The Charleston Symphony has struggled for some time with its finances, but this suspension of operations comes at a particularly alarming time  because now is generally when most orchestras beef-up their cash position by selling the upcoming season to returning subscribers.

We wish the Charleston Symphony well and hope they can get back on their feet for the 2010-2011 Season!

–RSC

I’m looking forward to seeing colleagues and friends at the Arts Reach National Arts Marketing and Development Conference 2009.  The Conference is next week, October 8-11 in Los Angeles. I’ll be presenting a session entitled, “Annual Fund — Balancing Fundamentals and Innovation Through Better Analyitics.”  The Conference is sure to be informative and a lot of fun.  Hope to see you there!

Music for All, Inc. (located in Indianapolis, IN and a long-time client of RSC) has recently begun its search for a new Chief Development Officer.  This is a very fine opportunity for someone who would like to mature a recently-established fundraising program.  If you or others who you know have interest in applying, please submit resume, cover letter and salary history to careers@musicforall.org . All correspondence will be handled through email. Click here to learn more about Music for All.

COMPANY PROFILE

Music for All is one of the largest and most influential national music education organizations in support of active music making. Music for All is unique in that it combines programming at a regional and national level with awareness campaigns and advocacy for music education. Recognized as an organization focused on creating positively life‐changing experiences through music, Music for All is also engaged in expanding access to educational initiatives in schools and communities. For more than 34 years, Music for All’s Bands of America and Orchestra America programs have presented an internationally acclaimed repertoire of events. Playing to a national audience, Music for All’s mission is infused with a positive vision that touches lives forever. Those who attend don’t just participate in Music for All, they live Music for All.

 Music for All’s mission is to create, provide and expand positively life‐changing experiences through music for all.  Music for All’s INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED repertoire of events includes more than 25 annual festivals in more than a dozen states. Among these events are the Bands of America Grand National Championships, National Concert Band Festival, Orchestra America National Festival, National Percussion Festival, Summer Symposium, Regional Marching Championships, and one‐day musical and leadership clinics. The Honor Band of America has toured Europe and Japan and was featured as a 300+ member marching unit in the 2005 and 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade on worldwide television. Music for All’s Honor Orchestra of America has shared the stage with the Indianapolis Symphony since 2007 on a classical subscription series concert each spring.

 More than 300,000 teens, family members and enthusiasts attend Music for All and BOA events each year with more than 80,000 teens participating. Millions worldwide access Music for All through award‐winning national newsletters (published 5 times annually), our Web site www.musicforall.org, video productions, and other print materials.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Music for All is seeking qualified candidates for our Director of Development / Chief Development Officer position. The Director of Development / Chief Operating Officer works under the direction of the President & CEO and is an important part of the Music for All team. This position is responsible for a comprehensive contributed income plan, including participation of individuals, corporations, and foundations and developing and implementing a planned giving program. Conceives, develops and implements fundraising strategy, works with the CEO to specify development goals, and identifies and cultivates prospects. Primary focus is growing the annual donor base, identifying major prospects and closing gifts. Primary duties include but are not limited to: 

• -Continue to engage and solicit individuals (alumni and parents of Music for All’s Bands of America) as well as corporations and foundations. Design, implement and manage a comprehensive virtual campaign around Bands of America’s 35th year anniversary.
• -Identify, qualify, and manage a portfolio of special and major gift prospects: Gather data, assess prospects, and develop strategies designed to realize the current and life‐time giving potential of individual prospects. Ensure consistent and appropriate contact, facilitate or make solicitations, and ensure effective stewardship.
• -Assist the CEO in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high‐end prospects. Develop innovative approaches to expanding the organization’s donor base.
• -Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of Music for All’s mission and events, and continually match the interests of prospects with organizational events and needs.
• -Plan and direct solicitation of prospects managed by the CEO. Provide executive staff support to the CEO related to fundraising activities, including strategic planning for the CEO’s fundraising travel, providing briefing materials, and drafting correspondence and speeches.
• -Oversee fundraising and stewardship activities including donor and scholarship events, alumni communication, participation, and giving, and corporate and foundation relations.
• -Supervise the Development Staff, including Community Relations Manager and Development Coordinator, who has primary responsibility for donor‐relations, reporting, volunteer management and direct mail solicitations.
• -Work collaboratively with other MFA staff, including the director of marketing on the development of promotional materials, the events team on volunteer management, participant relations on the identification of constituency development, and the accounting staff on the coordination of financial reporting and tracking.
• -Assess and evaluate efforts and outcomes of development activities, and make appropriate revisions to the strategic plan.
• -Gather, record, and properly store information about prospects and donors utilizing the donor and alumni tracking database.
• -Represent MFA at designated functions and events related to fundraising.
• -Manage, educate, develop and coach staff to become knowledgeable about all development efforts and to become effective fundraisers.
• -Provide leadership and direction to the board in cultivation, soliciting and stewarding major gifts and serve as the coordinator of their activities.
• -Every candidate for a position at Music for All must understand and acknowledge that a substantial portion of the organization’s business is the planning and execution of special events. As such, all Music for All employees may be involved in the planning of events and have some on‐site event production duties and responsibilities. Some travel, night and weekend work is required.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Music for All is seeking an enthusiastic, team oriented individual who encompasses the below skills: 

• -Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college
• -Minimum of 5 years of senior development experience required
• -Significant experience and demonstrated success in gift fundraising in an organization with a comprehensive development program. Development experience in an organization with an alumni base is strongly preferred
• -Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic development plans, and to organize, initiate and motivate
• -Proven success in closing gifts at the six‐figure level
• -Ability to analyze prospects and to assess and determine a solicitation approach with respect to size of ask, areas of interest, and timing
• -Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and oral. Ability to work in a highly collaborative manner
• -Strong understanding of and enthusiasm for music and arts education
• -Ability and willingness to travel, as well as to work outside the normal workday as necessary and required

 APPLICATION PROCESS

• -Please submit resume, cover letter and salary history to careers@musicforall.org . All correspondence will be handled through email.

 Music for All, Inc. is a 501©(3) not for profit educational organization and is committed to a diverse workforce.

Robert Swaney Consulting
580 N. Peterman Rd.
Greenwood, IN 46142
Telephone: 317.797.8924
Email: rsc@rrsconsult.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2009

Contact: Bob Swaney, Founder (317) 797-8924

ROBERT SWANEY CONSULTING NAMES SCOTT GIFFEN AS
SENIOR CONSULTANT

Bob Swaney, Founder of Robert Swaney Consulting (RSC) announced today that Scott Giffen has joined the firm as Senior Consultant and will be based in the Missouri office. Mr. Giffen will focus on clients throughout North America, with special emphasis on fundraising program assessment, sponsorship / grant development and funding, and annual / endowment fund program growth for arts and cultural organizations.

With nearly fifteen years of hands-on arts administration experience, Scott Giffen’s fundraising, marketing, and executive management repertoire spans classical music to modern dance, arts education programming to musical theatre productions, and grassroots organizations to one of the nation’s premier orchestras.

Originally from Dallas, Mr. Giffen began his career as an arts administrator in St. Louis, serving first as Executive Director for GASH/VOIGT Dance Theatre, then Development Director for STAGES ST. LOUIS. Later as Executive Director for Young Audiences of St. Louis, Mr. Giffen broadened his industry knowledge to include arts education. In 2005, Mr. Giffen moved to North Georgia, accepting a multi-faceted leadership fundraising position with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO).

For each organization, Mr. Giffen posted double-digit contributed revenue growth, consistently surpassed multiple campaign goals, and established new fundraising programs that positioned organizations for future expansion. Most recently, at the ASO, Giffen surpassed the $3 million mark in institutional support for the first time in the Orchestra’s history and also signed the largest symphony/airline partnership to date.

Company founder Bob Swaney said, “Scott has certainly proven that he is an agent of growth. He has a focused yet sensitive approach to arts and cultural fundraising that is essential for successful outcomes, particularly now. He also shares my company’s passion to achieve superior results while putting our clients – and their donors – first so that we can make a lasting, positive impact in the arts. I am very excited and immensely grateful to have Scott join our team.”

Regarding joining RSC Mr. Giffen stated, “Bob (Swaney) is a known force in arts fundraising and has tremendously advanced many of our country’s greatest arts institutions. It is an honor to work through Robert Swaney Consulting, Inc. to share my expertise and passion of empowering artists by strengthening the organizations that support them.”

Robert Swaney Consulting (RSC) is a provider of contributed revenue growth strategies and hands-on interim management for arts and cultural institutions. The firm has Midwest offices in both Indiana and Missouri, with clients across the country including Indianapolis, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Knoxville. For more information, please call (317) 797-8924 or visit the website at www.rrsconsult.net.

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