Director of Development

OPERA America, Inc.; Wheat Ridge (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

403(b) Retirement Plan

Sick time and PTO

Year-round schedule flexibility

Job summary

Central City Opera (CCO) seeks a Director of Development to lead the annual fund and the calendar of fundraising and stewardship events.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and working closely with the Managing Director, the Director of Development is responsible for the day‑to‑day operations of the Development Department and for meeting the annual contributed revenue goals, set by the Senior Director of Development, from individual giving, membership, appeals, sponsorships, grants,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of experience.
• 5–7 years fundraising or development experience.
• Experience supervising volunteers or staff.
• Proficient with Raiser's Edge NXT; familiarity with Spektrix a plus.
• Proficient in MS Office; strong communication skills; willingness to evening/weekend events.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual fund program and meet revenue goals.
• Cultivate and upgrade annual fund donors.
• Plan and execute fundraising appeals year-round.
• Oversee donor memberships, acknowledgments and benefits.
• Supervise Development Associate and Special Events Manager.
• Manage donor database and reporting; ensure accurate gift processing.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Box Office, and Guild.

Skills

Fundraising

Annual fund

Event planning

Volunteer management

Team supervision

Communication

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Raiser's Edge NXT

Spektrix

MS Office

Job description

Reports To: Senior Director of Development

Supervises: Development Associate and Special Events Manager

Classification: Full-time, exempt

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm (early mornings, evenings, and weekends often needed, especially before and during the summer festival)

Location: Administrative Office: 4875 Ward Road, Wheat Ridge, CO (frequent commuting to Central City during Summer Festival and other events as needed)

Application Deadline: For initial interview scheduling, please apply by November 20, 2026; the position will remain posted until filled.

COMPANY

Founded in 1932, Central City Opera House Association ("CCOHA", "CCO", "Central City Opera") is the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country and is renowned for exquisite world‑class productions, a robust young artist training program, creative education activities, and community engagement. Our annual summer opera festival takes place at 8,500 feet above sea level in the Colorado mountain town of Central City, only 35 miles west of Denver, where the company owns and maintains 28 Victorian‑era properties, including the intimate 550‑seat jewel box opera house built in 1878.

CCO's Mission is to honor and sustain the pioneering spirit of our Colorado history by continuing to enrich lives and communities through the power of shared performances and preservation of our historic properties. Our Vision is to use all our assets to create an exciting hub for artists and community that paves a new path forward for how cultural organizations can operate with economic and cultural vibrancy.

POSITION SUMMARY

Central City Opera (CCO) seeks a Director of Development to lead the company's annual fund and its calendar of fundraising and stewardship events. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and working closely with the Managing Director, the Director of Development is responsible for the day‑to‑day operations of the Development Department and for meeting the annual contributed revenue goals, set by the Senior Director of Development, from individual giving, membership, appeals, sponsorships, grants, and special events. This role manages a portfolio of annual fund donors, oversees donor acknowledgement and benefit fulfillment, and ensures CCO's signature events – including the Theatre of Dreams Gala, the Flower Girl Presentation & Yellow Rose Ball, and Festival Opening Night Dinners – are executed with excellence and meet their financial goals. The Director of Development supervises the Special Events Manager, who leads event logistics, and the Development Associate, who serves as CCO's staff liaison to the Central City Opera Guild and manages gift entry, acknowledgements, and benefit fulfillment. This position plays a key role in growing the donor pipeline that will sustain CCO's operations and support the upcoming Century Campaign.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Annual Fund

Plan, implement, and evaluate CCO's annual fund program, with responsibility for meeting the annual fund revenue goal set by the Senior Director of Development.

Partner with the Senior Director of Development to identify, cultivate, and upgrade annual fund donors with major‑gift potential ($7,500 and above), with donor assignments and solicitation responsibilities coordinated between the two positions.

In partnership with the Senior Director of Development, the Managing Director, and the Marketing and Communications team, strategize and produce fundraising appeals throughout the year, including year‑end, Colorado Gives Day, and summer Festival appeals. Coordinate all solicitations through a shared calendar with the Senior Director of Development, whose approval is required before soliciting donors at the $7,500+ level during the Century Campaign. All Campaign initiatives are led by the Senior Director.

Oversee donor membership and benefit levels, benefit fulfillment, acknowledgements, and gift summary letters carried out by the Development Associate, and lead stewardship communications for annual fund donors.

Work jointly with the Senior Director of Development to identify and upgrade annual fund donors to major gift levels ($7,500+); upgraded gifts are credited to both positions.

Serve as an active member of CCO's revenue team with Marketing and Box Office, contributing to shared revenue targets and coordinating campaigns and patron outreach; work with Patron Services and ticketing staff to identify ticket buyers and subscribers with giving potential and welcome them into a relationship with CCO as donors.

Establish and track annual fund performance metrics, including donor retention, renewal and acquisition rates, average gift size, and progress to goal, and report results regularly to the Senior Director of Development.

Direct the Development Associate in carrying out annual fund strategies, including renewal schedules, donor communications, and stewardship touchpoints that move donors along clear giving pathways from first gift to sustained and increased support.

Special Events

In partnership with the Senior Director of Development and Special Events Manager, set fundraising goals, strategy, and budgets for CCO's annual calendar of fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events, including:

Theatre of Dreams Gala

Flower Girl Presentation & Yellow Rose Ball

Festival Opening Night Dinners (one for each production each season)

Dream Events and other donor experiences

Haunted History Tour

Donor receptions and other cultivation and stewardship events associated with the Summer Festival

Recruit and cultivate event chairs and volunteer committees, working with the Special Events Manager on committee management.

Build donor pyramids for major events with the Senior Director of Development, who solicits event gifts and sponsorships of $7,500 and above; help to secure sponsorships, event donations, and in‑kind contributions up to this level.

Supervise the Special Events Manager, who leads event logistics including vendor relationships, RSVPs, seating, and on‑site execution; review event budget‑to‑actuals and produce post‑event financial and outcome reports.

Grants

Serve as CCO's day‑to‑day contact with ZIM Consultants on a portfolio of grant requests specified by the Senior Director of Development, coordinating applications and reports, including tracking deadlines, gathering program and financial information, and ensuring timely submission.

Support the Senior Director of Development, who leads major grant requests.

Operations

Manage the donor database (Raiser's Edge NXT and Spektrix), including the transition to Spektrix, gift coding and fund and campaign structures, data standards, and reporting; work directly with the Development Associate to ensure gifts are processed and coded accurately and on time.

Supervise, train, and support the Development Associate and Special Events Manager, including oversight of the Development Associate's work as staff liaison to the Central City Opera Guild and its annual events (Guild meetings, L'Esprit de Noël, Opera Teaser, and Planting Day).

Manage day‑to‑day department budget and expense tracking, including annual fund and event budgets, within the overall budget set by the Senior Director of Development; review "budget‑to‑actual" status regularly with the Senior Director.

Work with the CCO Accounting team on gift reconciliation, tracking, and allocation.

Represent Central City Opera at donor and volunteer events to deepen relationships and cultivate donors.

Complete other special projects and duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Development.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of experience and education;

A minimum of 5–7 years of experience in fundraising or development, with demonstrated success in annual giving and/or special events;

Experience managing volunteer committees and large‑scale fundraising events;

Demonstrated experience supervising employees, managing projects, or leading teams.

Proficient with Raiser's Edge NXT or other CRM/donor database software; familiarity with Spektrix a plus;

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and SharePoint;

Passion for opera and the arts strongly preferred;

Must be available to work evening/weekend events as required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Patron-centric and customer-focused, with excellent phone, email, and in‑person service;

Highly organized and detail‑oriented, with the ability to manage several projects and deadlines simultaneously;

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire through the written word;

Expert ability to establish, maintain, and enhance interpersonal relationships, including the ability to coordinate and manage volunteers;

Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances;

Analytical, with the ability to use data to track progress and improve results;

Displays original thinking and generates creative solutions;

Amenable to fluctuating work schedules during busy periods, including the summer festival;

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;

Experience working with caterers, venues, or bar service is an advantage;

Driving to Central City and other event locations required; ability to lift 30 pounds; valid driver's license.

BENEFITS

A comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage;

100% paid life insurance and long‑term disability insurance;

Sick time, paid time‑off for flexible personal use, and office holidays;

Year‑round work schedule flexibility to offset summer schedule;

403(b) Retirement Plan with immediate eligibility to contribute.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CCO is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and equitable work environment. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values and we are currently working to expand our capacities in these areas with a company‑wide understanding that this is an ongoing process that must be embedded into the fabric of the organization. We encourage candidates who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, otherwise-abled, and other underrepresented identities to apply. All applications will receive consideration for employment.

A comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage;

100% paid life insurance and long‑term disability insurance;

Sick time, paid time‑off for flexible personal use, and office holidays;

Year‑round work schedule flexibility to offset summer schedule;

403(b) Retirement Plan with immediate eligibility to contribute.