Chief Development Officer
Posted: 06/29/2026
Employment Type:
Direct Hire
Industry: Non-Profit
Job Number: 17981
Field of Expertise: Other
Remote Friendly: No
Job Description
Our client, an award-winning theater, seeks a high-performing, collaborative, and enthusiastic Chief Development Officer who will be an active participant on the senior staff of the organization. The Chief Development Officer is responsible for all areas of fundraising, working closely with the Managing Director, Artistic Directors, Board of Directors, and staff across the theater to plan, solicit, and steward donations of all sizes, including major and principal gifts. With the end goal of not only growing philanthropic commitments across all giving categories-- broad-based, major gifts, board giving, foundation & government grants, and corporate funding—the successful candidate will also be willing to constantly gather information from all areas of the theatre in service of designing messaging and giving opportunities spanning the full breadth of the mission, productions, and programs.
The Chief Development Officer will possess team management experience, fundraising thought leadership, and a successful track record of leading annual fund programs. This individual will have experience collaborating across multiple departments in high-performing organizations and will be willing to act as an ambassador for the Theatre to internal stakeholders, as well as external donors, funders, and community leaders.
The Chief Development Officer will thoughtfully and confidently lead a highly skilled, eight-member development team.
*Candidates outside of Atlanta may be considered and some relocation support may be offered.
Principal Duties:
Serve on Senior Staff of the Theatre
Lead Fundraising & Stewardship Activities
Serve as Primary Staff Liaison with the Alliance Theatre Board of Directors
Oversee Development Budget
QUALIFICATIONS:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Ability to work a flexible schedule (available evenings and weekends for performances and special events) to accommodate fluctuations in work flow. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be fluent in English, both written and spoken.
Salary: $170,000- $180,000 depending on education, experience, and overall qualifications.
The Chief Development Officer will possess team management experience, fundraising thought leadership, and a successful track record of leading annual fund programs. This individual will have experience collaborating across multiple departments in high-performing organizations and will be willing to act as an ambassador for the Theatre to internal stakeholders, as well as external donors, funders, and community leaders.
The Chief Development Officer will thoughtfully and confidently lead a highly skilled, eight-member development team.
*Candidates outside of Atlanta may be considered and some relocation support may be offered.
Principal Duties:
Serve on Senior Staff of the Theatre
- Actively participate in growing and maintaining internal and external cultures of belonging
- Serve as an ambassador for the Theatre to internal stakeholders, as well as external donors, funders, and community leaders
- Actively participate in cross-campus Development thought leadership and planning for cross-campus fundraising activities, including coordinated annual corporate campaign
- Constantly and consistently evaluate trends in giving across all Theatre campaign verticals
- Actively participate in conferences and on-going industry trend analysis with fellow development directors across the country
Lead Fundraising & Stewardship Activities
- Working closely with Development Staff, ensure constant progress to meet or exceed all fundraising campaign goals
- Collaborating with the Central Services Corporate Philanthropy team, identify, cultivate, solicit, and ensure proper stewardship for all Theatre corporate funders
- Working with Development Staff, ensure all Opening Night and final preview pre-show donor events, and other donor events throughout the season are refined, inspirational, and mission-focused
- Serve as primary point person for all activities related to planned giving including overseeing new strategies and execution for soliciting and stewarding planned gifts
- Working with General Counsel, write and execute formal gift agreements for capital, endowment, and planned gifts
- Perform annual evaluation and refinement of donor benefits offerings and administration
- In collaboration with Artistic Staff and Managing Director, provide fundraising planning expertise and leadership for any capital, endowment, or special project campaigns which may arise
- Working with Development and Marketing Staff, create, refine, and maintain promotional materials for all Alliance Theatre funding opportunities—annual, long-term, capital, endowment, and planned gifts
- Working with Marketing department, help lead strategy for growing Membership and Subscriber patron base and pipeline to donor programs
- Oversee development operations, including improvement of moves management processes in CRM, consistent practices of prospect research, and accurate and efficient gift entry and tax acknowledgements
- Maintain weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly 1:1 check-ins with four direct reports
- Perform annual, or more frequent, performance reviews for direct reports
- Oversee strategy, concept, and planning of annual Gala, collaborating with project leads in development department, cross-department stakeholders at the theatre, and events management to execute a memorable, creative, and high-profile fundraising event.
Serve as Primary Staff Liaison with the Alliance Theatre Board of Directors
- Act as lead planner and solicitor for all board of directors’ annual giving through dedicated Philanthropic Planning Meetings (“PPMs”)
- Working closely with Managing Director, ensure proper planning and execution of all Board Governance & Nominating Committee activities and meetings
- Working closely with Managing Director and Board Governance & Nominating Committee Chair, provide thought leadership on Board composition and serve as primary staff lead for new Board member recruitment and related on-boarding activities
- Working with Managing Director and Management Assistant, ensure all board meetings and events are professionally and elegantly planned and executed
- Maintain active schedule of communications and stewardship with all board members throughout the year
Oversee Development Budget
- Working with Chief Financial Officer and Development Staff, track and reconcile all revenue lines and expenses related to development activities
- Working with Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, develop and maintain fundraising goals and expense budgets
QUALIFICATIONS:
- At least 5 years’ experience building, leading, and maintaining a successful, multi-member fundraising team
- Passion for the arts and their impact in the community
- Commitment to the Theatre’s Mission, Vision, Values, and staff culture
- Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic gifts of 5- and 6- figures on an annual basis
- Demonstrated success growing an annual fund across all campaign verticals (annual, foundation, major gift, board giving)
- Demonstrated track record of evaluating and refining development activities across all campaign verticals
- Comfortable communicating with high-level executives, donors, board members, and community leaders
- Willingness to problem-solve in a collaborative leadership environment
- Knowledge of Atlanta’s funding community is a plus, especially with an emphasis on arts and education
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Necessary accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Frequent use of hands and light lifting (at least 25 pounds) is needed.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Willingness to work some weekends, late evenings and early mornings.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Ability to work a flexible schedule (available evenings and weekends for performances and special events) to accommodate fluctuations in work flow. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be fluent in English, both written and spoken.
Salary: $170,000- $180,000 depending on education, experience, and overall qualifications.
Meet Your Recruiter
Brigid Lipps
Recruiting Manager
Brigid is the Recruiting Manager for Corps Team and has been with the company for 13 years. She is a PHR, SHRM-CP, and HR Generalist certified professional with over 20 years of Recruiting and HR experience. She is driven to make a difference in the lives of candidates and clients by connecting great talent with great companies.
Brigid leads a team that recruits nationally across various industries and for positions in Human Resources, Accounting & Finance, Sales & Marketing, Administration, Management, and more. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Joseph University and stays up to date on recruiting trends through continuous education from her certifications.
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