Chief Development & Fundraising Officer

Cleveland Theater Alliance; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision

Paid vacation

Holidays

401(k)

Parking

Job summary

Cleveland Play House seeks a Director of Development to serve as its chief fundraising strategist and development leader, reporting to the Managing Director and serving on the senior leadership team. This role plans and implements comprehensive fundraising programs that support CPH's mission, artistic ambitions, and financial goals.

Responsibilities include establishing revenue goals, growing major gifts, managing donor portfolios, and collaborating with trustees and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years of fundraising experience.
• Proven success securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Strong relationship-building and donor cultivation skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising strategies.
• Establish contributed revenue goals in partnership with the Managing Director and Finance team.
• Grow major gifts, institutional support, sponsorships, annual giving, and campaign initiatives.
• Provide revenue forecasting and fundraising analysis.
• Manage a portfolio of 75–100 donor prospects ($10,000+).
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal donors.
• Coordinate with trustees and volunteers on major gift cultivation and solicitation.
• Prepare donor strategies, briefing materials, proposals, and stewardship plans.
• Develop strategies for foundation, government, and corporate support.
• Manage relationships with institutional funders and corporate partners.
• Identify new institutional funding opportunities aligned with priorities.
• Oversee annual giving programs and donor communications.
• Strengthen donor retention, renewal, and upgrade strategies.
• Collaborate on fundraising messaging with Marketing and Communications.
• Support Development Committee activities; foster a donor-centered culture.
• Supervise and mentor development staff; establish goals and accountability.

Skills

Relationship-building

Donor cultivation

Communication

Presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Cleveland Play House seeks a Director of Development to serve as its chief fundraising strategist and development leader, reporting to the Managing Director and serving on the senior leadership team. This role plans and implements comprehensive fundraising programs that support CPH's mission, artistic ambitions, and financial goals.

Responsibilities include establishing revenue goals, growing major gifts, managing donor portfolios, and collaborating with trustees and volunteers.