About Tafelmusik
Tafelmusik is a world-renowned baroque orchestra and chamber choir revered for dynamic, engaging, and soulful performances that broaden access to classical music. Performing on instruments and in styles appropriate to the era, Tafelmusik has performed in more than 350 cities in 32 countries. Its extensive discography on the Sony, CBC Records, Analekta and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNOs and numerous international recording prizes. From a vibrant home season in Toronto, to international tours, award-winning recordings, innovative collaborations, and inspiring education programs, Tafelmusik is a musical powerhouse with a reputation for thrilling and delighting audiences.
Strategic Context
Tafelmusik is entering an exciting phase of renewal and growth. As the organization prepares for its milestone 50th anniversary in 2028/29, it is investing in initiatives that will deepen audience engagement, diversify its donor base, and strengthen its artistic and educational impact.
Philanthropy is central to achieving these goals. The Senior Development Officer plays a critical role in building a broad and loyal base of support through annual and monthly giving, stewarding the Tafelmusik donor community, and providing meaningful donor experiences that build long-term engagement.
This position is ideally suited for a development professional eager to contribute to an internationally recognized cultural organization, and to grow within a high-performing, collaborative fundraising team that values creativity, relationship building, and measurable results.
Position Summary
The Senior Development Officer (SDO) is a vital member of Tafelmusik’s Development team, responsible for cultivating meaningful relationships with mid-level individual donors, foundations and corporate supporters to secure philanthropic and sponsorship revenue. Through a donor-centred approach, the SDO will deepen engagement, steward existing supporters, and build a strong pipeline toward major and planned giving—ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of Tafelmusik’s artistic and education programs.
Reporting to the Co-Directors of Development and the Executive Director, the SDO plays a leadership role in advancing annual giving strategy, enhancing donor stewardship, and contributing to team-wide revenue goals.
Key Responsibilities
Donor & Portfolio Management
- Manage and grow a portfolio of 100-125 qualified individual, family foundation and corporate donors and prospects, in the $1,500-24,000 range.
- Develop and implement personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to meet or exceed annual revenue targets.
- Support pipeline growth by identifying new prospects and upgrading existing relationships.
- Create individualized donor engagement plans, proposals, impact reports, and impact updates.
- Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, data integrity, prospect tracking, and Moves Management in Tessitura.
- Conduct regular donor meetings, calls, and stewardship activities, and represent Tafelmusik at donor cultivation and recognition events.
- Work closely with the Executive Director, Artistic Co-Directors, and senior development colleagues to advance priority donor and sponsor relationships.
- Lead stewardship and recognition efforts for corporate partners, ensuring partnership value and long-term alignment.
Fundraising Communications
- Draft compelling fundraising materials including proposals, case statements, annual reports, stewardship reports, donor briefings, and tailored correspondence.
- Prepare customized pitch decks and proposals to support the acquisition of new sponsors and renewal of existing ones.
- Maintain timely and accurate records of donor interactions, gift tracking, and strategic moves management in Tessitura.
Team Contribution
- Share best practices, insights, and ideas that strengthen Tafelmusik’s donor engagement and fundraising outcomes.
- Support special projects and events that advance the organization’s fundraising and profile.
Skills & Qualifications
- 5 years of progressive fundraising experience, ideally in the arts, culture, or nonprofit sector.
- Demonstrated success meeting stretch goals and managing donor relationships through all stages of the donor cycle.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to build authentic relationships.
- Superior writing and communication skills, with experience preparing donor proposals, reports, and stewardship materials.
- Strong organizational and project management abilities; comfortable balancing multiple deadlines and donor priorities.
- Proficiency in Tessitura or a similar CRM/donor database; attention to detail in tracking activities and reporting outcomes.
- Strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and a collaborative approach to team dynamics.
- Passion for music and the performing arts, and a strong alignment with Tafelmusik’s mission and values.
Tafelmusik seeks team members who actively participate in and meaningfully contribute to the organization’s ongoing work to create a culture of belonging — rooted in equity, diversity and inclusion — and who apply EDI principles within their scope of work.
Remuneration and benefits
Salary range $75,000-$85,000 commensurate with experience, plus a competitive benefits and vacation package. Some hybrid work arrangements can be negotiated. The successful candidate will be expected to work some evenings and weekends, including attendance at concerts and special events.
How to Apply
Tafelmusik is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our working culture and in our community. We welcome and encourage applications from qualified candidates of all cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We invite candidates who may require assistance during the application/ hiring process to advise us, and we will work with them to meet their needs.
Please apply by submitting a letter of application and current CV, not later than December 5, 2025, to info@tafelmusik.org. In the reference line of the email, please include Senior Development Officer.
We thank all candidates for their applications; however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.