Development Manager

Reports To: Chief of External Affairs (directly) and Executive Director (dotted line)

Position Status: Full-Time, exempt

Salary Range: $40,000 – $50,000

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 significant exhibitions per year, including group and solo exhibitions originated by CAC curator(s), guest curators, and touring exhibition partners. It is the oldest non-collecting 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 community-centric approach to the design process.

SALARY, BENEFITS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: This FT position takes place via hybrid work arrangement for the foreseeable future. FT staff work on-site Wednesday – Friday and off-site Mondays and Tuesdays as responsibilities allow. The annual salary range is $40,000 – $50,000 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 CAC Museum Shop and Cafe employee discounts.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates are asked to provide a single .pdf file including a cover letter and resume to Jovoni Trollinger, Director of Administration and Operations at jtrollinger@cincycac.org by Friday, May 23, 2025. Include “Application: Development Manager” in the subject line.

RECRUITMENT & HIRING: The CAC 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 DESCRIPTION: The Development Manager is a key member of the External Affairs team, who also provides advanced professional assistance work to the Alice & Harris Weston Executive Director and the Chief of External Affairs. The Development Manager coordinates the benefit fulfillment, donor recognition, and letter generation for all types of donations to CAC, as well as partnering to provide fundraising event support and execution, assisting in fundraising proposal/solicitation development, and other general department support. The Development Manager performs other duties for the Executive Director as needed related to supporting CAC.

– Manage timely acknowledgement of gifts within 3-days of receipt and submittal of invoices/pledge reminders, assure all types of donations (cash, pledges, matching gifts, planned gifts, in-kind) are properly documented and entered in donor database and correspond with Finance Department records.

– Prepare donor and prospect research reports as needed for strategy, stewardship, cultivation, solicitation, and for communication purposes.

– Use boilerplate language to assist in preparation of grant requests and reports, individual and corporate donor proposals and impact reports, solicitation decks, etc. for institutional support and fundraising event support.

– Lead weekly External Affairs/Finance Check-In meeting, including agenda collection & distribution and meeting facilitation.

– Regularly collaborate with Finance colleagues for accurate gift tracking, income & expense tracking, etc.

– Partner with Assistant Director of Development on project management and execution of fundraising and fundraising-related special events (includes fall & spring fundraisers, and exhibition/performance openings) and deliver on benefits associated with special event sponsorship; engage and work with corresponding volunteers and volunteer committees for these events.

– Ensure database integrity through accurate data entry and ongoing clean-up and upgrade efforts to allow for donor and prospect tracking as well as aid in segmentation strategies; provide lists for mailings, publications, prospect strategies, etc. as requested, as well as assist in producing donor reports and income reports through database for tracking results and improving performance.

– Record all donor interactions and donor information gathered on behalf of CAC in prospect management software to guarantee institutional knowledge is housed in central database, per Development best practices.

– Partner with Director of Development in coordinating the production and distribution of recurring appeals and stewardship materials.

– Provide administrative oversight for donor benefits at all levels, including Membership, in partnership with Director of Development and Assistant Director of Development.

– Develop and manage standard operating procedures for department digital filing and establish a hard copy backup system.

– Assist with the planning and execution of Board of Trustees and Development Committee meetings, as well as any rental/private events connected to donors; assist in preparation of related materials for meetings.

– Provide professional administrative support for the Executive Director and Chief of External Affairs as needed.

– Oversee maintenance and organization of office supplies, ensuring External Affairs/Executive Director suite remains necessarily stocked.

– As needed, manage and coordinate Executive Director and Chief of External Affairs dynamic meeting schedules, work travel, contact lists, and other office related matters in a strategic manner.

– Maintain accurate and organized records.

– Oversee administration of board of trustees

Assemble & distribute advance reading materials; record board meeting minutes; operate boardroom technology to support presentation needs; organize, update, and maintain records, including code of regulations, policies, board/committee lists, etc.; conduct & tally board votes via email.

– Project Management—Develops project plans; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and budget.

– Oral & Written Communication—Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; presents numerical data effectively; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates presentation skills; participates in meetings; able to read and interpret written information.

– Diversity—Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment.

– 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—Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization’s strengths & challenges; analyzes field and competition; identifies external opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.

– Innovation—Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas.

– Minimum of 2 years of experience in an administrative role, preferably in a nonprofit environment.

– Must have excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.

– Computer and word processing proficiency (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat).

– Experience in a development/fundraising department is preferred.

– Computer/tech troubleshooting skills a plus.

– Bachelor’s degree preferred.

– Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends as required.

– The person in this position needs to occasionally move about outside and inside the office to attend meetings with others, access files, office machinery, etc.

– Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time.

– Operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.

– 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).

– Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.