Campaign Director

Description

Guided by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s values of integrity, creativity, and connection, the Campaign Director plays a lead role in advancing the Symphony’s philanthropic vision and long-term sustainability.

The Campaign Director serves as the lead operational backbone of a major fundraising campaign supporting the Orchestra’s artistic excellence, community impact, and future growth while actively managing a personal portfolio. Working in close partnership with senior Development leadership and staff, other institutional colleagues, and volunteer campaign leaders, this role leads the planning, execution, tracking, and reporting of campaign activity.

This position requires exceptional leadership, judgment, collaboration, and attention to detail. The ideal candidate is a disciplined leader who values transparency, approaches complex challenges with creativity, and builds trust-based relationships with colleagues, trustees, and donors in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment.

Essential Responsibilities

Campaign Planning & Execution

• Serve as the lead for all campaign operations, coordinating timelines, milestones, and workflows across Development, Finance, Marketing, and Executive leadership.
• Lead all phases of campaign efforts, ensuring accurate goal tracking and clear internal reporting.
• Maintain campaign calendars, benchmarks, and deliverables with a commitment to accountability, accuracy, and follow-through.

Portfolio Management

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospects.

Proposal Development & Gift Documentation

• Collaborate with major gift officers and senior leadership to draft, edit, and assemble clear, persuasive campaign proposals and customized donor materials.
• Lead, prepare, and manage gift agreements, pledges, and support documentation in coordination with Finance and Development Operations, ensuring compliance with donor intent, organizational, and professional fundraising standards.
• Uphold consistency, clarity, and institutional voice across all campaign documentation.

Prospect & Pipeline Management

• Maintain real-time and accurate tracking of campaign prospects and donors within the CRM system, supporting disciplined moves management and reliable forecasting.
• Produce dashboards, reports, and briefings for leadership, trustees, and campaign committees to support informed decision-making.
• Prepare donor profiles and briefing materials that enable authentic, well-prepared engagement by staff and volunteer leaders.

Campaign Committee & Volunteer Support

• Lead staff leadership and logistical support to the Campaign Steering Committee and related volunteer groups, including agendas, materials, minutes, and follow-up.
• Track volunteer assignments, peer-solicitation activity, and action items to sustain momentum and shared ownership of campaign goals.
• Partner with senior leadership to prepare trustees and volunteers for meaningful donor engagement and solicitation conversations.

Stewardship, Recognition & Communications

• Coordinate campaign-specific stewardship and donor recognition efforts in partnership with Donor Relations, Marketing, and Events teams.
• Lead the development of impact reports, honor rolls, milestone communications, and recognition moments that reflect gratitude and transparency.
• Ensure timely acknowledgment and fulfillment of donor commitments, reinforcing trust and long-term relationships.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience. 
• Demonstrated experience in leading campaigns, leadership giving, or major-gifts operations.
• Strong project management skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Excellent writing and editing ability, particularly for donor-facing materials.
• High level of discretion and professionalism when working with confidential information, senior leadership, and high-net-worth individuals.
• CRM experience (Tessitura, Raiser’s Edge, or comparable system).
• Experience supporting capital or endowment campaigns.
• Familiarity with prospect research, donor analytics, and moves management.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for concerts, donor events, and campaign meetings.

Working Conditions 

• This is a salaried (exempt) role with responsibility for outcomes rather than hours worked.
• Evening and weekend availability required.
• Hybrid work environment with significant on-site presence. 

Values in Action at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

• Integrity: We hold ourselves accountable to donors, colleagues, and the community through accuracy, transparency, and ethical stewardship.
• Creativity: We approach challenges thoughtfully and innovatively, crafting compelling narratives and solutions that inspire philanthropic partnership.
• Connection: We build meaningful relationships with donors, volunteers, and each other, grounded in trust, respect, and a shared love of music.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra offers a competitive benefits package, free onsite parking, and access to complimentary concert tickets when available. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

The Dallas Symphony Association is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.