Senior Director of Development

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Full Time First/Mid Off/Mgrs Columbus, OH, US

4 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

Job Title: Senior Director of Development

Department :
Advancement

Reports To :
Deputy Director for Advancement

FLSA Status :
Exempt (Full time, Regular)

Prepared/Revised Date: 02/2026

Job Summary: The Senior Director of Development (SDD) will advance the oversight, planning, and implementation of a comprehensive and strategic fundraising program that secures significant financial resources from individuals and institutions to support the museum. This position helps to shape the strategy for major membership and gift functions, including major gift identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; planned giving; principal gift solicitation;

donor prospecting and research; grant strategies; museum membership and special interest groups; signature and salon fundraising events; exhibition openings; and a multi-year comprehensive campaign. The SDD leads a multi-disciplinary development team and coordinates team efforts.

• Under the direction of the Deputy Director for Advancement, develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to meet annual revenue goals targeting $6 million annually, ensuring alignment with the museum’s mission and vision.
• Implement a moves management system across the team to align donors to organizational values and priorities, personalize their experience, and secure their long-term support of CMA.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Operations and the Deputy Director for Advancement to support the annual budget forecasting and reporting for annual and monthly fundraising goals.
• Identify and pursue funding sources, including individuals, corporations, foundations, and government grants.
• Demonstrate strong understanding of museum priorities and giving vehicles to create proposals that balance donor and museum goals, ensuring proposals are vetted with leadership, appropriately scoped, and well crafted.
• Successfully secure gifts, negotiate gift terms, and ensure gift agreements are created and followed when appropriate.
• Support the planning and execution of cross-departmental, mission-aligned projects, including Director’s Trips, salon-style events, and forthcoming Friends of Photography.
• Provide strategic leadership and direct supervision to members of the development staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Areas of supervision encompass annual giving, travel, membership, interest groups, institutional giving, and special events. Direct reports include:
  • Donor Engagement and Events Manager, responsible for signature fundraising events (Art Celebration; Wonderball; CMA Family Fest) and event production support for exhibition openings and development events;
  • Membership Manager, responsible for the museum-wide strategy, execution, and growth of the museum’s membership program, including member cultivation, stewardship, and recognition;
  • Annual Giving Manager, responsible for annual gifts portfolio; special interest groups (Contemporaries, Loud & Proud, Friends of Jewish Art, CMA Council); local travel (Art Escapes); and annual appeals, including exhibition support solicitations;
  • Institutional Relations Manager, responsible for corporate, foundation, and government relationships and grant applications funding programmatic and general operating supporte
• Collaborate with all Development team members to ensure the timely and accurate completion of administrative work including gift acknowledgements, solicitation and cultivation mailings, reporting, and event invitations and follow-up.
• In collaboration with museum leadership, represent CMA at special events, public programs, and other related public events.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; CFRE preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in development with progressive roles, including work in individual giving, institutional giving, annual campaigns, donor…