Chief Development Officer

Ballet Arkansas; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ballet Arkansas seeks a Chief Development Officer to lead all fundraising and development activities from its Little Rock, AR campus. This senior role oversees annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation support, and special events.

The CDO will cultivate donors, collaborate with the Executive and Artistic Director, and ensure data accuracy, compliance, and robust revenue forecasting to advance the organization’s artistic and community impact.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated philanthropy and fundraising experience.
• Proven ability to craft compelling proposals and donor messaging.
• Experience with annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Strong budgeting and reporting capabilities.
• Ability to manage donors, boards, and partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead Ballet Arkansas’s comprehensive fundraising strategy and campaigns.
• Cultivate and steward donors; build relationships with board and stakeholders.
• Prepare development reports and revenue forecasts for leadership.
• Oversee development budget and staff/contractors.
• Represent organization at events to advance philanthropy and visibility.

Skills

Donor stewardship

Fundraising strategy

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management or related field

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Company Description

Ballet Arkansas is ranked among the Top 75 Ballet Companies in America and is recognized as the leading producer of dance programming in the region. Its world-class performances and education programs have reached more than half a million Arkansans, reflecting a strong community impact and regional presence. Each year, Ballet Arkansas presents a dynamic repertory that includes beloved classics, masterworks of American dance, and premieres by innovative choreographers. The organization engages an audience of more than 50,000 annually, offering a vibrant, mission-driven environment for arts professionals. Team members join a collaborative organization committed to artistic excellence, education, and community engagement.

Role Description

The Chief Development Officer is a full-time, on-site role based in Little Rock, AR, responsible for leading and executing Ballet Arkansas’s comprehensive fundraising strategy. This role oversees all development functions, including annual giving campaigns, major gifts, planned giving initiatives, corporate and foundation support, and special events. Day-to-day responsibilities include cultivating and stewarding donors, building and maintaining strong relationships with board members and key stakeholders, and preparing development reports and revenue forecasts. The Chief Development Officer will collaborate closely with the Executive and Artistic Director to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities and strategic plans. Additional responsibilities include managing the development budget, supervising development staff or contractors, ensuring accurate donor data and compliance, and representing Ballet Arkansas at performances, programs, and community events to advance philanthropy and visibility.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in philanthropy and fundraising, including Planned Giving and Annual Giving, with a track record of securing and growing contributed revenue.
• Proficiency in Strategic Planning and Budgeting, with the ability to align development goals with organizational strategy and manage resources responsibly.
• Strong relationship-building and donor stewardship skills, including experience working with individuals, corporations, foundations, and community partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling cases for support, proposals, and donor messaging.
• Experience managing or overseeing development operations, including CRM/donor databases, reporting, and compliance with ethical and legal fundraising standards.
• Proven leadership and team collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership, board members, staff, and artists.
• Comprehensive understanding of inner workings of professional dance/performing arts organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (such as Nonprofit Management, Arts Administration, Business, Communications, or similar) or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Background or strong interest in the performing arts or cultural organizations, and willingness to attend evenings/weekends events as required.