Associate Director, Development & Donor Engagement

Cleveland Theater Alliance; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

401(k)

Job summary

Cleveland Play House seeks an Associate Director of Development to lead donor engagement, stewardship, annual giving, sponsorship support, and a portfolio of individual donors. Reporting to the Director of Development, this role sits on the fundraising leadership team.

You will partner with the Director of Development to grow donors, plan campaigns, and coordinate events and partnerships. The position requires strong relationship-building, excellent communication, and readiness to work evenings

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 3 years of progressively responsible fundraising, development, relationship management, or nonprofit experience.
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining strong relationships with donors, clients, or community partners.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for performances, events, and donor activities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects ($1,000–$9,999), developing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
• Partner with the Director of Development to identify opportunities for donor growth and movement through the donor pipeline
• Represent Cleveland Play House at performances, donor events, and community gatherings
• Assist in planning and implementing annual giving strategies and campaigns
• Support donor acquisition, retention, renewal, and upgrade efforts
• Track and evaluate annual giving initiatives and recommend improvements
• Lead donor stewardship efforts to ensure donors receive timely, meaningful recognition
• Coordinate donor benefit fulfillment, recognition programs, and stewardship communications
• Assist in the creation of impact reports, donor updates, and stewardship materials
• Lead or support corporate sponsorship and partnership activities including cultivation, proposal development, benefit fulfillment, and stewardship
• Coordinate sponsor recognition and activation opportunities
• Plan and execute donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising events
• Coordinate donor receptions, opening-night activities, and special gatherings
• Work with Artistic, Marketing, Production, and Education teams to create meaningful donor experiences
• Support Development Committee and other fundraising-related volunteer activities
• Assist trustees and volunteers engaged in fundraising efforts

Skills

Donor relations

Communication

Project management

Event planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM platforms

Job description

Cleveland Play House seeks an Associate Director of Development to lead donor engagement, stewardship, annual giving, sponsorship support, and a portfolio of individual donors. Reporting to the Director of Development, this role sits on the fundraising leadership team.

You will partner with the Director of Development to grow donors, plan campaigns, and coordinate events and partnerships. The position requires strong relationship-building, excellent communication, and readiness to work evenings