Director of Development

Central City Opera•Wheat Ridge, CO

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 position manages the day-to-day operations of the Development Department 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 are executed successfully and meet financial goals. The role supervises the Special Events Manager and Development Associate and contributes to growing the donor pipeline that sustains the company and supports its upcoming Century Campaign. Central City Opera is a professional opera company founded in 1932. Its annual summer opera festival takes place in Central City, Colorado, and the organization owns and maintains 28 Victorian-era properties, including its 1878 opera house. The organization’s mission is to enrich lives and communities through performances and preservation of its historic properties.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or an 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.
Proficiency with Raiser's Edge NXT or other CRM/donor database software.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
Availability to work evening and weekend events as required.
Excellent phone, email, and in-person service skills, with a patron-centric and customer-focused approach.
Strong organization and attention to detail, with 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.
Amenability to fluctuating work schedules during busy periods, including the summer festival.
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, coordinating donor assignments and solicitations.
Strategize and produce fundraising appeals throughout the year with the Senior Director of Development, Managing Director, and Marketing and Communications team.
Coordinate solicitations through a shared calendar and obtain required approval before soliciting Century Campaign donors at the $7,500-and-above level.
Oversee donor membership and benefit levels, benefit fulfillment, acknowledgements, gift summary letters, and annual fund stewardship communications.
Collaborate with the Senior Director of Development to upgrade annual fund donors to major-gift levels; upgraded gifts are credited to both positions.
Participate in the revenue team with Marketing and Box Office, coordinate campaigns and patron outreach, and work with Patron Services and ticketing staff to identify prospective donors among ticket buyers and subscribers.
Establish and track annual fund performance metrics, including retention, renewal and acquisition rates, average gift size, and progress toward goal; report results regularly to the Senior Director of Development.
Direct the Development Associate in annual fund strategies, renewal schedules, donor communications, and stewardship touchpoints.
Set fundraising goals, strategies, 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, collaborating 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-and-above solicitation level led by the Senior Director.
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 Raiser's Edge NXT and Spektrix, including the transition to Spektrix, gift coding, fund and campaign structures, data standards, and reporting.
Work 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.
Oversee the Development Associate's work as staff liaison to the Central City Opera Guild and its annual events, including 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.
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 as assigned by the Senior Director of Development.