Director of Development, CCJO

The Director of Development will build CCJO’s development program from the ground up, creating the systems, strategies and relationships that will shape the organization’s fundraising efforts for years to come. This highly entrepreneurial role is ideal for someone excited to establish a sustainable culture of philanthropy through meaningful relationships with donors, audiences, businesses, foundations, schools and community partners. Working collaboratively with the Board, musicians and artistic leadership, the Director will implement fundraising strategies across donor relations, major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, donor communications, grant writing and intimate fundraising events while identifying new opportunities and building the infrastructure to turn them into lasting relationships and revenue.

Director of Development (Part-Time)

About the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra

The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (CCJO) is a 17-piece ensemble dedicated to performing, preserving, and teaching jazz as a living art form. Its vision is to be the region’s leading ambassador for jazz.

Position Overview

The Director of Development will have the opportunity to build CCJO’s development program from the ground up, creating the systems, strategies and relationships that will shape the organization’s fundraising efforts for years to come. This is a highly entrepreneurial role for someone excited to create something new, establishing a sustainable culture of philanthropy through meaningful, consistent relationships with donors, audiences, businesses, foundations, schools and community partners.

The Director will develop and implement practical fundraising strategies across donor relations, major donor cultivation, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, donor communications, grant writing and intimate fundraising experiences. Working collaboratively with the Board, musicians and artistic leadership, the successful candidate will help define what development looks like at CCJO, identify new opportunities for support, and build the infrastructure needed to turn those opportunities into lasting relationships and revenue.

Reports To: CCJO Board of Directors President

Hours: 20 hours per week (flexible scheduling)

Compensation: $25 per hour

Location: Cincinnati, OH region (Hybrid/Remote with presence required for local events, concerts and meetings)

Principal Responsibilities

1. Donor Relations & Fundraising

• • Fundraising Plan: Develop and execute a goal-driven annual donor relations and fundraising plan, engaging current and prospective donors.

• • Major Gifts: Cultivate and maintain relationships with major donors through consistent, personalized communication and engagement.

• • Donor Pipeline: Increase the number of recurring and annual donors and strengthen their ongoing engagement with CCJO.

• • Annual Campaigns: Plan and execute an annual fundraising campaign, utilizing email and other communications throughout the year.

• • Stewardship: Develop donor stewardship practices that create a consistent cadence of communication and meaningful opportunities for donors to experience CCJO's work.

2. Donor Communications & Newsletter

• • Communications Calendar: Develop and maintain a consistent donor communications calendar.

• • Newsletter Management: Create, edit, and distribute a regular donor newsletter, at least quarterly, that keeps supporters informed about CCJO's performances, educational programs, musicians, impact, and opportunities to give.

• • Website & Giving Pages: Develop fundraising-driven content to update our website and build an online philanthropic page (including individual/corporate sponsorships, Adopt a (Jazz) Cat program, Salon details and recurring giving). Partner with the Marketing Manager to deploy and maintain this content.

• • Content Collaboration: Solicit content from musicians, artistic leadership, education staff, Board members and other contributors.

• • Board Collaboration: Work closely with the Board Development Committee to align messaging and engagement strategies.

3. Salons & Fundraising Events

• • Salon Events: Plan, market and coordinate two intimate CCJO Salon events during the 2026–27 season. 

• • Committee Collaboration: Work with the Board and volunteers to identify hosts, invitees, musicians, and potential sponsors/donors.

• • Goal Setting: Establish and meet fundraising targets for these events.

• • Strategic Evaluation: Assess the Salon model success to provide recommendations for future seasons.

4. Corporate Sponsorship

• • Sponsorship Strategy: Develop and implement a corporate sponsorship strategy, including identifying prospective businesses, establishing sponsorship levels/benefits and creating outreach plans.

• • Partner Cultivation: Cultivate relationships with prospective corporate partners for concerts, concert series and educational programs.

• • Collateral Creation: Create and distribute appropriate corporate sponsorship materials and proposals.

• • Stewardship: Steward corporate partners through recognition, communication and meaningful engagement with CCJO.

5. Grants & Institutional Support

• • Prospect Research: Identify and evaluate new foundation, corporate and government grant opportunities. The CCJO’s current grant pool is approximately 3-5 grants per year.

• • Proposal Development: Write, edit and submit highly compelling grant proposals and letters of intent (LOIs).

• • Compliance: Track grant deadlines, manage reporting requirements and ensure measurable outcomes are communicated to funders.

6. Education & Community Engagement

• • Program Support: Partner with CCJO Board educational and artistic leadership to support the continued development and growth of CCJO's educational programs.

• • Education Pipeline: Help develop a pipeline of potential donors interested in supporting CCJO's educational programming and performances.

Qualifications & Skills

Experience: 2+ years of proven fundraising success in the nonprofit sector, with a strong track record spanning individual donor cultivation, corporate sponsorships and grant writing.

Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a passion for storytelling and the ability to articulate CCJO's community impact.

Database & Tech Skills: Experience managing and optimizing a donor management software/CRM (e.g., Bloomerang, Little Green Light, Salesforce, or similar) to ensure accurate gift processing, tracking and list segmentation.

Event & Project Management: Proven ability to manage timelines, coordinate volunteers and execute successful fundraising events.

Attributes: Self-motivated, highly organized, collaborative, and able to work effectively alongside a passionate Board of Directors, musicians and volunteers.

Passion: A strong appreciation for music, arts education and the preservation of jazz is highly preferred.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and a brief cover letter outlining their fundraising experience via email to cincyjazzorchestra@gmail.com. Please use the subject line "Director of Development Application - [Your Name]". 

Application Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026 or until filled.