Job Description
The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts (the Conservatory) is the kind of place you hear before you walk in the door. For more than 130 years, it has been a place where people of all ages and abilities discover their voice through music, dance, and music therapy. The culture is joyful, purposeful, and rooted in a belief that artistic excellence and community belonging are not in conflict. They are the same thing.
The Conservatory is entering a new chapter. With momentum behind it and a clear vision ahead, the organization is focused on building the infrastructure and philanthropic capacity to sustain and expand its impact across Halifax and the Maritime region. This is the moment to invest in fundraising, and this role is central to that investment.
They are seeking a Director of Philanthropy who is ready to build. Someone who brings fundraising credibility, a love of mission-driven work, and the entrepreneurial spirit to come into a small shop and make it stronger. The person who lands here will shape the Conservatory's fundraising from the ground up, build the relationships that will carry the organization into a capital campaign, and leave a mark on one of Halifax's most beloved institutions.
About Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts
Founded in 1887, the Conservatory is the oldest arts organization in Halifax and one of the most distinctive in Atlantic Canada. It offers instruction in music, dance, and music therapy, a combination that is rare and intentional. Programs serve students from early childhood through adulthood, at every skill level, with a commitment to accessibility, belonging, and artistic rigor.
The Conservatory is known in the community not just for what it teaches, but for how it feels. Walk in on any given afternoon and you will hear it: the building hums. Teachers are working artists. Students at every level are taken seriously. That culture is not incidental to the mission. It is the mission.
The organization is stable, community-rooted, and preparing for its most ambitious fundraising effort to date. A capital campaign is on the horizon, and the work of the next 12 to 18 months is about getting ready: organizing systems, growing the annual fund, building donor relationships, and positioning the Conservatory to raise funds at a level it never has before.
Why This Role Matters:
The Director of Philanthropy will be the first dedicated senior fundraiser in the organization's modern era, a role created because meaningful philanthropic growth requires the right person leading it.
Key priorities for the role include:
● Building the foundational systems, practices, and portfolio structures that will support long-term fundraising growth
● Growing annual fundraising revenue toward a goal of $260,000 and beyond
● Developing and strengthening donor relationships across individual, corporate, and community streams
● Preparing the organization to launch a capital campaign, including building the major gift pipeline and donor relationships that will make it possible
● Executing that campaign at a scale that will transform MCPA's physical space and secure its future for generations to come
● Educating and engaging the board and leadership team as active fundraising partners
The ideal candidate brings credibility through fundraising results, entrepreneurial energy through hands-on execution, and the patience and perseverance to build something that will last.
Your Core Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Execution
● Develop and execute annual and multi-year fundraising plans aligned with organizational priorities
● Grow and manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and community donors to support annual giving and capital campaign goals
● Lead annual giving, event-related fundraising, sponsorships, and grant activity
● Introduce and strengthen moves management practices across all donor streams
● Identify new prospects and community opportunities; serve as an ambassador for the mission
Systems & Operations
● Assess, organize, and strengthen donor database practices, including gift entry, coding, tracking, and reporting
● Create clarity around how gifts are categorized, tracked across funds, and reported
● Build out fundraising policies, procedures, and reporting frameworks
● Develop and manage the fundraising budget, including revenue projections and expense planning by stream
Relationship & Partnership Development
● Cultivate and steward a personal portfolio of donors through regular, meaningful touchpoints
● Support and equip the Executive Director and board members to participate actively in cultivation and solicitation
● Build relationships with the Deans of Music and Dance, the Director of Music Therapy, and key staff to identify stories and opportunities
● Represent the Conservatory at community and arts events across Halifax
Planning & Reporting
● Develop realistic campaign forecasts, including cash flow timing by revenue stream
● Track and report on fundraising performance against goals on a regular basis
● Contribute to strategic planning conversations as the organization prepares for a capital campaign
● Work closely with the Registrar and Accountant on gift entry, reporting, and financial reconciliation
What Will Set You Up for Success:
The ideal candidate will:
● Be a confident and credible fundraising leader with strong relationship-building skills.
● Demonstrate the strategic thinking to assess a fundraising program, identify opportunities, and build a clear plan to grow it.
● Balance big-picture planning with hands-on execution, and be comfortable doing both on the same day.
● Bring clarity and structure to complex or underdeveloped environments, and lead others through that process with confidence.
● Be collaborative and transparent, and work effectively alongside an Executive Director, board volunteers, and cross-functional staff.
● Have the energy, professionalism, and presence to represent the organization in the community.
● Be motivated by arts and community, and connect authentically to what the Conservatory stands for.
Qualifications:
● Minimum 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience.
● Demonstrated success in building donor relationships and securing 6-figure gifts
● Experience across multiple fundraising streams, including annual giving, major gifts, sponsorships, and grants
● Familiarity with donor database management and gift tracking practices
● Strong written and verbal communication skills
● Post-secondary education or equivalent professional experience
● Capital campaign experience is an asset
● Arts sector experience is welcome but not required
Work Environment & Compensation:
● Hybrid work model
● Competitive salary, commensurate with experience, between $80,000 and $100,000.
● Health and dental benefits
● Meaningful work with tangible community impact
About the Hiring Process:
This search is being led by Kittiwake in partnership with the Conservatory. We believe a thoughtful process leads to the right fit for both the candidate and the organization. Our process includes the following steps:
- Virtual Pre-Screen
A virtual conversation with Mackenzie Darbyshire to learn more about your experience, interests, and alignment with the foundation.
- In-Person Interview (1st Round)
Selected candidates will be invited to an in-person interview with leaders from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, focused on skills, experience, and values alignment.
- In-Person Interview (2nd Round)
Successful first-round candidates will be invited to complete a short activity ahead of an in-person interview to further solidify overall fit and values alignment.
- Offer Presented to Candidate
This will include appropriate background checks and professional references.
Please visit our website to learn more and apply:
https://kittiwakeco.zohorecruit.ca/jobs/Careers/5321000000288009/Director-of-Philanthropy?source=CareerSite