Director of Development & Engagement

The Director of Development & Engagement is a senior leadership role responsible for the full scope of the CAC’s contributed revenue and external engagement. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the senior leadership team, this position leads fundraising strategy and execution, major gifts, institutional giving, donor stewardship, community engagement, and communications.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Contemporary Arts Center is one of the oldest and most respected institutions for the

exhibition of contemporary art in the United States. Located in downtown Cincinnati in a landmark

building designed by Zaha Hadid, the CAC presents groundbreaking work by emerging and

established artists and connects the work of our time to the life of our community. The CAC is a

non-collecting institution, which means our energy goes entirely into the quality and ambition of

the work we present.

The CAC operates almost entirely on contributed income, which makes the strength of its

development function central to everything it does. We are entering a period of renewed focus

and investment in fundraising, and this hire is the most important step in that work.

The Director of Development & Engagement is a senior leadership role responsible for the full

scope of the CAC’s contributed revenue and external engagement. Reporting to the Executive

Director and serving as a member of the senior leadership team, this position leads fundraising

strategy and execution, major gifts, institutional giving, donor stewardship, community

engagement, and communications.

This is a role for a seasoned development professional who is ready to lead, someone who brings

both strategic depth and relationship instincts, and who can build and manage a high-performing

team. The CAC’s contributed revenue base is the foundation of the institution, and this role

carries the primary responsibility for strengthening it.

The Director of Development & Engagement arrives at a genuine build moment. The current

development staff consists of a coordinator and a freelance grant writer. Working in close

coordination with the Interim Executive Director, the new Director will have the opportunity to

shape the team, with the authority and resources to build the capacity the function needs.

KEY REPONSIBILITIES

Major Gifts & Donor Cultivation

• Develop and lead a comprehensive major gifts program, from identification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.

• Manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, with a focus on deepening existing relationships and re-engaging lapsed supporters.• Partner with the Executive Director and board members on high-priority donor relationships and solicitations.

• Build and maintain a robust prospect pipeline, using research and relationship intelligence to drive strategy.

Annual Giving & Membership

• Oversee the CAC’s annual fund strategy, including direct mail and digital appeals.

• Build and grow the CAC’s membership program as both a revenue stream and an engagement pathway.

• Set annual revenue goals in partnership with the Executive Director and track progress against them.

Institutional & Government Funding

• Oversee the CAC’s grants portfolio, working with a freelance grant writer and coordinating across departments on reporting and compliance.

• Manage relationships with foundation, corporate, and government funders, ensuring strong stewardship and timely reporting.

• Identify new institutional funding opportunities aligned with the CAC’s program and strategic priorities.

Community Engagement & Communications

• Serve as an enthusiastic external ambassador for the CAC, representing the institution at community events, openings, donor gatherings, and civic occasions.

• Oversee the CAC’s communications strategy, including digital content, e-newsletters, donor communications, press outreach, and social media, working in collaboration with relevant staff. Steward the relationship with the external Communications partner for best results.

• Build and deepen relationships with civic leaders, community organizations, peer institutions, and potential partners.

• Ensure the CAC’s public communications reflect the quality and ambition of its program.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Working in close coordination with the Interim Executive Director, shape and build the development team. The current staff consists of a coordinator and a freelance grant writer; the Director will have meaningful input into how the team grows from here.

• Establish and maintain the systems, processes, and data infrastructure that support effective fundraising, including CRM integrity and gift acknowledgment practices.

• Prepare regular fundraising reports and revenue projections for the Executive Director, Finance and Development Committees, and Board of Trustees.• Collaborate with the Executive Director and board leadership on events, campaigns, and engagement strategies.

Board Partnership

• Work closely with board members to activate their philanthropic participation and support their outreach to donors and prospects.

• Staff the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees.

• Prepare materials and reporting for board meetings and committee sessions.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible development experience, with demonstrated success in major gifts fundraising.

• Proven track record of achieving fundraising goals and building donor relationships over time.

• Experience managing and developing staff.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compellinglyabout art and institutional mission.

• Proficiency with CRM and donor database systems; experience with Bloomerang or comparable platforms preferred.

• High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity in all donor and stakeholder interactions.

PREFFERED

• Experience in a contemporary art museum, visual arts organization, or cultural institution.

• Demonstrated success with planned giving.

• CFRE or equivalent credential.

• Experience building or rebuilding a development function.

THE RIGHT CANDIDATE: The person who succeeds in this role will be a relationship-builder who

genuinely loves connecting people to institutions they care about. They will be comfortable

leading with strategy and rolling up their sleeves. They will understand that at an institution like

the CAC, the development function and the programmatic identity are inseparable, and they will

be motivated by that connection.

This is a senior role with real authority and real accountability. We are looking for someone ready

to lead.COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: Salary is commensurate with experience in the range of

$100,000-$120,000. The CAC offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental,

vision, EAP, paid time off, and retirement contribution. CAC Museum membership, gift shop, café,

and discounted parking included.

TO APPLY: Please send resume and cover letter by July 31st 2026.

Include “Application: Director of Development & Engagement” in the subject line

Please make sure all attached material is in PDF format.

Email to Director of Administration & Operations at: shutslar@cincycac.org.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications without a cover letter will not be

considered.

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.