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Posted: 29-Jun-26
Location: Palm Desert, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $300,000 - $350,000
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THE MISSION
The McCallum Theatre’s mission is to entertain, educate, and enrich the Coachella Valley community through world-class performances, critically acclaimed education experiences, and serving as the desert’s premier performing arts center.
ABOUT MCCALLUM THEATRE
Located in the heart of Palm Desert, California, the McCallum Theatre is one of the nation’s premier performing arts centers—recognized for its artistic excellence, diverse programming, and deep community impact.
Since opening in 1988, the McCallum has become a cornerstone of the Coachella Valley’s cultural life, presenting an extraordinary breadth of performances each season. Its stage hosts the best of Broadway, world-renowned musicians, acclaimed comedians, classical ensembles, and international dance companies, alongside family programs and community showcases. With one of the longest and most varied presenting seasons in the country, the Theatre consistently ranks among the top 50 theaters worldwide for ticket sales and is celebrated for the quality of its productions, audiences, and artistic partnerships.
The McCallum’s acclaimed Education Department has served more than one million students, educators, and families through programs such as the Aesthetic Education Program and Field Trip Series. These initiatives connect young people to the performing arts through interactive classroom learning, professional performances, and teacher training that inspire creativity and lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Its Community Engagement Programs extend the Theatre’s reach across the Coachella Valley. Signature events include the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and Open Call Talent Project, as well as community celebrations like Hispanic Heritage Month, the Veterans Day Eve Celebration, and the new McCallum Jazz Experience, each reflecting the region’s diversity and vitality.
With an annual budget of approximately $22 million and an endowment of $8 million, the McCallum is led by President & CEO, Yvonne Bell and supported by a dedicated staff of 40 and a 35-member Board of Directors. Together, they advance the Theatre’s mission to inspire, educate, and entertain through the transformative power of live performance. For more information, please visit?www.mccallumtheatre.org.
THE OPPORTUNITY
As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will work closely with the President & CEO and Board of Trustees to advance the McCallum Theatre through an exciting period of institutional growth and transformational capital expansion. This leader will provide vision and leadership for the McCallum Theatre’s comprehensive advancement efforts while helping position one of the nation’s premier performing arts centers for continued artistic, educational, and community impact.
A central priority for this role will be guiding the planning and execution of a multi-phase capital campaign in support of significant future facility and campus initiatives. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will work closely with senior leadership, trustees, donors, and community stakeholders to strengthen campaign readiness, build philanthropic support, and advance a compelling case for investment in the McCallum’s future.
The Chief Philanthropy Officer will serve as a trusted advisor to the President & CEO and will oversee the development function, with a focus on institutional growth, campaign strategy, governance engagement, principal gift development, and long-range advancement planning. In this capacity, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will lead the McCallum’s capital campaign efforts and principal gift strategy while providing strategic direction for the overall advancement program. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will directly supervise the Vice President of Development, who retains primary responsibility for annual fundraising operations and execution. Together, the department currently raises over $9 million annually.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Executive Leadership, Governance, & Institutional Growth
- Serve as a key strategic advisor to the President & CEO in advancing the McCallum Theatre's long-term vision, institutional growth, campus expansion, and philanthropic priorities.
- Work closely with the President & CEO, Board leadership, and senior staff to align organizational priorities, resources, and advancement strategies in support of the Theatre's future growth and sustainability.
- Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board of Trustees on advancement matters, fostering trustee engagement, governance excellence, and strategic alignment with organizational goals.
- Staff and support the Governance, Development, and Campaign Committees, helping recruit, engage, and develop high-impact trustees, volunteer leaders, and campaign advocates.
- Lead the development of long-range advancement and campaign strategies that support the Theatre's capital, programmatic, and institutional growth objectives.
- Design campaign governance structures, volunteer leadership models, and organizational engagement strategies that maximize participation and campaign success.
- Engage and manage campaign counsel, feasibility consultants, and other external advisors to strengthen advancement planning and execution.
Development & Campaign Strategy
- Develop and lead long-range advancement and campaign strategies in partnership with the President & CEO, Vice President of Finance, senior leadership team, and Board leadership, while providing strategic direction and oversight for annual fundraising initiatives executed by the Vice President of Development.
- Provide strategic oversight of the Theatre's fundraising portfolio, ensuring alignment and integration among annual, major, planned, institutional, sponsorship, membership, and campaign giving programs.
- Guide the planning and execution of a transformational capital campaign, including readiness assessment, feasibility planning, campaign infrastructure development, volunteer leadership recruitment, donor strategy, and case-for-support creation.
- Build and strengthen the advancement infrastructure, systems, staffing model, and organizational capacity necessary to support sustained philanthropic growth and campaign success.
- Establish fundraising objectives, campaign benchmarks, and philanthropic growth targets that advance the Theatre's long-term institutional vision and financial sustainability.
Fundraising & External Relations
- Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects, securing transformational philanthropic investments in support of the Theatre's strategic priorities.
- Build and sustain meaningful relationships with trustees, donors, community leaders, foundations, and high-net-worth seasonal and full-time residents throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond.
- Serve as a visible ambassador for the McCallum Theatre within the philanthropic, civic, and performing arts communities.
- Collaborate with the President & CEO, Board leadership, and volunteer leaders to expand philanthropic support and strengthen donor engagement.
Financial Management & Reporting
- Oversee the Development department budget and monitor fundraising performance, revenue projections, and advancement outcomes.
- Provide regular reports to the President & CEO and Board of Trustees regarding fundraising results, advancement strategy, campaign progress, and key performance metrics.
- Ensure effective advancement operations, including prospect management, stewardship systems, and database integrity utilizing Tessitura.
- Partner with the Vice President of Finance to ensure accurate gift processing, reconciliation, reporting, and compliance with charitable giving regulations and best practices.
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing advancement team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and professional growth.
- Directly supervise the Vice President of Development and provide strategic leadership and oversight for all advancement functions.
- In partnership with the Vice President of Development, support the recruitment, evaluation, and professional development of advancement staff.
- Promote organizational values that support diversity, equity, inclusion, collegiality, and cross-departmental collaboration.
DESIRED TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The Chief Philanthropy Officer will be a strategic, collaborative, and visionary leader with a deep appreciation for the mission of the McCallum Theatre and the transformative power of the performing arts. This individual will bring the ability to articulate a compelling philanthropic vision that inspires donors, trustees, and community stakeholders to invest in the Theatre’s future and long-term impact. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills, coupled with the emotional intelligence, discretion, and composure necessary to lead effectively in a highly visible environment. An authentic passion for arts and culture, combined with sound judgment, diplomacy, and integrity, will be essential to building trust and credibility with major donors, Board members, and institutional partners. They will be a confident and collaborative leader who thrives in a dynamic organizational culture and values transparency, collegiality, creativity, and accountability. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to work effectively across departments and constituencies to foster a strong culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION
The ideal candidate will bring significant senior-level advancement leadership experience within a complex nonprofit, cultural, educational, or performing arts environment, including a demonstrated track record of leading high-performing fundraising teams and advancing ambitious philanthropic goals. Experience guiding major capital or comprehensive campaigns will be particularly valuable. The successful candidate will possess deep knowledge of major and principal gift strategy, donor cultivation, portfolio management, campaign planning, and volunteer leadership engagement. This individual will have a proven ability to identify, cultivate and steward a sustainable pipeline of philanthropic support while building meaningful relationships with donors, trustees, and community stakeholders. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will be an inspiring and collaborative leader with experience working closely with Boards of Trustees and senior executives to advance institutional priorities. Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and fundraising analytics capabilities are essential, including familiarity with advancement systems and data-driven fundraising strategies. Knowledge of the Coachella Valley philanthropic community, while not required, would be beneficial.
COMPENSATION
The annual salary range for this position is $300,000-350,000. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. A comprehensive and competitive benefits package will be provided.
TO APPLY
Candidates are invited to submit a resume and compelling letter of interest via Morris & Berger’swebsite.
