Howe-Lewis Seeking Chief Philanthropy Officer for the New York Philharmonic
October 25, 2017 – Howe-Lewis International has been selected by the New York Philharmonic to lead its search for a chief philanthropy officer.
Founded in 1842, the Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the U.S., and one of the oldest in the world. By the end of this season, the Philharmonic will have connected with up to 50 million music lovers through live concerts in New York City and on its worldwide tours and residencies, digital recording series, international broadcasts and as a major resource through its varied education programs.
The Philharmonic’s chief philanthropy officer is a member of its leadership team and an active participant in making strategic decisions that impact the orchestra, said Howe-Lewis. In partnership with the president and CEO, executive director, board of directors, and colleagues, the executive will be expected to create and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy to drive philanthropic support income. The individual will lead both annual and campaign efforts, and increase and diversify the donor base. The philanthropy officer will also work closely with the president and CEO and board to support and maximize their engagement in advancement. The executive reports to the newly-appointed president and CEO Deborah Borda, and will lead a team of 26.
Lois L. Lindauer Leads Philanthropy Search for Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island has retained Boston-based recruitment firm Lois L. Lindauer Searches to spearhead its hunt for a new vice president of philanthropy. Faith Eutsay is leading the assignment.
The Right Fit
The incoming executive must have a record in driving growth and success in advancement, preferably with a major cultural institution, the recruiting firm said. Proven ability to plan and implement a comprehensive advancement program and team and a track record of building/rebuilding programs and teams is also preferred. Familiarity with the New York philanthropic community and a genuine passion for the Philharmonic’s mission are also highly desired. In addition, the right candidate must be a polished communicator who is comfortable employing traditional and on-trend approaches in philanthropy, including digital/social media.
Founded in 1975, Howe-Lewis International is a boutique executive search firm based in New York City that serves the not-for-profit and healthcare sectors. Its clients represent a full range of education, cultural arts, healthcare, human services, membership and advocacy organizations. The firm is led by co-managing directors Patricia Anne Greco and Esther Rosenberg. Howe-Lewis is currently leading chief development officer searches for Los Angeles Master Chorale, Nuclear Threat Initiative, and Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Development Leaders
The field of advancement is an extension of development/fundraising. Over the past two decades, educational institutions and charitable groups have shifted toward more integrated models of collaboration between communications, marketing, branding and development. Advancement represents the full integration of these functions under a single leader, the chief advancement officer.
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According to recruiters who specialize in the non-profit sector, advancement talent is being groomed all around the field and within organizations that understand the direct connectivity between messaging and contributed revenue. The function is only relevant to the non-profit and education sectors. In a corporate setting, such executives are commonly referred to as chief development officers or a chief business development officer.
In general, the best training for such roles is experience. Industry conferences and summits can also help one learn benchmarking and best practices. And while the best fit for these roles ultimately depends on the culture of the organization, recruiters say that “tenacity and drive” are two traits always necessary for successful advancement and development officers.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
