APAP Career Center

The Senior Director of Development is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB) fundraising programs for operations, capital and endowment, with specific focus on growing the individual giving area, including major gifts, annual appeals, and donor stewardship. This position will be expected to meet and grow current contributed revenue goals, along with future special campaigns. The Senior Director works directly with the Executive Director, members of the Board of Directors, and key volunteers and staff to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward gifts to support the GRB, while directing the tone, focus and frequency of the organization’s on-brand donor-focused messaging as represented through communications to patrons, donors, volunteers, and GRB School families.

Position Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will bring the following qualifications:

• A minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience building and managing comprehensive development strategies for not-for-profit organizations; proven success in leading and motivating high-performing, collaborative teams of fundraising staff and volunteers;
• Proven achievement and ability in the areas of capital campaigns, major gift programs, annual giving, planned gifts and in-kind contributions;
• Experience managing an individual major gift program and growing a major gift pipeline;
• An understanding of institutional giving including corporate, foundation and government grants;
• Proven success in engaging a Board of Directors;
• A strong professional network and knowledge of Grand Rapids ‘philanthropic community;
• Proven experience as an essential member of a not-for-profit organizations’ leadership team, including regular interactions with high-level board members;
• Excellent financial management skills with experience in budget analysis, forecasting and planning;
• Strong development communication skills. Articulate with strong interpersonal and motivational skills, including ease and skill in conveying the mission of the organization to a wide variety of constituencies;
• Proven ability in verbal and written communications, including proposal development and reporting, and excellent presentation skills
• Understanding of marketing, communications and social media. Knowledge of new and digital media/communication strategies and digital fundraising platforms. Comfortable with data analysis and utilization of data to inform decisions and strategy
• Creativity and entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to develop new ideas and approaches
• Experience working with and contributing to creative teams
• Ability to build and strengthen relationships with people of culturally diverse backgrounds, ages and circumstances
• A passionate commitment to the GRB mission, vision, philosophy and values
• Ability to work in multifaceted, fun, team environment; high energy, strong work ethic and sense of humor. Ability to handle multiple projects at one time, and flexibility with work assignments and schedules
• High level of knowledge and comfort with the technology needed for fundraising
• Demonstrated experience with the prospect and donor capabilities of current applications such as Raiser’ Edge. Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook are essential

Physical Requirements of the Position:

• Full-time position, (regular working hours), including mornings, evenings and weekends as necessary for attending meetings and events
• Occasional travel
• Valid driver's license

Unsure if you meet all the requirements? Confidence-gap research indicates that many people hesitate to apply for a job if they fail to meet 100% of the criteria, while others feel confident applying if they meet about 60%. We suggest that you use your cover letter to let us know why you’d be a great fit and value-add to the work we’re doing at the Grand Rapids Ballet.

About Grand Rapids Ballet

Grand Rapids Ballet is Michigan’s only professional classical ballet company. Under the artistic leadership of James Sofranko since 2018, the company has made an exciting transformation that has attracted world-class dancers and choreographers, generating local, national, and international attention. The company consists of 20 professional dancers and an additional apprentice and trainee program. The Grand Rapids Ballet School enrolls over 200 students annually, and company and school performances are held at the Ballet's Meijer-Royce Center for Dance and Peter Martin Wege Theater, as well as at DeVos Performance Hall, downtown Grand Rapids, and throughout the West Michigan region. Grand Rapids, located between Chicago and Detroit in Western Michigan, is the state’s second-largest city with a population of 200,000. It is the urban center of a growing region of more than 1 million people. Most notably, the city was named 20th on the Best Places to Live list by U.S. News & World Report in 2023-24.

Connections working at Grand Rapids Ballet