Opera Cleveland
Cleveland, OH
www.operacleveland.org
Contact: William Cole
Executive Director
Tel: 216-575-0903, ext. 232
E-Mail: Cole@operacleveland.org
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Director of Development
Duration: Full-time
Date Posted: 9/16/2008
Opera For Everyone: that is our mission.
In pursuit of this mission:
- Enrich the community of Northeast Ohio by providing staged productions that emotionally connect each audience member to the drama and passion of opera by casting dramatic singers and collaborating with dynamic creative teams.
- Connect our educational resources to our public, neighborhoods and schools in a way that promotes an engaged and confident future audience.
Opera Cleveland is a nimble and dynamic performing arts organization, adapting to Northeast Ohio’s ever-changing cultural and economic environment. We currently produce three professionally staged operas at the State Theatre in Playhouse Square, entertaining about 20,000 operagoers each year. Our subscribers hail from 22 Ohio counties, with most residing in Ohio. Americans for the Arts placed a conservative estimate for the total direct economic impact of Opera Cleveland and its audience’s activities at $9,443,498 for 2006.
Our present business model allows us to maintain a flexible financial structure — ensuring our continued stability and growth in concert with the current economic climate. We are currently a $2.9M company with 10 full-time employees. Over the next two seasons, we project a cash surplus of almost $200,000. Approximately 1/3 of Opera Cleveland’s revenue stream is earned, with the remaining 2/3 coming from contributed revenue.
Through our education and outreach programs, we directly serve 7,000 individuals — 4,100 of which are under age 18 — in 16 Ohio counties. The positive effects are evidenced in questionnaires students fill out after completing an Opera Cleveland education program.
- 74% of students self-reported a positive perception of opera following participation.
- 95% responded positively to their experience, using words like: awesome, fantastic, amazing, exciting, fascinating, wonderful, superb, fun, interesting, cool and curious.
In addition, to maintain and grow the rich cultural fabric of Northeast Ohio, Opera Cleveland is aggressively seeking partnerships with local companies and institutions.
The Challenge
Opera Cleveland is seeking an energetic, committed, dynamic and innovative Director of Development with extensive leadership experience building strong development programs. The new Director of Development will join Opera Cleveland at an exciting time as it enters a new and more ambitious era of significant fundraising to support its aspirations. The successful executive will need to develop a keen understanding of Opera Cleveland’s mission and commitment to the community it serves. He/she will be responsible for growing the current annual fundraising levels and ramp up the organization’s overall funding through strong relationships with individuals, corporations and foundations consistent with Opera Cleveland’s strategic plan. The Director of Development will be committed to Opera Cleveland’s mission and future growth as spelled out in the organization’s strategic plan.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record with evidence of success in the areas of:
- The ability to lead the strategic development efforts for Opera Cleveland as it enters a bold new phase of its growth as a regionally-acclaimed arts organization.
- Superb oral, written and marketing communication skills with exceptional strategic and administrative abilities, as well as excellent planning and organizational development skills.
- Highly-developed consensus building skills while able to make decisions with excellent initiative, creativity and a "self-starter" attitude.
- A team player disposition and a hands-on executive leadership style, with a track record of operating with the highest integrity.
- The ideal candidate must have a proven track record in developing and maintaining relationships with a diverse group of external partners.
- A comprehension and knowledge of relevant performance metrics and critical acuity for the application of these tools.
- Knowledge of database, word processing and Excel spreadsheet use.
- It would also be helpful for the successful candidate to have proficiency or appreciation for the application of cutting-edge fundraising software.
Job Definition/Characteristics
- Integrating, creating, planning and implementing the overall long-term, multi-year fundraising strategy at a seven figure level, both in terms of the campaign and framework for the future. This would include annual giving, leadership giving, foundation relations, corporate giving, special events and planned giving. The integration, alignment and balance of all aspects of the comprehensive development strategy with the mission of Opera Cleveland are the foundation for the future success of all development/fundraising efforts.
- Promote Opera Cleveland’s leadership role and mission within the philanthropic community as a strategic partner.
- Manage, mentor and coach the development staff to establish and meet annual fundraising goals with a focus on measurable results.
- Promote and build volunteer and donor engagement opportunities as an integral part of the development strategy.
- Lead, track and manage all development programs and activities with other Opera Cleveland projects/initiatives for mutual advantage. Work closely with marketing and PR to further enhance synergy and integration of the message to the community and beyond.
The Ideal Requirements
- Graduate degree in nonprofit or business administration, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of successful experience in a comparable role with similar fundraising goals.
- Highly confident and energetic with a proven track record of strategic leadership and vision.
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to relate well to diverse groups.
- Ability to bring experience, warmth and depth in establishing relevant and meaningful relationships across all levels of the organization.
- Must possess an executive leadership style that is mature, analytically disciplined; a team leader with the ability to balance the needs of the staff with the mission of the organization.
- The ideal candidate should demonstrate a strong work ethic, risk-taking ability, a strong personal commitment to the mission and values of Opera Cleveland, mature business judgment and a passion for growing an organization and its staff.
- Strong facilitation, negotiation, problem solving and presentation skills.
- Strong oral and written skills.
- Must possess the highest ethical standards.
- Excellent people skills.
- Intelligent with broad interests.
- Innovative and flexible.
Please send materials to:
William Cole, Executive Director
Opera Cleveland
1422 Euclid Avenue
Suite 1052
Cleveland, OH 44115
E-mail: Cole@operacleveland.org
Phone: 216-575-0903, ext. 232
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