Director of Development

OperaDelaware (OD) seeks an experienced and relationship-focused Director of Development to lead the organization’s fundraising program and advance its contributed-revenue goals. Reporting to the General Director, and working in close partnership with the Board of Directors, and staff, the Director will develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing individual and major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, annual giving, planned giving, and special initiatives.

In the 2026-27 season, Eric Einhorn begins his tenure as General Director, marking an advantageous opportunity for organizational growth and realignment. The Director of Development role is a crucial part of OperaDelaware’s next stage of growth. As a small team, we invite everyone to collaborate across departments to identify challenges and brainstorm solutions. OperaDelaware consistently explores new approaches to the opera experience and we encourage innovative thinking in all administrative departments as well. Whether or not you are an opera enthusiast, you are an eager champion of the performing arts as a vital aspect of our community, and work to galvanize others to support our company mission.

Traits and Characteristics

The successful Director of Development is a skilled fundraiser, proactive leader, and outstanding relationship builder with the ability to pursue OperaDelaware’s goals with resilience, creativity, and sound judgement. The Director of Development is someone who is self-directed, possesses outstanding interpersonal and communication skills that inspire collaboration, and has the ability to articulate compelling verbal and written messages for support to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive development and fundraising strategy to meet company contributed revenue goals, prioritizing major gifts and planned giving, but also including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, annual campaigns, special initiatives, and events.
• Establish fundraising goals, budgets, forecasts, and performance metrics and regularly evaluate progress toward goals.
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, including the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts.
• Partner with the General Director to identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with donors, corporate partners, foundations, and other key supporters.
• Engage and support the Board of Directors in fundraising and donor cultivation and serve as a non-voting member of the Board’s Resource Development and Finance Committees.
• Oversee foundation, corporate, and government grant activities, including prospect research, proposals, submissions, and reporting.
• Oversee development communications and materials, including annual appeals, donor communications, cases for support, sponsorship materials, and stewardship activities.
• Ensure timely and accurate fundraising reports and effective use of OperaDelaware’s CRM, CueBox, to maintain accurate donor records, track engagement, and generate reports. Utilize data to track progress toward goals and improve fundraising strategies.
• Plan and oversee donor cultivation, stewardship, recognition, and fundraising events.
• Manage and cultivate fundraising volunteers.
• Maintain flexible evening and weekend availability for OperaDelaware performances, donor activities, Board meetings as needed, and special events.
• Represent OperaDelaware professionally in the community and remain current on fundraising trends and best practices.
• Oversee development-related tasks of OperaDelaware’s Board Liaison/Development Manager, including all elements of the grant cycle. Note: this staff member will not be a direct report.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, nonprofit management/administration, business administration, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of four years of progressively-responsible fundraising experience with a demonstrated record of success; arts and cultural organization experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors and major gifts.
• Familiarity with the regional non-profit and philanthropic landscape is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing and public speaking.
• Knowledge of opera is preferred, but not required.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, diplomacy, and accountability.
• Relationship building and emotional intelligence, creating rapport and building positive relationships with staff, organizational and industry colleagues, artists, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) and experience advancing IDEA in fundraising and organizational practice.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and Google products and knowledge of constituent relationship management databases.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills and the ability to consistently meet deadlines.
• Valid driver’s license and access to an appropriately-insured vehicle, if required for the position.
• CFRE certification is a plus.

Commitment to Inclusion

OperaDelaware is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. We value and celebrate diversity in all its forms, including race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and background. We believe that a diverse team enriches our organization and enhances our artistic excellence. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and creating a workplace where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute. To make opera accessible to all, regardless of background or identity, we work together to enrich our community through the power of the arts.

Compensation and Location

Salary is $70,000 plus benefits that include health insurance (full individual coverage paid by OD); dental and vision insurance available at employee’s expense.

This is an in-person position based at the OperaDelaware Studios in Wilmington, Delaware. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.