Director of Development

Development DirectorSteamboat Creates in Steamboat Springs, ColoradoAbout Steamboat CreatesSteamboat Creates is a community minded arts and culture organization in the Yampa Valley, dedicatedto strengthening our creative community through advocacy, education, cultural events, public art, andcultural experiences. Since 1972, we have enhanced the quality of life and economic vitality of theYampa Valley by supporting artists, engaging residents and visitors, and fostering a thriving creativesector.Position OverviewThe Development Director is a senior leadership position responsible for growing and diversifyingrevenue to support Steamboat Creates’ mission and long-term sustainability.Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Development Director will lead all fundraising strategyand execution, including major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, memberships, annual giving, donorstewardship, and campaign development.This role is ideal for a highly strategic and entrepreneurial fundraiser who has successfully ownedrevenue goals, built fundraising systems, and cultivated meaningful donor relationships. The successfulcandidate will be comfortable balancing high-level strategy with hands-on execution whileindependently identifying opportunities, setting priorities, and driving results.Key ResponsibilitiesFundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual development plan aligned with organizationalgoals.• Establish and manage fundraising strategies across individual giving, corporate sponsorships,grants, memberships, and special campaigns.• Set measurable revenue goals and regularly evaluate performance against targets.• Identify new funding opportunities and revenue streams that strengthen long-term sustainability.• Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to advance fundraising priorities anddonor engagement.Major Gifts & Donor Development• Build and manage a robust donor pipeline from prospect identification through stewardship.• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and major gift prospects.• Develop personalized engagement strategies for key supporters.• Lead annual giving campaigns and donor cultivation initiatives.• Design and implement stewardship practices that strengthen donor retention and lifetime value.Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships• Grow and manage corporate sponsorship programs.• Develop sponsorship packages, proposals, and partnership opportunities.• Cultivate relationships with business leaders and community partners.• Ensure fulfillment of sponsorship benefits and long-term partner engagement.Grants & Institutional Giving• Lead grant strategy, research, proposal development, submission, and reporting.• Maintain relationships with foundation and institutional funders.• Develop a grants calendar and ensure timely compliance with all reporting requirements.Systems, Analytics & Operations• Own the sponsor and donor databases and fundraising systems.• Develop processes and reporting tools that improve fundraising efficiency and effectiveness.• Track key performance indicators including donor acquisition, retention, campaign performance,sponsorship revenue, and fundraising ROI.• Provide regular fundraising reports and recommendations to organizational leadership and theBoard.Community Engagement & Representation• Serve as an ambassador for Steamboat Creates throughout the community.• Actively participate in events, meetings, and partnership opportunities to contribute to thefinancial success of the activities.• Support donor-facing events and cultivation activities that advance fundraising objectives.• Partner with marketing to provide content, strategy, and analytics for all marketing channels todrive philanthropic giving.Leadership & Collaboration• As a member of the senior leadership team, actively participate in organizational strategicplanning and management.• Serve as both a thought leader, and a practitioner who tactically contributes to the team (e.g.writes grant proposals or leads meetings with donors).• Foster interdepartmental collaboration to enhance institutional and individual fundraisingstrategies.• Collaborate with the Leadership Team and program staff in matters of proposal development,budgeting, reporting, and site visits.QualificationsRequired Experience• Five or more years of progressively responsible fundraising or development leadershipexperience.• Demonstrated success managing and achieving fundraising revenue goals.• Proven experience securing major gifts, sponsorships, grants, or other significant philanthropicsupport.• Experience developing and managing donor pipelines and cultivation strategies.• Strong project management and organizational skills.• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.Preferred Experience• Experience leading a comprehensive development function in a nonprofit organization.• Experience working closely with executive leadership, boards, and fundraising committees.• Familiarity with donor CRM systems and fundraising analytics.• CFRE certification or equivalent fundraising credentials.The Ideal CandidateThe strongest candidates will demonstrate:• Ownership of fundraising outcomes, not simply support of fundraising activities.• Ability to build and manage systems, processes, and donor pipelines that scale.• Strategic thinking and sound judgment about where to invest time and resources.• Confidence working independently and proactively identifying opportunities.• Strong relationship-building skills paired with data-driven decision making.• Ability to prioritize high-impact fundraising activities over lower-value tasks.• Passion for arts, culture, community engagement, and the mission of Steamboat Creates.Steamboat Creates offers a collaborative, mission-driven environment and the opportunity to play aleadership role in shaping the future of arts and culture in the Yampa Valley.CompensationSalary range: $75,000-$85,000 commensurate with experience.Steamboat Creates offers a benefits package designed to support the well-being and work-life balanceof our team, including:• Paid vacation and holidays• Paid sick and personal leave• Employer contribution toward health insuranceHow to ApplyPlease email your cover letter and resume as separate PDF attachments tocareers@steamboatcreates.orgUse the subject line "Development Director Application – [Your Name]".The deadline to submit all application materials is September 15th, 2026.