Chief Development Officer

Center Theatre Group; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Center Theatre Group in the United States is seeking a Chief Development Officer to lead a comprehensive fundraising program aligned with the theatre's mission and priorities. You will partner with the Managing Director/CEO, Artistic Director, and senior leaders to cultivate a sustainable culture of philanthropy and transformative gifts.

You will oversee major gifts, foundations, government and corporate relations, and campaigns, guiding a team of about 20.

Job description

The client seeks a Chief Development Officer to conceptualize, organize, and implement a comprehensive, strategic fundraising program aligned with its mission and strategic priorities. The Chief Development Officer will serve as a thought partner to the Managing Director/CEO and will collaborate closely with the Artistic Director, along with artistic leadership, senior administrators, the Board of Directors, and volunteer leaders. The role focuses on building a sustainable culture of philanthropy, cultivating transformative gifts, and elevating and supporting the organization’s mission.

The Chief Development Officer will lead and coordinate development strategy across key functional areas, including individual major and principal gifts; foundation, government, and corporate relations; and campaign management. The position is expected to partner across the organization to strengthen fundraising effectiveness and ensure development priorities are integrated with overall program goals. The Chief Development Officer will lead a team of approximately 20 individuals supporting these areas.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success developing and executing fundraising strategies, building cross-functional partnerships, and advancing organizational priorities through philanthropy. The role requires strong leadership, judgment, and relationship-building skills, along with the ability to work effectively with executive leaders, artistic stakeholders, and board and volunteer partners. The Chief Development Officer is expected to guide the development organization toward sustained growth and impact in support of The client’s theatre and community-focused work.