Chief Philanthropy Officer

Career Opportunity: Chief Philanthropy Officer with
Cincinnati Opera in Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati Opera is seeking a Chief Philanthropy Officer
(CPO) to lead its fundraising activities. The CPO is
responsible for the planning and execution of a comprehensive
program to achieve the company’s annual and long-term
contributed-revenue goals. The CPO is a member of the executive
team and reports to the General Director & CEO (CEO).

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide vision and strategic leadership for all fundraising.
  This includes the annual fund, planned giving, special events, and
  major gift campaigns.
• Lead the process for developing the company’s annual
  cultivation and solicitation strategy, enabling sustainable growth
  in individual, foundation, corporate, and government sources.
• Work closely with the CEO and CFO to set annual fundraising
  goals as part of the annual season-planning process.
• Motivate and lead a five-person department, encouraging team
  members to achieve targets, grow skills, and increase
  effectiveness.
• Serve as a staff liaison to the board’s Executive Committee,
  reporting on fundraising strategies and progress and helping to
  maximize the board’s role in fundraising.
• Serve as a staff liaison to the board’s Nominating Committee,
  assisting in identifying potential new board members.
• Oversee the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of all
  major gifts and personally manage a select portfolio of major
  donors.
• Provide strategic leadership on grantmaking opportunities with
  foundations and government entities.
• Provide strategic leadership on special event fundraising.
• Assure excellence and effectiveness in all patron
  communications and activities, working with the CEO, Director of
  Communications, Director of Marketing, Artistic Director, and
  Director of Production as appropriate.
• Provide strategic leadership on record-keeping, documentation,
  and the management of patron data.
• Working with the CFO, provide regular reporting on fundraising
  activities and progress to the executive team.
• Optimize opportunities to expand the impact of fundraising
  through traditional and emerging channels and techniques.
• Advocate for philanthropic support of Cincinnati Opera within
  the staff and board, providing information, insights, and
  inspiration.

The ideal candidate will have an excellent track record in
fundraising management and will be an enthusiastic supporter of the
performing arts, an excellent communicator, and a relationship
builder.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• Seven-plus years of fundraising experience, including
  significant experience managing a team
• Excellent verbal, written, and listening skills
• Ability to work independently and exhibit a high degree of
  self-motivation
• Ability to manage multiple competing objectives and tasks
• An exceptional degree of professional integrity
• Willingness to embrace the vision/mission and strategic
  direction of the organization
• Adaptable, optimistic, collaborative, inclusive, respectful,
  and results-driven
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends, especially during
  the company’s summer season
• Ability to work on-site, though some remote work may be
  arranged during off-peak periods

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of opera and/or the arts funding landscape of the
  Greater Cincinnati area
• Five or more years of professional experience with a performing
  arts organization
• Five or more years of experience in leading and managing a
  development team
• Familiarity with Tessitura, the ticketing and patron-database
  application

Compensation

This is a full-time exempt position with a salary range of
$125,000-150,000 commensurate with experience. Cincinnati Opera
offers an extensive benefits package including health, dental,
vision, life, long-term disability, parking, and 403(b) with a
portion matched by the company.

Note from General Director &
CEO
Greetings from Cincinnati Opera! I thought it
would be helpful to share a bit more context about this remarkable
career opportunity. The Chief Philanthropy Officer opening comes at
an extraordinary moment in the life of Cincinnati Opera. Over the
past two years, we have been at work on Vision 2030, a long-term
plan for sustainability, artistic innovation, and audience
expansion. Also, we will soon announce a major commitment to the
creation of new operas aimed at expanding the diversity of the art
form’s canon; these new works are set to premiere in 2025, 2026,
and 2027. Finally, we have begun a partnership with a top-tier
consultancy toward a multi-year capital campaign.

With all this in mind, we are seeking a brilliant and capable
leader who will embrace the legacy and potential of Cincinnati
Opera and its people and who will champion the development of a
world-class fundraising team. This person will join an equally
brilliant and encouraging team of colleagues, including Artistic
Director Evans Mirageas, and will enjoy engaging with our
enthusiastic and supportive board.

I know I speak for the entire company when I say we are looking
forward to finding the right person for this position as quickly as
possible. You will be proud to be part of our upcoming summer
season at historic Music Hall, which will feature the world stage
premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio. I look
forward to being in conversation with you.

–Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director &
CEO

About Cincinnati Opera

Founded in 1920, Cincinnati Opera is one of the oldest and most
highly regarded opera companies in the United States. Known for its
longstanding partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a
roster of world-class singers, and its spectacular performance
venue, Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati Opera has received
numerous accolades and awards, including a recent nomination for
the prestigious International Opera Award. Cincinnati Opera
offers a primary season of performances from June through August
(paid attendance 17,000-20,000), plus a host of events through the
year, including educational programming, small-scale public
performances, recitals, and fundraisers. The organization receives
about $4.5 million in contributed annual support from individual
donors, foundations, and government entities.

If you are looking for a rewarding, impactful opportunity with a
strong mission of helping others in need, you have found it. Apply
online at https://grnh.se/2ae651bb3us or
email job@strategichrinc.com!

Cincinnati Opera is an equal opportunity employer and is
strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment
where all backgrounds, cultures, orientations, ideas, and talents
can flourish.