Director of Development

Louisville Ballet; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Medical, Dental Coverage

Paid Vacation and Time off

Retirement benefits

Job summary

MYArts in Madison is seeking a Development Director to lead the development strategy across MYArts, CTM, and MYC, and to guide donor engagement and major gifts initiatives.

You will partner with CTM and MYC leadership, set campaign plans, manage a donor portfolio, oversee grants, and steward relationships with foundations and sponsors, ensuring sustainable revenue and growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of development/fundraising experience, including data analysis for strategic planning and campaign execution.
• Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donor, individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
• Experience managing complex projects across multiple organizations or departments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement multi-year development strategies and annual fundraising plans for MYArts, CTM, and MYC.
• Establish giving campaigns, donor engagement plans, sponsorship strategies, and stewardship frameworks.
• Collaborate with the MYArts Executive Director and steering team to align fundraising strategies with organizational priorities.
• Provide guidance and oversight to CTM and MYC on campaign execution while ensuring alignment with MYArts’ strategic goals
• Manage MYArts’ donor portfolio, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
• Oversee grant writing, proposals, and reporting; provide strategy and editorial support for CTM and MYC as needed.
• Plan and execute donor recognition, stewardship events, and special fundraising initiatives.
• Track, analyze, and report fundraising metrics to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Serve as primary liaison for development coordination between MYArts, CTM, and MYC.
• Align development initiatives across organizations to ensure efficiency and maximize fundraising potential.
• Support partner organizations in building internal development capacity while leveraging MYArts’ shared resources.
• Represent MYArts in regional, community, and donor-facing events.
• Cultivate relationships with potential funders, sponsors, foundations, and government agencies.
• Act as a thought leader in youth arts philanthropy and advocate for MYArts’ CTM and MYC mission and vision.
• Oversee development-related administrative functions, including donor database management, reporting, and gift processing.
• Provide guidance to MYArts administrative coordinators in campaign execution and donor communications.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising practices, gift tracking, and reporting requirements.
• Provides guidance to execution of development strategies for CTM and MYC.
• Work setting: Primarily on-site at the MYArts facility, with flexibility for remote work as needed.
• Schedule: Monday – Friday with flexibility for evening or weekend donor events, community engagement, or partner support.

Skills

Donor relations

Fundraising strategy

Data analysis

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management or related field

Job description

Position Description

Shared Services – MYArts/MYC/CTM) Position Description

Date: Anticipated Start Date 10/1/2026 Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt Department: Development / Shared Services Reports To: MYArts Executive Director FLSA Status: Exempt Employment Classification:Full-Time,Benefits Eligible Supervisory Responsibility: Provides guidance to MYArts administrative coordinators; partners with CTM and MYC leadership and team on development strategy Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with experience Working Hours: Mon – Fri; flexibility required for events and donor engagement Benefits: Health, Medical, Dental Coverage; Generous Paid Vacation and Time off package; Retirement benefits

1. Position Summary

The Development Director is responsible for leading and owning the development strategy and execution for MYArts, while providing strategic development guidance and planning for partner organizations -Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM) and Madison Youth Choirs (MYC).

As a shared position, with MYArts serving as employer of record, the Development Director sets major gift and campaign strategy and builds the donor pipeline for all three organizations, working in partnership with CTM and MYC staff, who lead day-to-day execution for their respective organizations’ strategy.

The primary focus is major donor development, prospect identification and research, and data-informed fundraising analytics that drive contributed-revenue strategy across MYArts, CTM and MYC.

The Development Director serves as a highly visible representative of MYArts in the community, cultivating relationships with donors, foundations, sponsors, and stakeholders to ensure sustainable contributed revenue and organizational growth through execution of the development strategic plan of MYarts.

2. Essential Functions (with Focus Allocations)

2.1 Strategic Development Leadership – 40%

• Develop and implement multi-year development strategies and annual fundraising plans for MYArts, CTM, and MYC.

• Establish giving campaigns, donor engagement plans, sponsorship strategies, and stewardship frameworks.

• Collaborate with the MYArts Executive Director and steering team to align fundraising strategies with organizational priorities.

• Provide guidance and oversight to CTM and MYC on campaign execution while ensuring alignment with MYArts’ strategic goals

2.2 Fundraising Campaigns and Donor Engagement – 30%

• Manage MYArts’ donor portfolio, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual, corporate, and foundation supporters.

• Oversee grant writing, proposals, and reporting; provide strategy and editorial support for CTM and MYC as needed.

• Plan and execute donor recognition, stewardship events, and special fundraising initiatives for MYArts.

• Track, analyze, and report fundraising metrics to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.

2.3 Cross-Organizational Collaboration – 15%

• Serve as primary liaison for development coordination between MYArts, CTM, and MYC.

• Align development initiatives across organizations to ensure efficiency and maximize fundraising potential.

• Support partner organizations in building internal development capacity while leveraging MYArts’ shared resources.

2.4 Community Relations and Public Representation – 10%

• Represent MYArts in regional, community, and donor-facing events.

• Cultivate relationships with potential funders, sponsors, foundations, and government agencies.

• Act as a thought leader in youth arts philanthropy and advocate for MYArts’ CTM and MYC mission and vision.

2.5 Administrative Support and Oversight – 5%

• Oversee development-related administrative functions, including donor database management, reporting, and gift processing.

• Provide guidance to MYArts administrative coordinators in campaign execution and donor communications.

• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising practices, gift tracking, and reporting requirements.

• Provides guidance to execution of development strategies for CTM and MYC.

3. Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum 5 years of development/fundraising experience, including data analysis for strategic planning and campaign execution.

• Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donor, individual, corporate, and foundation donors.

• Experience managing complex projects across multiple organizations or departments.

• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution.

Preferred:

• Experience in nonprofit arts, youth-serving organizations, or education sectors.

• Experience leading development in shared-service or multi-organization environments.

• Familiarity with grant writing, sponsorships, and donor management systems.

• Knowledge of Madison-area arts, education, and community networks.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in nonprofit management, arts administration, business, or related field.

4. Supervisory and Decision Authority

• Provides strategic guidance and oversight to MYArts administrative staff executing development initiatives.

• Partners with CTM and MYC leadership to advise and support on development planning and execution.

• Leads development planning, strategy implementation, and donor engagement initiatives for MYArts.

• Collaborates with the Executive Director, steering team and Board of Directors on fundraising strategy, reporting, and major donor engagement.

5. Work Environment and Schedule

• Work setting: Primarily on-site at the MYArts facility, with flexibility for remote work as needed.

• Schedule: Monday – Friday with flexibility for evening or weekend donor events, community engagement, or partner support.

6. Compliance and Safety Responsibilities

• Adhere to MYArts policies, procedures, and ethical standards.

• Ensure safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for youth and all participants.

• Maintain compliance with organizational, legal, and ethical requirements.

• Report safety concerns, incidents, or facility issues as needed.

7. Physical Requirements

• Typical office and event work; may require travel to donor meetings, events, and partner sites.

8. Disclaimer

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not exhaustive. MYArts reserves the right to modify duties, schedules, and responsibilities as organizational needs evolve. Employment with MYArts is at-will and may be terminated by either party.