Director of Development

Central City Opera•Wheat Ridge, CO

10d•$65,000 - $75,000

About The Position

Central City Opera seeks a Director of Development to lead its annual fund and calendar of fundraising and stewardship events. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and working closely with the Managing Director, this role oversees the Development Department’s day-to-day operations and is responsible for meeting annual contributed revenue goals set by the Senior Director of Development. Revenue sources include individual giving, membership, appeals, sponsorships, grants, and special events. The Director manages a portfolio of annual fund donors, oversees donor acknowledgements and benefit fulfillment, and ensures that signature events—including the Theatre of Dreams Gala, the Flower Girl Presentation & Yellow Rose Ball, and Festival Opening Night Dinners—are executed effectively and meet their financial goals. The Director supervises the Special Events Manager and Development Associate, and helps grow the donor pipeline to sustain the company and support its upcoming Century Campaign.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
At least 5–7 years of fundraising or development experience, 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.
Proficiency with Raiser's Edge NXT or other CRM/donor database software.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
Excellent phone, email, and in-person service, with a patron-centric and customer-focused approach.
Strong organization and attention to detail, including the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to motivate and inspire through writing.
Ability to establish, maintain, and enhance interpersonal relationships and coordinate and manage volunteers.
Ability to maintain poise and professionalism in all circumstances.
Analytical ability to use data to track progress and improve results.
Ability to generate original thinking and creative solutions.
Ability to accommodate fluctuating schedules during busy periods, including the summer festival, and to work evening and weekend events as required.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ability to drive to Central City and other event locations; valid driver's license.
Ability to lift 30 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Spektrix.
Passion for opera and the arts.
Experience working with caterers, venues, or bar service.

Responsibilities

Plan, implement, and evaluate the annual fund program and meet 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 of $7,500 and above, coordinating donor assignments and solicitation responsibilities.
Strategize and produce fundraising appeals throughout the year with development, management, and marketing colleagues, including year-end, Colorado Gives Day, and summer Festival appeals; coordinate solicitations on a shared calendar and obtain required approval before soliciting Century Campaign donors at the $7,500+ level.
Oversee donor membership and benefit levels, benefit fulfillment, acknowledgements, and gift summary letters; lead annual fund donor stewardship communications.
Contribute to shared revenue targets with Marketing and Box Office, coordinate campaigns and patron outreach, and work with Patron Services and ticketing staff to identify ticket buyers and subscribers with giving potential.
Establish and track annual fund performance metrics, including donor retention, renewal and acquisition rates, average gift size, and progress to goal; report results to the Senior Director of Development.
Direct the Development Associate in implementing annual fund strategies, renewal schedules, donor communications, and stewardship touchpoints.
Set fundraising goals, strategy, and budgets for the annual calendar of fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events in partnership with the Senior Director of Development and Special Events Manager.
Recruit and cultivate event chairs and volunteer committees, partnering with the Special Events Manager on committee management.
Build donor pyramids for major events with the Senior Director of Development; help secure sponsorships, event donations, and in-kind contributions below the $7,500 threshold.
Supervise the Special Events Manager, review event budget-to-actuals, and produce post-event financial and outcome reports.
Serve as day-to-day contact with ZIM Consultants for assigned grant requests; coordinate applications and reports, track deadlines, gather program and financial information, and ensure timely submission.
Manage donor databases, including Raiser's Edge NXT and Spektrix and the transition to Spektrix; oversee gift coding, fund and campaign structures, data standards, and reporting.
Supervise, train, and support the Development Associate and Special Events Manager, including oversight of the Development Associate’s staff-liaison work with the Central City Opera Guild and its annual events.
Manage day-to-day department budgets and expense tracking within the overall budget set by the Senior Director of Development; regularly review budget-to-actual status.
Work with the 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 assigned by the Senior Director of Development.