Director of Development

Reports to: Chief of External Affairs
FLSA Status: Full-Time, exempt
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Compensation: $70,000-$75,000 annual salary, plus competitive package of health
benefits and PTO.

ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER:
MISSION STATEMENT: Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is a lab for understanding
ourselves, others, and the world around us through the experience and creation of all
contemporary art forms.

CAC BACKGROUND: CAC was founded in 1939 by three women with their eyes on the
future. Today, our purpose is to champion open minds and foster an inclusive culture by
using contemporary art and mutual learning as vehicles for connecting people, cultivating
creativity, and catalyzing curiosity. CAC now operates on a ~$4M annual operating budget
and offers 4 – 5 major exhibitions per year, including group and solo exhibitions originated
by CAC curator(s), guest curators, and touring exhibition partners. It is the oldest noncollecting
contemporary art center in the country and one of the largest, occupying an
80,000 sq. ft. building, with approximately 22,000 sq. ft. devoted to exhibition and
performance space. CAC is poised to continue its 86-year legacy of being the premier
venue for contemporary art in the Greater Cincinnati region with a recently completed
strategic plan that will serve as its programmatic and operational blueprints for the next 5
years.

LOCATION: CAC is located in an architectural gem in the heart of downtown Cincinnati,
designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. The Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center for
Contemporary Art was heralded by The New York Times as “the most important American
building to be completed since the end of the cold war” and was lauded for its communitycentric
approach to the design process.

SALARY, BENEFITS, LONG-TERM GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES: This full-time position
takes place via hybrid work arrangement. FT staff generally work on-site Wednesday –
Friday and off-site Monday and Tuesday, as responsibilities allow. The annual salary range
is $70,000-$75,000 and benefits include medical, vision, dental, and paid parental leave;
access to retirement savings; generous vacation time, sick/personal days, and paid
holidays; and access to professional development opportunities, employee assistance
program, CAC membership, and employee discounts at CAC Museum Shop and dining at
CAC.

TO APPLY: Please send cover letter and resume to Sara Hutslar (shutslar@cincycac.org),
Director of Administration & Operations by October 24, along with two writing/work
samples (examples can include: grant proposals, grant reports, direct mail appeals, digital
appeals, major gift proposals, donor stewardship plans, etc.). Include “Application:
Director of Development” in the subject line.

RECRUITMENT & HIRING: Contemporary Arts Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer
(EOE) where all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race,
color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, Veteran, or disability
status.

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting to the Chief of External Affairs, and working closely with
the Executive Director, the Director of Development drives CAC’s efforts to deepen
philanthropic investment through three primary areas:

1. Donor Events + Experiences – Lead the strategy, design, and execution of highimpact,
high-touch donor events that foster meaningful, emotional connections
and exclusive access to CAC’s programs and exhibitions.
2. Grants Management – Serve as lead grant writer on a portfolio of foundations
(regional and select national) and partner with contracted grant writer on select
grant opportunities, ensuring timely, high-quality proposals, reports, and
stewardship.
3. Individual + Corporate Giving – Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts (up to $10,000)
with a focus on pipeline growth and retention.
The Director of Development works collaboratively with the Assistant Director of
Development and Development Manager to align strategies across events, grants, and
donor engagement. While not a supervisory role, this position provides thought
partnership, mentorship, and leadership within the External Affairs team, serving as a key
strategist and visible ambassador for CAC.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Donor Events + Experiences
o Design and execute high-impact, high-touch donor events and experiences
that inspire deep, emotional investment in CAC’s mission.
o Collaborate with curatorial, education, and executive leadership to highlight
artists, exhibitions, and programs in unique, high-touch ways.
o Partner with Assistant Director of Development to maximize outcomes of
major fundraising events and exhibition openings, stewarding attendees into
deeper donor pipelines.
• Grants Management
o Serve as primary writer for local foundation and select national grants,
including proposals, reports, budgets, and supporting materials.
o Partner with contracted Grant Writer (remote) for additional grant
opportunities.
o Gather program data, metrics, and narratives in collaboration with staff to
strengthen funding requests.
o Manage compliance and reporting to ensure credibility and transparency
with funders.
o Conduct prospect research to expand the base of institutional support.
• Individual + Corporate Giving and Donor Pipeline Growth
o Manage a personal portfolio of donors (up to $10,000), cultivating
relationships that lead to increased and sustained giving.
o Develop and implement strategies to grow the mid-major donor pipeline,
identifying prospects through events, membership, and community
networks.
o Partner across External Affairs team on strategy and management of
memberships and contemporary giving circles, including associated events,
and evaluate members for potential movement into the major donor
pipeline.
o Partner across External Affairs team to support planned giving efforts and
associated donor benefits.
o Partner with Chief of External Affairs, Executive Director, Board, and
Development Committee on targeted campaigns, including board giving and
donor reengagement efforts.
o Deliver personalized stewardship plans, including impact reports,
recognition touchpoints, and tailored communications.
o Partner with External Affairs team to create and execute annual donor
communication plans across print, digital, and personal channels.
o Provide regular donor-related content to Marketing + Communications for
use in publications, social media, and outreach channels.
• Collaboration + Institutional Support
o Collaborate with Finance to manage fund reporting, including use of gift and
endowment funds, for donor impact reporting and annual reporting
purposes.
o Manage donor recognition in print and digital formats.
o Work closely with the External Affairs team to align donor communications,
annual sponsorship menus, proposals, annual report and impact stories
with marketing and institutional messaging.
o Maintain accurate donor records in Bloomerang database, ensuring
consistency and reliability of institutional knowledge.
o Serve as an ambassador for CAC’s mission at donor events, relevant board +
committee meetings, and in the community, helping to promote a culture of
philanthropy across the institution.
• Other duties as assigned, always undertaken with awareness of CAC’s broader
institutional priorities and programs.

ALL OF THESE DUTIES ARE TO BE UNDERTAKEN WITH OVERALL CAC BUSINESS IN
MIND. THE PERSON IN THIS POSITION WILL BE CONSCIOUS OF OTHER CAC PROGRAMS,
EXHIBITION NEEDS AND CAC POLICY AND PROCEDURES.

COMPETENCIES:
• Project Management – Oversees complex events and initiatives; delivers on time
and within budget.
• Oral & Written Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively;
produces donor-ready materials with accuracy and creativity.
• Diversity + Inclusion – Respects cultural differences; champions equity in donor and
institutional relationships.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; completes
administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and
values; benefits organization through outside activities.
• Strategic Thinking – Anticipates donor needs, aligns strategies with CAC goals, and
adapts to evolving circumstances.
• Innovation – Generates creative ideas for donor engagement; applies contemporary
trends in philanthropy to practice.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Minimum of 7+ years of experience of grants management and donor relations,
preferably in the arts or nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated success in securing and stewarding foundation grants and midmajor
individual and corporate gifts.
• Proven ability to design and deliver donor events and experiences that deepen
engagement.
• Strong writing skills, with ability to craft compelling cases for support across
multiple audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable engaging with
donors, board members, and community leaders.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to manage multiple projects under deadlines.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases (Bloomerang preferred) and Microsoft Office
Suite.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required by donor events.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
• Occasionally moves about the office and attends external meetings and events.
• Must be able to remain stationary at least 50% of the time.
• Frequently operates computer and office equipment.
• Able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able
to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Able to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Sometimes work in outdoor weather conditions.
• Occasionally lifts/moves materials up to 25 pounds for various needs.
• May work evenings and weekends as required by donor events.