Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the Kansas City Symphony in the search for a Chief Development Officer. The Kansas City Symphony seeks a transformative leader who will pioneer breakthrough strategies and inspire a new era of philanthropic engagement for one of America's most innovative major orchestras.
Reporting to the President and CEO, the Chief Development Officer will lead all fundraising and philanthropic initiatives of the Kansas City Symphony. The Chief Development Officer will play a pivotal role in developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports the Symphony's budding growth-minded culture of entrepreneurial innovation, intelligent risk taking, and significant change. As both a functional and cultural leader in the organization, the Chief Development Officer will bring extensive experience as a philanthropy team leader and individual practitioner, possessing a deep background in the cultivation and stewardship of major donors and correlated fundraising efforts while setting and exceeding aggressive fundraising benchmarks.
In only its 42nd season, the Kansas City Symphony has already become one of America's most vibrant major orchestras and has gained national and international recognition. With the 2024/2025 season, the Symphony welcomed Matthias Pintscher as its new music director. Pintscher regularly conducts many of the world's best orchestras and opera companies and ranks as one of the world's foremost composers of orchestral music.
Continually creating live music experiences in Helzberg Hall, located in the prestigious Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Symphony serves Kansas City's metro population of more than 2.2 million people as well as welcoming visitors from around the globe. The Symphony's 80 full-time musicians from around the world bring a diverse and dynamic range of musical experiences to audiences in both orchestral and chamber music formats each season. In addition to concerts in Helzberg Hall, Symphony musicians perform throughout the region on its portable stage, the Mobile Music Box. The Symphony also serves as the orchestra for the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, adding to the rich cultural experiences that these organizations offer to the community.
Top international soloists perform with the Kansas City Symphony every season, including brilliant classical musicians, popular singer/songwriters, rock bands, and other creative performers. The Symphony performs live soundtracks for a variety of fan-favorite films, with the movie projected on a giant screen above the stage. In 2024, the orchestra was invited to Europe to be presented by some of the top venues in the world, and additional invitations have been received for a return as soon as 2026.
All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the purpose of the Kansas City Symphony and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus. A bachelor's degree and at least ten years of successful revenue-generating experience is required for this role. The Kansas City Symphony will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds who meet the requirements outlined above. Additionally, a passion for live music and the performing arts is preferred. If this opportunity excites you and you have the drive to lead transformative change, we want to hear from you. The future of the American orchestras is being built here—and now.
The Kansas City Symphony offers a competitive salary and comprehensive package of benefits.
The Kansas City Symphony is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Kim Farr at kimfarr@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
To apply for this position, visit: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/3095.
jeid-54f9d363bac6534b9944b4bf65ecfb46
