Director, Development & Advancement

Grand Rapids Ballet Co; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Grand Rapids Ballet Co is seeking an experienced Development Director to lead a comprehensive fundraising program in Grand Rapids, MI. You will work with senior leadership and the Board to cultivate major gifts, annual appeals, and donor stewardship while maintaining the organization’s on-brand communications.

You will manage donor records, develop budgets, and provide regular fundraising reports to the CEO and Board. Strong CRM, budgeting, and Excel skills are essential in this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3–5 years of professional fundraising and development experience, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Proven success building and managing donor relationships and development strategies, including major gifts and annual giving programs.
• Experience working with a Board of Directors and/or a Development Committee (preferred).
• Strong financial management skills with experience in budget analysis, forecasting, and planning.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) platforms.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to meet operating and capital goals.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors with board and senior leadership.
• Manage donor database, ensure accurate data entry, acknowledgments, and reporting.
• Develop the development budget and provide regular fundraising and financial reporting.
• Liaise with Board Development & Advancement Committee and coordinate meetings.
• Represent GRB with civic, philanthropic, and business communities to grow donor base.
• Supervise development staff/volunteers and foster a collaborative culture.
• Contribute to organizational strategy as part of Advancement & Engagement team.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Board engagement

CRM experience

Budget management

Communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management or related field

Tools

CRM platforms

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for GRB’s operating and capital goals, with a specific focus on growing individual giving, including major gifts, annual appeals, and donor stewardship.
• Work directly with the Senior Director, CEO, Artistic Director, and the Board of Directors to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward gifts to support GRB, while maintaining a consistent, on‑brand tone in communications to donors and patrons.
• Manage GRB’s donor database and gift records, ensuring accurate and timely data entry, acknowledgment, and reporting.
• Develop the organization’s development and advancement budget and provide regular fundraising and financial reporting to the CEO and Board.
• Serve as the staff liaison with the Board’s Development & Advancement Committee, recruiting members, creating meeting calendars and agendas, and providing support and direction to achieve established fundraising goals.
• Represent GRB externally with civic, philanthropic, and business communities to build and expand the organization’s base of donors and supporters.
• Supervise development staff and/or volunteers, as applicable, and foster a collaborative, mission‑aligned team culture.
• Contribute to organizational strategy and planning as a member of GRB’s Advancement & Engagement team.

Qualifications

• A passionate commitment to the Ballet’s mission, vision, and values as well as the role of arts organizations in general.
• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional fundraising and development experience, including experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
• Proven success building and managing donor relationships and development strategies, including major gifts and annual giving programs.
• Experience working with a Board of Directors and/or a Development Committee (preferred).
• Strong financial management skills with experience in budget analysis, forecasting, and planning.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) platform(s).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Position Requirements

• Full-time, plus evenings and weekends as necessary to attend Ballet performances and events.
• Occasional travel
• Valid driver’s license