Associate Director of Giving and Signature Events

Why You Should Apply:

Joining Cincinnati Ballet means becoming part of a prestigious institution with a rich history and a forward-thinking approach to the art of dance. You'll have the opportunity to collaborate with some of the industry's most skilled and creative minds, contributing to a diverse array of performances and educational programs that make a real impact on the community. Be part of our mission to inspire and engage audiences locally and globally and help shape the future of dance.

Position Summary

Cincinnati Ballet is excited to offer an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic and experienced fundraising professional to join our Development Department as the Associate Director of Giving and Signature Events. This leadership role is integral to advancing Cincinnati Ballet's mission, responsible for driving individual giving efforts and overseeing high-profile fundraising events. This role involves leading the organization’s annual giving strategy, managing a portfolio of individual donors, and ensuring the success of signature events that align with Cincinnati Ballet’s mission and vision. The Associate Director cultivates and strengthens relationships with donors, event leaders, sponsors, and volunteers while achieving fundraising goals. Collaborating closely with the Vice President of Philanthropy, Board members, volunteers, and staff from all departments, this individual will ensure effective event logistics, seamless communication, and alignment with Cincinnati Ballet’s brand. The position demands strong organizational, communication, and strategic fundraising skills to maintain and expand donor support and contribute to the overall success of the organization’s mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of high-profile fundraising events, including conceptualization, budgeting, and execution, ensuring alignment with Cincinnati Ballet’s brand and vision.
• In collaboration with the Vice President of Philanthropy, set fundraising targets for special events and develop and maintain a prospect portfolio for each major ballet event.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with event leaders, sponsors, volunteers, and guests, enhancing connections between the Ballet and its supporters while achieving revenue goals.
• Direct comprehensive internal and external communication efforts and effectively collaborate with production, operations, and artistic teams to execute event logistics.
• Personally manage relationships and solicit donations ranging from $1 to $4,999. Perform regular outreach to prospective and current donors through phone calls and email correspondence.
• Prepare communication materials, including background documents, gift request letters, proposals, and impact reports.
• Track all interactions with individual giving donors in the Tessitura database, and collaborate with the development team to identify individual prospects for general operating support and targeted programmatic funding.
• Conduct prospect solicitation briefings with senior staff and key solicitors, preparing research and talking points for donor visits and debriefing after visits to produce call reports and develop strategies for next steps.
• Lead assigned cultivation events and participate in signature event fundraising initiatives, such as the Nutcracker Luncheon.
• Serve as a representative of Cincinnati Ballet at performances and donor functions, fostering long-term relationships with donors, Board members, volunteers, and event leaders.
• Develop and manage communication strategies for both internal and external audiences related to fundraising events, ensuring consistent messaging and alignment with the organization’s mission.
• Work with production, operations, and artistic teams to ensure seamless execution of event logistics and alignment with event vision, and collaborate with the marketing team to design event details and promotional materials.
• Develop and track detailed budgets and timelines for fundraising events, ensuring goals are met while maintaining high-quality execution and effective project management.

Key Professional Experience:

• Passion for Cincinnati Ballet’s mission and programs.
• Exceptional writing skills required for donor communication, proposals, and event materials.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze, organize, and synthesize data to enhance the development department's planning and decision-making.
• Independent and motivated manager who can balance multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional and effective communication with donors, Board members, and patrons.
• Discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive information.
• An interest in continually learning and applying best practices for fundraising.
• A professional appearance as a forward-facing representative of Cincinnati Ballet.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Experience with Tessitura or similar CRM systems is a plus.

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a related field is preferred, but equivalent experience in fundraising or event management may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Additional professional certifications in fundraising or nonprofit management may be a plus.

Expected Work Hours and Travel:

• Must be able to work a highly flexible schedule, including weekends and some evenings, depending on events and the performance schedule. Hours will change seasonally.
• Occasional travel within the greater Cincinnati area for conferences, events, or donor meetings.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Candidates must be willing to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, obligations, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

AAP/EEO Statement:

Cincinnati Ballet is an equal opportunity employer, providing fair and equal treatment to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identification, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

At Cincinnati Ballet, boundless creativity! We believe every dancer, dreamer, and doer brings something extraordinary to our organization, regardless of background, ability, or pointe shoe size. We provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identification, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. We invite you to join us!