SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Position Overview

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVEOPMENT | Compensation: Pay Grade: 9 ($108,350.00 annualized) | Hours: Full time (37.5 hrs/week) | Location: Downtown - Main

Cleveland Public Library strives to be the driving force behind a powerful culture of learning that inspires Clevelanders from all walks of life to continually learn, share, and seek out new knowledge.

Job Summary: Responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to grow philanthropic support for the Library. Oversee key revenue streams including major gifts, annual giving, institutional and corporate relations, planned giving, special events, and capital initiatives. Build and maintain strong donor relationships, advance prospect pipelines, and ensure consistent solicitation and stewardship practices in alignment with organizational goals. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership:
  • Develops, mentors, and leads a team of development professionals focused on increasing philanthropic support to advance the Library’s strategic priorities.
  • Regularly meets with fundraising staff to ensure goals are met and provides updates to the Chief of External Relations & Development/CPL Foundation President.
  • Stays apprised of advancements in the fundraising profession and leads adaptations to current strategies.
  • Works closely with the Chief and the CPL Foundation Board in all fundraising endeavors.
  • Provides strategic leadership, training, and guidance to assigned staff while managing workloads and setting performance objectives.
• Fundraising:
  • Plans, designs, manages, and executes the Library’s annual fundraising plan with oversight of the major gifts program.
  • Develops and executes an annual operating plan with accountable monthly and quarterly monetary and activity goals.
  • Achieves annual fundraising goals across the annual fund, institutional funding, planned giving, special events, and capital campaign.
  • Advances relationships with existing and prospective major gift donors through entire cultivation and solicitation processes.
  • Designs and implements growth and retention strategies for donor relationships.
• Stewardship:
  • Cultivates and manages a portfolio of major donors, securing unrestricted support aligned with Library programs and initiatives.
  • Implements effective donor communication and stewardship through timely updates and engaging publications.
  • Utilizes Raiser’s Edge and moves management practices to track prospects and document engagement.
  • Oversees gift processing, reporting, and internal protocols ensuring accurate and efficient workflows.
  • Expands long-term philanthropic resources, supporting endowment growth and identifying new funding opportunities.
• Oversight of Board Operations and Development:
  • Provides strategic leadership and governance oversight for the Foundation Board of Directors, ensuring mission alignment and fiduciary compliance.
  • Partners with the Chief to plan and facilitate board and committee meetings in adherence to best practices.
  • Strengthens board capacity through recruitment, orientation, and continuous education.
  • Collaborates with the Chief and Board Chair to shape agendas and maintain productive board dynamics.
  • Monitors and enhances board performance through evaluation processes and transparent communication.
• General Department Support:
  • Approves routine budgeted expenditures.
  • May commit the Library to collaborative work with external organizations within pre-established goals.
  • Performs other functionally related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, marketing, or a related field.
• Seven (7) years’ experience in development, fundraising, or advancement with managing annual giving and donor engagement programs, including three (3) years’ supervisory or leadership experience.
• Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge or a similar fundraising CRM system.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, marketing, or a related field.
• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) or other relevant professional certifications.
• Experience in public sector or community-based organizations.