to 5,000 students every year.
The Colburn School is currently constructing the Colburn Center, a transformational addition to our downtown Los Angeles campus, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry with acoustics by acclaimed Nagata Acoustics. This monumental project reflects a deep commitment to both the community and our students and will feature world-class performance venues and innovative learning spaces that foster collaboration and interdisciplinary partnerships throughout the region.
A once-in-a-lifetime expansion for Colburn, the Center will include a remarkable and accessible 1,077-seat concert hall, complete with a 70-musician orchestral pit and a modular sprung dance floor. It will also house the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, Colburn’s renowned dance education program. The new dance center will feature a 100-seat dance studio theater, four spacious ballet and tap studios, administrative offices, and vibrant street-level and rooftop gardens with outdoor performance spaces.
Construction began in 2024, and upon completion in 2027, the Colburn Center will create the world’s largest concentration of Frank Gehry-designed buildings—joining the Walt Disney Concert Hall and mixed-use project The Grand in redefining the cultural landscape of downtown Los Angeles.
