Senior Institutional Giving Manager

Louisville Ballet; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisville Ballet is seeking a Manager of Institutional Giving to lead fundraising from corporations, foundations, and government entities. This role oversees the full grant and sponsorship cycle, develops compelling proposals, maintains donor relationships, and ensures timely reporting.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer with strategic fundraising sense, excellent project management, and the ability to translate CIM’s artistic and educational impact into support, while building durable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3–5 years of institutional fundraising experience.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication.
• Proven success developing grant proposals, letters of inquiry, sponsorship proposals, and funder reports.
• Strong prospect research, project management, organizational, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to secure, renew, and increase support from corporations, foundations, and government funders.
• Manage a portfolio of institutional funders and cultivate new opportunities aligned with CIM’s priorities.
• Write clear, compelling proposals, sponsorship materials, reports, and other fundraising communications; lead the full grant process.
• Track portfolio activity, revenue, retention, and other metrics; report results and adjust strategies.
• Collaborate with CIM staff to translate institutional priorities into fundable opportunities.

Skills

Grant writing

Exceptional writing

Relationship building

Project management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM

Grant mgmt system

Fundraising tech

Job description

Job Summary

The Manager of Institutional Giving is responsible for the strategic management and growth of approximately $600,000 in annual institutional revenue from corporations, foundations, and government entities. The position manages the full grant and sponsorship cycle—from prospect research and cultivation through proposal development, solicitation, stewardship, reporting, and renewal—and supports CIM’s annual fund, scholarships, programs, special projects, campaigns, and events.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and strategic fundraiser who can translate CIM’s artistic, educational, and community impact into compelling cases for support. This position requires strong relationship-building skills, sound judgment, initiative, organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with accuracy and professionalism.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Institutional Fundraising & Relationship Management

• Develop and implement strategies to secure, renew, and increase support from corporations, foundations, and government funders.
• Manage a portfolio of institutional funders and prospects, identifying and cultivating new opportunities aligned with CIM’s priorities.
• Build relationships with funders and leverage the networks of CIM Trustees, leadership, faculty, and staff to advance fundraising opportunities.
• Develop customized corporate sponsorship proposals, negotiate terms, and coordinate fulfillment of sponsorship benefits.
• Develop and implement effective stewardship strategies that strengthen funder relationships and encourage continued support.

Grant Writing & Portfolio Management

• Lead the full grant process, including prospect research, opportunity assessment, proposal and letter-of-inquiry development, submission, reporting, and renewal.
• Write clear, compelling, sophisticated, and audience-specific proposals, sponsorship materials, reports, and other fundraising communications.
• Work with program staff, faculty, leadership, and finance to gather information, develop budgets, articulate outcomes, and ensure accuracy.
• Maintain the institutional giving calendar, funder records, and grant files, ensuring all submissions and reports are complete, accurate, and on time.
• Monitor philanthropic trends and funding opportunities and recommend prospects and strategies that align with CIM’s goals.

Collaboration & Performance

• Partner with Development colleagues and staff across CIM to translate institutional priorities into fundable opportunities.
• Track portfolio activity, revenue, retention, and other key metrics and recommend strategies to improve results.
• Maintain strong knowledge of CIM’s programs, priorities, and impact and represent CIM professionally at meetings, concerts, events, and community activities.

Education, Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional fundraising, grant writing, development, nonprofit communications, or a related field; arts or higher education experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing and submitting successful grant proposals, letters of inquiry, sponsorship proposals, and funder reports.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information into compelling cases for support.
• Strong prospect research, project management, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple deadlines, projects, and relationships with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong strategic thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build productive relationships with funders, colleagues, leadership, faculty, Trustees, and external partners.
• Self-directed and collaborative, with sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and a strong sense of ownership.
• Working knowledge of classical music and/or experience in a performing arts or higher education environment is a plus.
• Experience with CRM, grant management system, or fundraising technology preferred.

Job Competencies

• Decision Making – Able to reach decisions, take thoughtful approach when considering options, seeks input from others, makes difficult decisions.
• Initiative – Takes action, seeks new opportunities, strives to see projects to completion.
• Problem Solving - Strives to understand contributing factors, works to resolves complex situations.
• Results Driven – Defines appropriate goals, works toward achieving goals, articulates vision and steps for achievement.

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivator; Must be able to take initiative to meet deadlines in a time sensitive environment with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Energetic, flexible and adaptable, able to multi-task and work independently in an environment with competing deadlines.
• Ability to work well under pressure; driven by an internal sense of urgency and will to succeed.
• Focuses on exceptional customer service.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

• Professional working environment.
• Position requires occasional lifting up to 20 pounds, perhaps once per week.
• Position involves occasional driving to concerts and other events outside of office (1-3 times per month, depending on time of year).
• Evenings and weekends may be required for events.

Direct reports

N/A