Director, Development & Advancement
Job Description
Company Description Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), founded in 1971, is Michigan’s home for professional ballet and a recognized leader in contemporary and classical dance. Under the artistic direction of former San Francisco Ballet dancer James Sofranko, GRB has attracted world-class dancers and gained national and international visibility for its innovative repertoire. The Company presents a wide range of works from leading choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, offering audiences diverse and dynamic performances. GRB’s more than 30 professional dancers rehearse at the Meijer-Royce Center for Dance and perform at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre in the heart of Grand Rapids. The organization also operates a ballet school and Junior Company, providing high-quality dance education in a supportive environment for students ages 3 and up.
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Role Description At Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), the Advancement & Engagement Department is responsible for the revenue-generating and community-facing functions of the organization. The Director of Development & Advancement leads GRB’s fundraising efforts, building and sustaining relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners that support the company’s operating and capital priorities. Reporting to the Senior Director, Advancement & Engagement, the Director of Development & Advancement serves as a key member of GRB’s leadership team and is responsible for building and sustaining philanthropic support, with a primary focus on individual giving, major gifts, annual appeals, and donor stewardship. The role requires a relationship-driven, detail-oriented, and entrepreneurial fundraising professional who brings both strategic vision and hands-on capability to a dynamic performing arts environment.
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Qualifications
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- A passionate commitment to the Ballet’s mission, vision, and values as well as the role of arts organizations in general.
- Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- A minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional fundraising and development experience, including experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
- Proven success building and managing donor relationships and development strategies, including major gifts and annual giving programs.
- Experience working with a Board of Directors and/or a Development Committee (preferred).
- Strong financial management skills with experience in budget analysis, forecasting, and planning.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
- Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) platform(s).
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