About Classical KING
Classical KING is the primary resource for attracting and developing new audiences for classical music and the arts in the Pacific Northwest. Classical KING is a public radio entity and entirely supported by listeners and sponsors. We are co-located with Seattle Opera at Seattle Center, the performing arts district in Seattle. We are dedicated to making classical music accessible for everyone in the community and to advocating for the arts here in our region and beyond. With the largest reach, the most diverse audience, and the fewest barriers, Classical KING is a singular community asset.
Classical KING is seeking an enthusiastic Philanthropy Officer to support the fundraising goals of the station. The Philanthropy Officer manages a portfolio of assigned donors and prospects, serving as a key position in driving relationship centered fundraising efforts at Classical KING. Their work focuses on the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to secure leadership annual gifts ($2,500 - $10,000) and major gifts ($10,000+). They are able to take direction, have exceptional attention to detail, are a self-motivated team player, can apply systems thinking to relationship driven work, and serve as a persuasive ambassador for Classical KING.
As a relatively new nonprofit, we are honored that more than 16,500 members are already supporters of Classical KING, helping to pave the way for a bright future for the station. We know based on benchmarking and listener research that we have the potential to significantly grow our support from individuals. The Philanthropy Officer will be an essential part of the station’s growth and serve as a leading voice for the station with its community of supporters.
Major Objectives
The Philanthropy Officer is a frontline fundraiser whose time will focus on carrying a portfolio of donors and prospects. Within the first 12-18 months, the Philanthropy Officer will achieve the following:
Establish a strong relationship and partnership with the Philanthropy team to set strategy for the major giving and cultivate top donors and prospects.
Develop confidence presenting organizational strategy to donors; nurture a portfolio that delivers growth in the number of donors giving $2,500+.
Assess assigned donors, understand the strengths and opportunities of current strategies, and craft as well as execute individualized plans to achieve the revenue growth plan for the next five years.
KPIs
The Philanthropy Officer will be evaluated on:
Total philanthropic revenue from assigned donors and prospects.
Ratio of upgrades and retention within portfolio.
Planned gift commitments and related cultivation activity.
Face-to-face solicitation activity as well as ongoing cultivation & stewardship touchpoints that effectively drives a relationship with each donor.
Responsibilities
The Philanthropy Officer will have the following primary responsibilities:
Strategy, implementation, and management of a personal portfolio of donors to achieve a goal of $500,000 - $1,000,000 annually. Typically, an active portfolio of 100 donors and up to 50 qualified prospects.
Expand leadership annual gifts ($2,500 - $10,000) and major gifts ($10,000+) through compelling solicitation strategy, deliberate prospect development, and meaningful engagement opportunities.
Partner with the Philanthropy team to refine the relationship management process from identification through stewardship, to ensure a high donor retention rate and efficient portfolio management; execute a comprehensive program for donor recognition and stewardship.
Help to grow legacy giving through cultivating and soliciting planned and estate gifts as part of overall donor and prospect strategy.
Participate in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship at Classical KING events and activities in the community.
Participate as necessary in the development of fundraising collateral and execution of donor events.
Proactively use Raiser’s Edge to support Classical KING’s fundraising activities.
Support and advance the Classical KING’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and access policies and plans as well as strategic goals.
Qualifications
The ideal Philanthropy Officer will bring most of the following qualifications and skill sets:
A minimum of 4 years of professional fundraising experience with a proven record exceeding goals in soliciting major gifts.
A commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Classical KING and to diversifying our programming and staff.
Enthusiastic relationship builder who excels at listening and delivering persuasive interpersonal communications. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain relationships with a variety of individuals including Board, donors, and civic leaders.
Knowledge of the fundraising cycle with experience developing, implementing, and refining tactics to grow support at all levels leveraging a collaborative, team approach.
The ability to translate strategy into actionable objectives and plans; convey a sense of purpose that motivates others; and remain focused on results with a bias for action.
Resourcefulness, creativity, flexibility, and an aptitude for shifting course as circumstances change while also driving toward clarity and solutions.
Superior communication skills, both verbal and written, the ability to adapt communication style to the audience.
Knowledge of best practices in planned giving, corporate sponsorship, as well as foundation and government grantmaking.
Experience leveraging donor database management systems, particularly Raiser’s Edge, to support effective moves management with donors and prospects.
A high level of integrity, respect for others of all backgrounds, and a commitment to excellence. Exemplify ethical standards of professional fundraising.
Previous experience within an arts or public media organization a plus; a personal interest in classical music essential.
A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience is required.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary for this position is $90,000 - $105,000. The Philanthropy Officer will be based in Seattle at the Classical KING offices. A hybrid work schedule can be arranged in coordination with the needs of the department. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; employer-paid life and disability insurance; 401(k) program with employer matching and safe harbor contributions, paid time off including holidays, sick days, and vacation.
Classical KING is working actively to diversify its programming, staff, and board. Our commitment is real, and we understand it will take a sustained effort over time. We welcome all candidates with commitment to these goals. Our statement describing our commitment to diversity, access, equity, and inclusion can be found here: https://www.king.org/about/
KING’s Strategic Priorities:
Diversifying our organization and its audience: Our goal is for the demographics of the station’s audience to mirror the demographics of the community. To do this, we need to diversify our staff and board too.
Community Engagement: To serve the community we must understand the community and have authentic relationships with organizations and people serving the community.
Capacity Building: We need to build human, financial, and technical capacity to achieve our goals and position the organization for the future.
We are enthusiastic about the future of classical music and ambitious about the future of the station. We have a five-year strategic framework to grow our audience by expanding our digital access. By necessity, we must also grow membership and donor support to meet a growing operating budget. Our planning is based on research. We know we have the potential to significantly grow our support at all membership and donor levels from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government sources.
Application
To be considered for this opportunity, please send a letter of interest, resume, and three reference to hr@king.org.
Mission, Vision, and Values
Our Mission
Classical KING will actively grow, diversify, and enrich the love of classical music in our community.
Our Vision
Expand our diverse community of listeners, performers, and supporters who understand and benefit from the powerful impact of classical music and the arts in our region.
Our Values
Classical music should be accessible to all.
The arts are a critical component of every vibrant city.
K-12 arts education is necessary to develop creativity, innovation, and lifelong appreciation of the arts.
Fiscally responsible planning is necessary to achieve our vision.
Key Facts
$5.3 million budget
87% of revenues from membership, sponsorship, and donor support
More than 16,500 supporting members
Over 220,000 radio listeners weekly
Regular streaming listeners total 75,000 and are growing rapidly
24 total staff
8 advancement staff
15-member Board of Directors
