Chief Development Officer

Los Angeles Ballet; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Los Angeles Ballet is seeking a Chief Development Officer to lead the fundraising function as the company scales its programming, talent development, and community engagement. The role reports to the Executive Director and partners with the artistic team and senior staff to shape a sustainable development strategy and modernize operations to support long-term growth.

The CDO will drive multi-year fundraising initiatives, build donor relations, and guide metrics-driven processes while balancing

Qualifications

• Experience leading development teams in arts organizations or nonprofits.
• Proven success in fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, and campaign management.

Responsibilities

• Direct the evolution of the Development department to align with near- and long-term goals.
• Shape fundraising strategy to support capacity building and growth initiatives.
• Partner with leadership, artistic team, and staff to drive sustainable progress.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

The client is seeking a Chief Development Officer to join its growth team and work closely with leadership, an artistic team, and dedicated staff. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Development Officer will direct the evolution of the Development department to align with the organization’s near- and long-term goals and support the company’s multi-year growth plan focused on programming, talent, community outreach, financial health, and overall organizational footprint.

In this role, the Chief Development Officer will help shape a more sophisticated approach to fundraising and development strategy as the organization transitions into a phase of capacity building, future planning, and long-term vision. The position is expected to contribute to improving development operations and processes, while supporting thoughtful, creative, and critical thinking across the organization to drive sustainable progress.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate strong leadership and partnership capabilities, with the ability to guide departmental evolution and collaborate effectively with senior stakeholders. The role will typically suit an experienced development leader who can balance strategic planning with execution, contributing to financial sustainability and growth by leveraging expertise and lived experience to strengthen operations and outcomes.