Toronto Symphony Orchestra – Employment Opportunity: Prospect Research Manager (Development)

About the TSO

One of Canada’s most respected arts organizations, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a vital role in the city’s cultural life for 100 years. Current Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician Orchestra. This season, through Centennial commissions from emerging composers, marquee events, and an incredible line-up of world-renowned guest artists, the TSO continues to celebrate a century of music-making, paying homage to the Orchestra’s illustrious past while ushering in a dynamic future.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Mark Williams, the TSO is committed to serving local and national communities through vibrant performances, extensive educational activities, and community access and wellness initiatives intended to reach more age groups, people with different abilities, and diverse communities in Toronto. Some of these include open houses and free concerts at the TSO’s home, Roy Thomson Hall; Relaxed Performances designed to welcome neurodiverse patrons; and a partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health that supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis patients through musical storytelling and composition.

With a notable recording history—including, most recently, five acclaimed recordings on the prestigious Chandos label—complementing international touring engagements in the US, Europe, Israel, and Asia, the TSO is a musical ambassador for Canada and remains synonymous with musical versatility, growth, and artistic distinction.

For more information on the TSO’s important work in the community, visit TSO.CA

Reports To: Director of Development Operations
Status: Full-time, permanent
Salary range: $62,000 – $72,000

Position Summary:

The Prospect Research Manager is responsible for prospect management and research for the TSO’s development team to support growth in philanthropic revenue. The Prospect Research Manager provides in-depth research on individuals, corporations, foundations and leadership volunteers that may be interested in investing in the TSO, and manages the prospect identification, clearance, and assignment process. In this role you will collaborate with colleagues to help drive the team’s prospecting activity including patron demographic analysis initiatives and patron wealth and affinity screening.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

● Assume primary responsibility for meeting the prospect identification, qualification and research needs of development staff, TSO leadership, and volunteers, to support philanthropic revenue growth.

● Manage and implement the prospecting process with the development team to identify new prospects, segment and prioritize opportunities, and to ensure the ongoing development, expansion and renewal of the prospect pipeline.

● Contribute to bi-weekly prospect clearance and/or moves management meetings to help capture next steps, integrate activity into research, assign prospects, inform cultivation strategies, and record activity in donor files/accounts.

● Conduct proactive and reactive research to identify new prospects; identify and evaluate philanthropic capacity, affinity, and readiness.

● Create comprehensive current donor profile reports and research briefings on prospects or groups of prospects in advance of fundraising calls and events and to inform strategy meetings.

● Lead periodic patron demographic analysis and wealth and affinity screening projects with research prospects, in conjunction with colleagues in Development, Marketing and Government Relations.

● Develop and maintain systems and procedures that establish and maintain standards of quality, accuracy, and timelines for prospect research.

● Manage research information services/platforms and negotiate annual contracts.

● Utilize the central Development database (Tessitura) to track/store profile data; collaborate with the Director of Development Operations on the most efficient and effective methods of recording research.

● Adhere to ethical and confidentiality guidelines.

Additional scope of responsibility:

● Maintain and develop a professional network of colleagues both locally and nationally to stay abreast of best practices and trends related to prospect research and management.

● Monitor and communicate news, events, and issues that impact the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s fundraising strategies and the philanthropic sector.

● Keep abreast of donors and prospects in the news as well as philanthropic trends; assist in matching prospect interest to fundraising priorities.

● Contribute to the integrity of the donor database (Tessitura) by maintaining and updating information on new and existing donors, volunteers and prospects using a variety of resources.

● Prepare and distribute prospect management reports weekly for the CDO and Major Gifts officers.

● Create event attendee snap-shots for each major TSO event and/or donor meeting which includes biographical information, TSO giving/ticketing, giving to other organizations, TSO connections (i.e. Board members), and photos.

● Represent the Development team in the donor lounge at TSO concerts or at Development events, on occasion, as required.

● Perform other responsibilities as required.

Experience & Qualifications:

● University degree or equivalent professional experience.
● Minimum 5 years of prospect management and research experience in the not-for-profit sector.
● Ability to research, analyze and combine data from a wide variety of biographical and financial sources, and present the resulting information in a clear briefing.
● Practical knowledge of fundraising and the prospect cultivation cycle; previous experience in prospect management, with responsibility for prospect assignment, data management and monitoring, and status reporting.
● Strong written and verbal communication skills, must be able to interact and communicate with individuals at all levels of the organization.
● Proven ability to interpret financial, technical, and trade documents for the purpose of wealth assessment, including annual reports, SEDAR and SEDI.
● Exceptional attention to detail in composing, typing and proofing materials, establishing priorities and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
● Commitment to professional ethics; shows discretion when dealing with sensitive and confidential information.
● Extensive computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft office software or G-Suite equivalents, and online databases and search engines.
● Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and meet goals in a timely manner.
● Familiarity with Canadian business landscape, financials and corporate annual reports.
● Interest in and knowledge of the arts, particularly classical music, will be considered an asset.

How to Apply:

Please email your cover letter and resumé to Esther Lee, Director of Human Resources, at elee@tso.ca by 5:00 pm Tuesday, February 21, 2023. While the TSO thanks all applicants for their interest, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of the City of Toronto and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals, especially those who can provide different perspectives and contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

The TSO is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require accommodation, the TSO will work with you to meet your needs.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

Work will be performed in a hybrid work environment, involving both in-office and remote work. Flexibility in hours and ability to work occasional evenings and/or weekends when required (during the September to June concert season) as part of the Development team.

The TSO requires all employees to provide proof of fully-vaccinated status, with vaccines approved by Health Canada. A person is considered fully vaccinated if they have completed the required regime for a COVID-19 vaccine and 14 days have passed since their final dose.