Vice President of Advancement

Reports to: Board Chair

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Executive Chairman, the VP for Advancement serves as a key leadership team member and an active participant in making strategic decisions affecting the SBCPA.  In partnership with the Executive Director, this position is responsible to plan and direct all advancement and fundraising activities. As a member of the Executive team, the VP of Advancement provides leadership and input to various standing and ad hoc committees. The VP will help foster new relationships to build SBCPA’s visibility, impact and financial resources.  The VP will also design and implement a comprehensive plan for developing key external alliances by cultivating individual, corporate, and philanthropic support.

Areas of influence and responsibility include the Annual Fund, major gifts, the planned giving program, special events, stewardship of the database and records management, marketing and public relations, and financial reporting.  Leading and nurturing a team of development professionals, the VP for Advancement will work to search out, maintain and grow the funding base for the organization in order to continue to provide top-tier support to its arts organizations. Patron, donors, & sponsor relationships will be a cornerstone for this growth, and a large component of the tasks involved to systematically expand and strengthen the organization’s overall fundraising capacity in future years.

Principle Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Work Plan Execution
   • Develops and implements comprehensive annual fundraising strategies in collaboration with executive leadership, aligning with organizational goals.
   • Sets measurable objectives to enhance revenue and donor engagement, continuously monitoring performance and making strategic adjustments as needed.
   • Leveraging Data to benchmark success and to analyze areas of opportunity.
2. Donor & Corporate Relations
   • Cultivates, retains, and expands relationships with individual donors and corporate sponsors at all giving levels.
   • Oversees donor communication, acknowledgment, and stewardship programs to strengthen long-term engagement.
   • Leads strategies to attract new donors and sponsors while enhancing existing partnerships through personalized outreach and impact reporting.

3. Fundraising Campaigns & Materials
   • Leads the development and execution of fundraising campaigns in coordination with the marketing team, database services, and PR partners.
   • Ensures branding consistency across sponsorship collateral, donor outreach materials, and promotional efforts.
   • Manages vendor relationships to secure cost-effective, high-quality services for fundraising initiatives.
4. Database & Financial Oversight
   • Oversees donor data management using Tessitura, ensuring accurate record-keeping, tracking, and analysis of donor contributions.
   • Works closely with finance and development staff to maintain compliance with financial reporting standards and optimize fundraising technology for efficiency and accuracy.
5. Leadership & Team Development
   • Supervises and mentors the development team, including hiring, goal-setting, performance evaluation, and professional growth initiatives.
   • Fosters a collaborative, results-driven culture focused on innovation and efficiency in fundraising efforts.
   • Actively participates in senior leadership discussions and Board of Directors meetings, providing strategic insights on revenue development.
6. Events & Stewardship
   • Designs and implements donor and corporate sponsorship engagement strategies to strengthen relationships and maximize long-term giving potential.
   • Oversees the planning and execution of fundraising events, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and enhancing visibility.
   • Leads stewardship initiatives that communicate the impact of contributions and foster sustained donor and sponsor support.
   • Foster continued growth and expansion of existing community outreach.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Proven management and leadership capabilities.
• High energy, positive attitude, flexibility, attention to detail and a high degree of personal initiative in the context of organizational goals.
• Strong verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and function comfortably in a strategy-driven environment.
• Expert in public speaking and presenting information such as data, metrics, and overall impact of the Granada Theatre’s mission to sponsors, board of directors, and patrons.
• Thorough knowledge of all components of a diversified contributed income funding base.
• Good computer skills and knowledge of database programs.
• Proficiency with fundraising applications (Tessitura preferred) using available data to perform comprehensive donor data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to motivate, inspire, and engage team to work collaboratively to achieve goals.
• Exhibit a passion to connect people with the mission.
• Possess a high standard of professional and ethical conduct, integrity and accountability

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required, graduate degree preferred
• Minimum of ten years of nonprofit fundraising experience in progressively responsible leadership positions; an arts organization background will be considered a plus.
• Verified track record of achieving contributed revenue targets in excess of $1 million annually.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect and cultivate new contributors.
• Strong event planning skills.
• Experience creating budgets and forecasting revenue.
• Experience in the use of social media and social networking and technology to communicate with donors, generate revenue, educate the public and broadcast mission.
• Direct and demonstrable knowledge of the Santa Barbara philanthropic community will be considered a plus

Working Conditions/Physical Demand/ Work Schedule:

• Lengthy sitting in meetings and working on a computer (sitting or standing desk).
• Long periods of standing at events.
• Socializing with Board, patrons, donors and donor prospects.
• Travel up to 25% of time.
• Attendance at many performances in the theater.
• Evening and weekend work will be required.

Benefits & Compensation:

This is a exempt, full-time position. The pay range is $130,000-$170,000 per year commensurate with skills and experience. The Granada Theatre provides a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees, which includes health, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave, and a 403(b) plan.