Development Officer

Youth Symphony of Kansas City is pleased to welcome applicants for the newly-created full-time position of Development Officer.

Position Overview :

The Development Officer is the lead fundraising professional at YSKC, responsible for planning, executing, and growing a comprehensive development program that supports the organization’s evolving revenue goals. This position oversees all aspects of contributed income including individual giving, foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships, donor events, and alumni engagement.

YSKC has set ambitious targets to transition from a tuition-heavy revenue model to a more sustainable balance of two-thirds contributed support and one-third earned revenue over a five-year period. The Development Officer will play a key leadership role in achieving this vision.

This is an excellent opportunity for a mission-driven fundraising professional to build a dynamic development function and make a transformative impact on the future of arts education in Kansas City.

Organization Summary

Youth Symphony of Kansas City is a professional arts organization focused on youth, with a mission to challenge, educate and inspire students through meaningful and enriching musical experiences.  Through its full orchestras, large ensembles, chamber groups and in-school programs, approximately 400 students participate annually, bringing live symphonic music to more than 15,000 each year in concerts throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.  

Students from fifty-six communities across Kansas and Missouri audition to participate in the program, where they rehearse weekly and perform concerts for community-wide audiences in cherished venues such as Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Yardley Hall at the Midwest Trust Center, among others.  In addition to 66 years of music education and performance throughout the Kansas City region, the organization has a long history of domestic and international touring.  Tour destinations have included Spain, Canada, Ireland, Austria and, most recently, a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2023. In June 2025, the Youth Symphony Touring Orchestra travels to the United Kingdom for performances and stays in Grantham, Lincoln and London.

As a non-profit organization, Youth Symphony of Kansas City is governed by a Board of Directors and supported financially through a combination of program tuition along with charitable support from

foundations, individuals, corporations and local/regional government. Since its founding in 1958, the organization has impacted the lives of more than 11,000 alumni. ​

Youth Symphony of Kansas City

Position Description

Position Title:  ​    Development Officer

Structure:  ​ ​Full-time, exempt

Supervisor:  ​ ​            Artistic & Executive Director (CEO)

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth

•​Design and implement a comprehensive development plan to meet the following contributed revenue goals:

•​Year 1: Raise ~$400,000 (building from a ~$350,000 historical baseline).

•​Year 3: Grow to at least $500,000 annually through diversified and sustainable sources.

•​Year 5: Reach ~$600,000 annually, representing two-thirds of total organizational revenue.

•​Establish annual and long-term fundraising calendars, metrics, and benchmarks aligned with organizational needs and board priorities.

•​Report regularly to the Artistic/Executive Director and Development Committee on progress toward fundraising goals.

Individual Giving & Major Donor Cultivation

•​Manage all aspects of annual giving, including appeals, stewardship, and donor segmentation.

•​Build and maintain relationships with current, lapsed, and prospective donors, with an emphasis on growing major donor support ($1,000+).

•​Develop a major gifts program, including personalized cultivation plans for top prospects.

•​Support the Artistic/Executive Director in high-level donor engagement and solicitations.

•​Design and execute donor appreciation activities and experiences at rehearsals, performances, and events.

Grants & Sponsorships

•​Identify, write, and manage all foundation, government, and corporate grant proposals and reports.

•​Maintain a detailed grants calendar to ensure timely submissions and renewals.

•​Research and cultivate new funding opportunities aligned with YSKC’s mission.

•​Develop and maintain sponsorship packages and relationships with corporate partners.

Donor Communications & Database Management

•​Develop compelling donor communications, including newsletters, annual reports, solicitation letters, and impact stories.

•​Oversee the donor database (Veracross or other CRM) in collaboration with the Student & Family Services Coordinator.

•​Ensure accurate and timely gift entry, acknowledgments, and recordkeeping.

•​Generate donor reports, mailing lists, and fundraising analytics for internal use and board reporting.

Events & Alumni Engagement

•​Lead planning for donor cultivation and fundraising events, including receptions, benefit concerts, and alumni outreach.

•​Work with staff and volunteers to execute logistics for fundraising-related events.

•​Develop and implement an alumni engagement strategy to grow the donor base and foster long-term support from past participants.

Qualifications

•  Minimum 3–5 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, with demonstrated success managing individual giving and grants.

•​Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling cases for support and steward donor relationships.

•​Strategic thinker with the ability to create and execute multi-year fundraising plans.

•​Experience in donor CRM/database systems (e.g., Veracross, Bloomerang, Little Green Light, Salesforce).

•​Comfortable working in close collaboration with Executive Leadership, Board Members, and Volunteers.

•​Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

•​Passion for music, youth development, and the role of the arts in education.

•​Availability to work some evenings and weekends for performances, donor events, and key campaign moments.

Desired Attributes

•​Knowledge of the Kansas City philanthropic community and/or youth arts sector.

•​Experience with donor events, campaign planning, and/or major gift fundraising.

•​Prior work in a small to mid-sized nonprofit environment where flexibility and creativity are essential.

Compensation, Benefits and Workload

•​Salary Range: $60,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

•​Generous paid time off and holidays.

• Health Insurance: Health/Dental/Vision (100% of premium is employer funded)

•In-person, with limited hybrid flexibility

•​A collaborative and mission-driven culture with opportunity to lead impactful work

Workload: This position is a full-time, salaried position, with a general workweek structure of 9 a.m. -  

5 p.m., Monday-Friday and Sundays.  Weekday hours include a mix of in-office and remote work, while weekend hours – in particular, Sundays – are required in-person regularly between the months of August and May.  Sundays and additional evening and non-traditional working hours are comped 1:1 as flex-time during the workweek.

Offers of employment are conditional upon the results of a criminal background check.  This process will be executed during the final stages of the hiring process.

To apply:  Send a letter of application, resume and a minimum of one personal and three professional references via email to hr@yskc.org.  Materials should be in PDF or Microsoft Word format.  No phone calls, please.  Applications are held in strict confidence.